Chapter 243

Noah

Noah stood still as a statue while Zoe straightened his bowtie, her fingers working with practiced efficiency. The silk of the tie felt cool against his neck, a stark contrast to the warmth of Zoe’s minty breath as she leaned in close.

“There,” she finally said, stepping back to admire her handiwork. A sweet smile spread across her face, her eyes twinkling as she took in her groom’s appearance. “You look very handsome, Noah.”

Noah felt himself nod mechanically, as though his body was moving on autopilot. “Thank you,” he replied, leaning in to place a chaste kiss on her cheek. “I can’t wait to see you in your gown.”

Zoe’s smile widened, and she tilted her head as he kissed her cheek. Her hand lingered on his chest, her fingers tracing idle patterns on his lapel.

“To think, after all these years…” She sighed dreamily up at Noah. “Nothing could ruin our special day, you know that? Nothing. No one.”

“No one,” Noah echoed, although it felt strange to say that.

“Noah, darling,” she said then, her voice taking on an odd, almost cautious tone. “Could you tell me just one more time what happened the other night? When I was out at my bachelorette party?”

Noah’s brow furrowed slightly. Why was she asking about this again? Hadn’t they already discussed it several times now? But he pushed the thought aside and answered, “Of course. I played with Adam until you got home from your party, and then we went to bed. The next day, yesterday, was spent making final wedding preparations.”

As he spoke, Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that something was... off. The words felt rehearsed, as if he was reciting lines from a script rather than recounting his own experiences.

But that was ridiculous, wasn’t it? All of the things Noah had said were exactly what had happened over the last two days. Nothing more, nothing less.

And yet he couldn’t help but feel as if there were other memories there. Memories that felt… fogged over. Like steam on a mirror.

Zoe’s face visibly relaxed at his words, relief washing over her features. “Oh, good. That’s wonderful to hear,” she said, her voice warm.

Noah cocked his head. “Why do you keep asking?”

Zoe’s fingers tightened dangerously on his lapels for a moment, eyes flashing with something that Noah couldn’t read. But then she relaxed, quickly schooling her features back to pleasant neutrality. “It’s just so nice to hear about you and Adam playing together. That’s all.”

Noah smiled stiffly, ignoring the growing unease in the pit of his stomach. “He’s a good boy.”

“And he will be your heir in just a few short hours,” Zoe grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Noah nodded, the words leaving his mouth before he could even think about them. “Of course. It would be an honor to name Adam my heir.”

Zoe beamed at him, leaning in to place a soft kiss on his cheek. “Well, I’d better go get dressed,” she said, turning to leave. “I’ll see you at the altar, my love.”

As the door closed behind her, Noah let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He turned to the mirror, and instead of seeing the smiling face of a groom staring back at him, he saw a man who looked…

Drawn. Tired.

The wedding was about to begin, and he should have been thrilled. This was the day he had been waiting for, wasn’t it? The day he would finally marry his true love? It should have been the happiest day of any man’s life.

And yet…

As Noah made his way toward the altar, each step felt heavier than the last. A part of him was screaming, urging him to stop, to turn around, to run. His legs felt like they were fighting him every step of the way.

But why? This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? He and Zoe had been waiting for this day for years, ever since they were ripped away from each other and forced into arranged marriages with other people. They had only ever wanted to get back to each other. And now it was finally happening.

The star-crossed lovers were finally having their happy ending.

So why did it feel so wrong?

Noah arrived at the altar, his heart pounding in his chest. The chapel was beautifully decorated just as Zoe wanted, white flowers and gauzy fabrics adorning every surface. Guests filled the pews, their excited chatter a low hum in the background.

Everything was perfect. Everything was as it should be.

Only one thing was missing: Noah’s heart.

It’s just nerves, he thought to himself. That was all; nerves. Cold feet, maybe. He was just traumatized after that awful marriage to… to…

Hannah.

Wait. This wasn’t right. This…

The music started, and all eyes turned to the back of the chapel.

Zoe appeared in the doorway, a vision in white. Her dress was stunning, hugging her curves before flowing out into a dramatic train. A delicate veil covered her face, but Noah could see the radiant smile beneath it.

As she began her walk down the aisle, Noah felt a sudden, sharp pain behind his eyes. A flash of... something. A memory?

He was coming home late last night, although he couldn’t remember why. Zoe was there, her face twisted with fury. She was throwing something into the fireplace, the flames leaping higher with each item she tossed in.

Scott was there, too. “Get him, Scott! Quickly, while I get the tea!”

A scuffle. A broken vase. Scott holding Noah down as Zoe poured something down his throat. The… tea. It tasted bitter, wrong.

“How dare you,” Zoe had said, her voice dripping with venom. “You should never have gone there... You should never have talked to her!”

Noah blinked hard, shaking his head to clear the disturbing image. What was that? A dream? A nightmare? It couldn’t have been real. His eternal moonlight, his Zoe, would never do something like that to him.

Zoe reached the altar, her smile radiant as she took Noah’s hands in hers. Her nails dug into his skin, though, just a little too hard to be comfortable. And as Noah looked into her eyes, he saw something flash there. Something cold. Something... terrifying.

For a moment, just a moment, Noah felt afraid of her. And Noah wasn’t afraid of anything.

The priest began the ceremony, his voice echoing throughout the chapel. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”

Noah barely heard the words, too distracted by the look in Zoe’s eyes. Something was wrong. He didn’t want to be here, he didn’t—

“Zoe,” the priest said, “do you take Noah as your husband?”

Zoe’s smile widened, her eyes never leaving Noah’s face. “I do,” she said, her voice filled with warmth and love. But her nails dug even deeper into Noah’s hands, and he had to fight not to wince.

“Noah,” the priest continued, turning to him. “Do you take Zoe as your wife?”

Noah opened his mouth, the words on the tip of his tongue. This was it. This was the moment he'd been waiting for for years. All he had to do was say two simple words.

“I…”

Suddenly, the doors at the back of the chapel burst open with a resounding bang. Gasps and shocked murmurs rippled through the crowd as all heads turned to see the cause of the commotion.

There, in the doorway, stood Hannah. She was wearing her dressing gown, her body illuminated through the thin fabric by the sunlight pouring in from behind her. Her hair was wild and unkempt, and she held something up in her hand.

“Stop this wedding!” she cried out.

Several guards were trying to drag her back by her arms, but she fought against them and chucked the item down the aisle, causing nearby guests to jump in fear. The item skittered across the marble floor, finally coming to a stop just feet away from the altar.

Noah leaned forward, squinting.

A… A seashell. With a leather strap that had been cut by a knife.