The Bride Widow
Chapter 165: Everything will be alright - Part 2

Chapter 165: 165: Everything will be alright - Part 2

Noah held Anabella close, feeling the tremors that racked her body. Her breaths were uneven, and despite his best efforts to soothe her, the fear lingered in her eyes.

He knew that if they stayed out in the open, she wouldn’t feel safe. The tension in her muscles was a clear sign that she was still on edge, and it was tearing him apart to see her like this.

"You can’t stay out here," Noah said softly, his voice steady but urgent. "It’s too dangerous, especially with your symptoms. Come with me. We’ll go somewhere safe."

Anabella nodded weakly at first, the idea of being with Noah comforting her. But then, realization dawned on her.

She was still in the early stages of her heat, and being around Noah, an alpha, could only complicate things further. Her rational side kicked in, pulling her back from the brink of leaning entirely on him.

"Noah," she whispered, her voice shaky but determined. "I can’t... it’s not safe for me to be with you right now. I need to go home. Just take me home."

Noah looked at her, torn between wanting to protect her and respecting her wishes. He saw the flicker of clarity in her eyes and realized that she still had enough control to make this decision for herself.

"Are you sure?" he asked, concerned.

Anabella nodded. "Yes. Please, just take me home."

Reluctantly, Noah agreed. He helped her to his car, driving her home in silence, the weight of the evening pressing heavily on both of them. When they reached her place, he walked her to the door, ensuring she got inside safely before he left.

Once back in the car, Noah gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles whitening. His mind was racing with thoughts of the alpha who had followed Anabella.

Whoever it was, they had crossed a line, and Noah wasn’t about to let it go. His protective instincts were in overdrive, and he knew exactly who might be behind this.

Returning home, Noah found Clair waiting for him in the living room, her expression tense. "What happened?" she asked immediately, reading the distress on his face.

Noah sat down heavily, running a hand through his hair. "She was followed. Some alpha was after her. I got there in time, but she’s shaken up. She insisted on going home, though."

Clair’s eyes darkened, a flash of anger crossing her face. "It’s a good thing we’ve been keeping an eye on her. Imagine what could have happened if we weren’t there to intervene."

Noah nodded. "I know. We need to do something. We can’t just let this slide."

Clair crossed her arms, leaning against the doorway. "You’re right. We need to act. We can’t let her be targeted like this again."

Noah’s gaze sharpened. "I’ll handle Jackson. I need to know exactly what he’s planning. He’s the key to this mess."

Clair agreed, her tone equally resolute. "And I’ll make sure Daniel is completely ensnared in our trap. We need to squeeze him until there’s nothing left."

Noah stood up, ready to head out. "Let’s make sure they regret ever messing with Anabella."

With that, Noah left, his steps purposeful as he made his way to confront Jackson. His mind was set on uncovering every detail of Jackson’s plans, ensuring there would be no more threats to Anabella.

Clair, on the other hand, sat down with her laptop, pulling up files and information on Daniel. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, setting in motion the next phase of their plan to financially cripple him.

She was determined to leave him with no way out, to make him pay for his involvement in all this.

Both Clair and Noah were driven by a single, shared purpose: to protect Anabella and to ensure that those who threatened her paid dearly.

______

Daniel slumped over the bar, his glass half-empty and his eyes glazed with a hollow stare. The weight of his failures pressed heavily on his shoulders, each sip of alcohol doing little to ease the emptiness gnawing at him.

He swirled the remnants of his drink, watching the liquid lazily circle the glass, reflecting his spiraling thoughts.

"Another," he muttered, pushing the glass toward the bartender.

The bartender hesitated, eyeing Daniel with concern. "You’ve had enough for tonight. Maybe it’s time to head home."

Daniel’s expression darkened, a flicker of anger sparking in his dulled eyes. "I said another," he snapped, his voice rough with frustration. "I don’t need a lecture."

The bartender remained calm but firm. "Look, man, I’ve seen this before. You’re not in a good place. Maybe you should call it a night and go home."

Daniel’s fists clenched at his sides, the rejection stirring something volatile within him. He shot up from his seat, nearly knocking over the barstool. "Don’t tell me what I need!" he barked, his voice louder now, drawing the attention of other patrons.

The bartender raised his hands, signaling for security. "Alright, that’s enough. Time to go."

Two bouncers approached, their presence enough to quell any further outburst. They gently but firmly guided Daniel toward the door.

His resistance was weak, his body sluggish from the alcohol. He stumbled slightly, muttering curses under his breath as they escorted him out into the cold night.

Once outside, Daniel stood for a moment, swaying slightly, the chill air doing little to clear the fog in his mind. He glanced up at the starless sky, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. Alone, with only his regrets for company, he felt the crushing weight of his solitude more than ever.

Daniel staggered down the dimly lit street, cursing under his breath. His thoughts turned to Anabella, bitterness twisting his features.

It was all easier when she was around, he thought angrily. Everything going wrong? Blame her. She was the perfect scapegoat.

Now, with no one to point fingers at but himself, the weight of his failures pressed harder.

The anger simmered within him, a futile attempt to drown out the growing realization that he was the architect of his own downfall.

Damn her for leaving, he muttered, though deep down, he knew it wasn’t her fault.

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