The Bride Widow
Chapter 156: I’ll take you back home - Part 1

Chapter 156: 156: I’ll take you back home - Part 1

Anabella sat on the park bench, her knees drawn up to her chest as she tried to steady her trembling hands. The cool breeze did little to calm her racing heart.

She felt as if she had been wrung out, every muscle in her body aching from tension and fear. The shadows of the trees around her seemed to loom larger than they should, making her glance nervously over her shoulder.

Noah sat beside her, his broad frame tense with barely suppressed anger. He had been silent since pulling her away from the rooftop, his fists clenching and unclenching as if ready to strike anyone who dared approach. He finally broke the silence.

"Anabella," he said, his voice softer than she expected. "You’re safe now. I won’t let anyone hurt you."

Her lips quivered, and she nodded slightly, but the tears she had been holding back began to spill. At first, it was quiet—just a few stray drops sliding down her cheeks. But soon, her body shook with sobs, and she buried her face in her hands.

Noah froze, unsure of what to do. His instincts screamed at him to do something, anything, to fix this, but the sight of Anabella’s vulnerability left him at a loss. He reached out awkwardly, his hand hovering over her shoulder before finally resting there.

"Hey," he said gruffly. "It’s okay. You’re okay."

Anabella shook her head. "No, I’m not," she choked out. "They were going to... I don’t even know what they wanted, but I couldn’t stop them. I couldn’t do anything."

"You did enough," Noah said firmly, his jaw tightening. "You got away. That’s what matters."

She sniffled, her sobs quieting slightly as she wiped at her face. "I hate feeling this way. I hate being so... helpless."

Noah’s chest tightened. He wasn’t good with words, wasn’t good with emotions, but seeing her like this made him feel like he had to try. "You’re not helpless, Anabella," he said, his voice steady. "You’re strong. Stronger than you think. But it’s okay to lean on someone when you need to."

She glanced up at him, her eyes red and puffy. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to believe him, but the fear in her eyes hadn’t faded.

Noah stood abruptly, running a hand through his hair. "You shouldn’t be out here," he said, his tone sharper than he intended. "It’s not safe."

Anabella flinched at his sudden movement, and he immediately cursed under his breath. "I didn’t mean it like that," he said, softening his tone. "I just... You need to be somewhere you can feel safe."

"I don’t know where that is anymore," she whispered.

The words hit him harder than he expected. He crouched down in front of her, looking up into her tear-streaked face. "Come with me," he said. "I’ll take you home. You shouldn’t be alone right now."

Anabella hesitated, her fingers twisting together in her lap. She didn’t want to impose on Noah, didn’t want to burden him further. But the thought of returning to her apartment, of being alone with her thoughts and fears, made her stomach churn.

"Okay," she said quietly.

Noah helped her to her feet, his grip firm but gentle. He led her to his car, opening the passenger door for her before sliding into the driver’s seat.

The drive was silent, save for the hum of the engine and the occasional sniffle from Anabella. She stared out the window, her mind replaying the events of the day over and over.

When they arrived at Noah’s home, he guided her inside, his protective demeanor never wavering. "Sit down," he said, gesturing to the couch. "I’ll get you some water."

Anabella sank into the cushions, her body feeling heavier than it should. The warmth of the room contrasted with the chill that had settled in her bones, but it did little to ease her anxiety.

Noah returned with a glass of water, handing it to her before sitting down beside her. He didn’t say anything, didn’t press her to talk, but his presence was grounding in a way she didn’t expect.

After a few sips, she set the glass on the coffee table and looked at him. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his gaze steady. "You don’t have to thank me."

"I do," she insisted. "You didn’t have to come for me, but you did. You’ve done so much for me, and I don’t know how to repay you."

"You don’t need to repay me," he said, leaning back against the couch. "That’s what friends do, right?"

Anabella managed a small smile, the first she’d felt in hours. "Yeah. I guess so."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the tension in her shoulders slowly easing. Noah stayed close but gave her space, his presence reassuring without being overwhelming.

As the evening wore on, exhaustion began to creep over Anabella. Her eyes grew heavy, and her head lolled slightly to the side. Noah noticed and stood, pulling a blanket from the back of the couch and draping it over her.

"You can stay here tonight," he said softly. "Get some rest. I’ll be here if you need anything."

Anabella wanted to protest, to insist that she could go home, but her body betrayed her. The comfort of the couch and the blanket, combined with Noah’s steady presence, was too much to resist.

"Okay," she murmured, her eyes already closing.

Noah watched her for a moment, his expression softening as he saw her finally relax. He turned off the lights, leaving only a small lamp on, and settled into a nearby chair to keep watch over her.

For the first time in a long while, Anabella slept peacefully.

Once Anabella falls asleep, Noah’s expression changes. His gentle expression changes to one of fury and he barely keeps himself from destroying everything. This was all someone’s fault and Noah was about to get to the bottom of this.

He would not let someone get away with scaring Anabella like this.