Chapter 198

Hannah

I made my way down to the dining room the next morning, my eyes still bleary from a fitful night of sleep. Today was the day of my father’s birthday party, and I was sure that the day would be a blur of activity. But I had my own plans today.

Noah, Lily, and my parents were already at the table, enjoying a veritable feast for breakfast. The sweet scent of pancakes and the savory tang of bacon filled the air, and there was already a spot for me with a steaming cup of coffee waiting.

“Ah! There she is,” my mother said as I took my seat. “Are you feeling alright? You left dinner rather abruptly last night.”

I nodded, grabbing my coffee and taking a sip. I had woken up queasy again, but there wasn’t much left in my stomach to throw up. The coffee helped.

“I’m fine, Mom. Just…” I paused, glancing at Noah, who didn’t look up at me from buttering his toast. “...Had to make a phone call.”

My father frowned at me over his newspaper. “Hannah, if you’re sick, we can just call the family physician—”

“No, no,” I said quickly, waving my hand. “It’s nothing like that.”

My parents exchanged disbelieving looks; clearly, they knew I was full of it. I glanced at Noah once again, who was now quietly sipping his coffee. His eyes met mine briefly, and I could tell that he was leaving the decision to tell them up to me.

Taking a deep breath, I decided it was time. They would likely pry until they figured it out anyway. “Actually, Mom, Dad…” I set my coffee down with a sigh. “I have some news.”

They both looked at me expectantly, and I could feel Lily’s gaze on me as well.

“I’m... pregnant.”

For a moment, silence filled the room. Time seemed to stand still; even the grandfather clock against the far wall seemed to halt its rhythmic ticking, and the servant who had been refilling our mugs almost spilled coffee all over the table.

Then, my mother’s squeal of delight broke through the air.

“Oh, Hannah!” she cried, jumping up to run around the table and embrace me. “This is wonderful news!”

My father’s face split into a wide grin. “Congratulations, sweetheart! And you too, Noah,” he added, clapping Noah on the back.

Noah smiled politely. “Thank you, sir.”

Despite everything, I couldn’t help but smile as my mother hugged me tightly. Announcing it for the first time, out loud like this… It was surreal. I wished that things at home were a bit different, though, because it certainly put a damper on things. How could I bring myself to tell them that Noah and I were getting a divorce despite the pregnancy? They’d be confused and devastated.

As my parents fussed over me, peppering me with questions about due dates and nursery plans, I caught Lily’s eye. She gave me an apologetic look, knowing the full story behind this seemingly joyous news.

After breakfast, I excused myself and headed to the household library. I needed some time alone to think, and I also wanted to do some research for my Luna Council project.

The library was just as I remembered it—floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, plush armchairs, and the comforting smell of old books. I ran my fingers along the spines, searching for titles on childhood education and public speaking. I wanted to impress the Luna Queen and the rest of the council again, so I had to make sure I covered all my bases before giving my presentation.

I was so engrossed in my search that I didn’t hear Noah enter until he spoke.

“There you are,” he said, causing me to start slightly. “What are you up to?”

I turned to face him, a book on early childhood development in my hands. “Oh, just doing some research,” I replied, my tone softer than it had been in recent days.

Noah raised an eyebrow. “Research?”

I nodded, moving to sit in one of the nearby armchairs. “I had an idea for a penpal program for kids at the last Luna Council meeting. I’ll be expected to present a formal plan at the next one.”

“Penpal program?” Noah asked, taking the seat opposite me. “That sounds interesting. Tell me more.”

I explained the concept to him, surprised by his genuine interest. When I finished, he was nodding, thinking deeply.

“That’s a great idea, Hannah,” he said. “I’m glad you have a new project to focus on. Let me know if you need any help with it.”

His compliment and offer of help, both so freely given, caught me off guard. But mentioning the program had stirred up memories of our own letter-writing days, and a wave of sadness washed over me.

“Noah,” I began hesitantly, “do you really not remember the letters we used to write to each other?”

His brow furrowed. “Letters?”

I nodded. “When we were teenagers. We wrote to each other for two years.”

Noah’s expression clouded, and I felt my heart sink. “Hannah, I... I went through some very tough times as a teen. A lot of that period is just a blur to me now. I’m sorry.”

I wanted to yell, to cry, to call him a liar. But as I looked at him, I saw a deep sadness in his eyes, one that I couldn’t ignore.

It was a reminder of the boy I used to know, the one who had poured his heart out to me in those letters that he had forgotten. I remembered how he had written about his difficult home life, the pressure he felt to be the perfect Alpha heir. It was true; those years were… not good for him.

Suddenly, it was harder to be angry with him. The Noah sitting across from me now seemed more like that vulnerable boy than the cold, distant man I had married. Maybe I had been too harsh over his difficulty with remembering our past.

“Maybe,” I said softly, “when we get home, I’ll show you the letters I saved.”

Noah’s eyes widened in surprise. “You... you’re coming home with me?”

I blinked, realizing what I had just said. “I... I guess I didn’t even think about it when I said that just now. But maybe that’s a sign that I should go with you.”

“Really?”

I nodded slowly. “Just for the duration of the pregnancy,” I clarified. “And then, perhaps we can amicably divorce and do joint custody with our child. Just like you said.”

Relief washed over Noah’s face. “That’s all I want for our child, Hannah. An amicable situation. I understand that our marriage is over, but I want the best for our kid.”

He stood up and, before I could react, pulled me into a hug. My eyes widened in surprise, and I found myself too stiff to return the embrace. But as I stood there, enveloped in his arms, the familiar scent of his cologne washed over me.

It was a scent I had known for years—he always wore the same cologne, and I should have gotten so used to it by now that I couldn’t even smell it anymore. But despite everything, I did; and it still made my knees weak.

After a moment, Noah pulled back, and there was the faintest ghost of a smile on his face. “Thank you, Hannah. This means a lot to me.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Noah turned to leave, pausing at the door. “I’ll let you get back to your research. But remember, if you need any help, just ask.”

As he left, I sank back into the armchair, my mind reeling. I picked up the book I had been reading, but found myself unable to focus on the words.

Instead, my thoughts kept drifting back to Noah. To the warmth of his embrace, the sincerity in his eyes when he spoke about our child, and most of all…

To that achingly familiar scent that still lingered in the air around me.