The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée
Chapter 26: Sleeping Arrangements

Chapter 26: Sleeping Arrangements

The air in the room, already thick with the lingering tension of Noelle’s return, crackled with a newfound energy after the bombshell dropped. A stunned silence had settled, broken only by the soft rhythm of Noelle’s breathing.

"What. Did. You. Say?" Vernon said slowly, willing what he had heard to be a mistake.

"I am her husband." Flynn said smugly and pulled Noelle closer, his smile smug.

The silence that followed was profound, a vacuum of disbelief. Evan, his face pale and drawn, was the first to break the spell. He surged to his feet, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"Husband?" he exclaimed, his voice laced with incredulity. "What do you mean, husband? There is no way you are married! I am your fiancé, have you forgotten that?"

He looked at Noelle, his eyes pleading, his voice laced with a desperate hope. "Noelle, please," he begged, his voice barely audible. "Tell me you’re joking."

"You seem to have forgotten that I broke up with you." Noelle answered coldly.

"He’s my husband," Noelle declared, her voice clear and steady, her gaze fixed on the bewildered faces before her. "He took care of me the whole time I was in the hospital."

Flynn stepped forward, his expression calm and composed, his eyes fixed on Evan. "She’s not joking," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "I am her husband."

He placed a protective hand on Noelle’s shoulder, his touch sending a wave of reassurance through her. "We were married a little while ago," he continued, his voice laced with a quiet pride. "It was a private ceremony."

The room erupted with a chorus of questions, a cacophony of disbelief and confusion. Uncle Vernon, his face flushed with anger, stepped forward, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice sharp and accusatory. "What family are you from? I don’t recognize you."

Ma-Ri, her eyes fixed on Flynn, remained silent, her mind reeling. She was captivated by his presence, his striking good looks, his quiet confidence. She could not believe that Noelle, had managed to find such a captivating husband in a short time. Or had she been cheating on Evan the whole time. A flicker of envy, sharp and intense, pierced through her carefully constructed composure.

"Enough!" Grandmother’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding, silencing the clamor. She looked at Flynn, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and warmth. "Welcome, my grandson-in-law," she said, her voice laced with a gentle authority. "I apologize for my family’s... enthusiasm."

She turned to her family, her eyes flashing with a stern warning. "Stop badgering him," she said, her voice firm. "He is Noelle’s husband. That is all that matters."

She looked at Flynn, her expression softening. "Thank you for taking care of my granddaughter," she said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude. "We are all very grateful."

Flynn bowed his head respectfully. "It was my pleasure, Grandmother," he said, his voice sincere. "Noelle is my wife. I would do anything for her."

Grandmother smiled, her eyes filled with a warm approval. "You are welcome in this family," she said, her voice laced with a gentle warmth. "We are honored to have you."

The tension in the room eased slightly, replaced by a sense of bewildered acceptance. Noelle’s announcement had thrown everyone off balance, had shattered their preconceived notions. They were still trying to process the news, to reconcile the image of the independent, fiercely private Noelle with the reality of her marriage.

Evan, his face still pale and drawn, remained silent, his eyes fixed on Noelle. He could not believe what he was hearing. He couldn’t believe that Noelle had married someone else, that she had really moved on. He felt a sense of betrayal, a deep, aching pain.

Uncle Vernon, his brow still furrowed with suspicion, looked at Flynn, his eyes filled with a lingering doubt. He still didn’t recognize him, still didn’t know his family. He was determined to find out more about this mysterious man who had suddenly appeared in their lives and could ruin all his plans.

Ma-Ri, her eyes still fixed on Flynn, was lost in her own thoughts. She was captivated by his presence, his aura of quiet power. She couldn’t understand how Noelle had managed to find him, to win his affection. She felt a surge of resentment, a burning desire to have him for herself. Why does Areum always get the best looking guys?

Noelle, sensing the lingering tension, placed a reassuring hand on Flynn’s arm. "He is an artist," she said, her voice clear and steady. "And I love him very much, he makes me happy."

"And that is all that is important dear." Grandma Jie reassured her before glaring at Vernon who looked like he had just swallowed a hot potato.

That information vexed Vernon even more. He could not believe that Noelle had brought another bum into the family and worst of all, his mother seemed to be taken with him. That could only spell trouble for him.

"We will talk more later," Grandmother said, her voice laced with a hint of exhaustion. "Noelle needs to rest."

They helped Noelle to her room, their movements gentle and solicitous. Flynn followed close behind, his eyes fixed on Noelle, his expression filled with a quiet concern.

As they entered the room, Noelle turned to Flynn, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely audible. "For everything."

Flynn smiled, his eyes filled with a deep affection. "You don’t have to thank me," he said, his voice soft. "You are my wife after all, and I have a duty to please you."

For some reason, Noelle’s heart skipped a beat at his teasing tone. She looked up at him and her lips suddenly felt dry, the pink tip of her tongue darted out to lick her lips and Flynn almost groaned aloud.

He quickly looked away from her and around the room.

"So... sleeping arrangements." He said.