Chapter 283

Hannah

The diamond on my finger caught the light, sending a dozen tiny fractals glimmering across my skin. I tilted my hand this way and that, admiring the ring that I hadn’t worn or even seen in ages.

Wearing my old engagement ring like this felt… surreal. I couldn’t seem to decide whether it made me excited or a little sick to my stomach. Maybe both—because on one hand, it was a reminder of our past life, which was fraught with broken hearts and bad memories.

But on the other hand, it felt like a promise, just like this house. An opportunity to fill those little fractals of light with newer, happier memories.

Ultimately, though, it didn’t matter. Because the ring was just a prop, as was everything else tonight.

Noah joined me in the dining room doorway, his green eyes scanning the space. Everything had to look perfect for tonight. A beautiful trap, bedecked with “Congratulations on your engagement!” banners and colorful streamers and plump balloons.

“I can buy you a new engagement ring, you know,” Noah murmured, nudging me with his elbow. “In fact, I plan on it.”

My cheeks heated, but I shook my head and lowered my hand. “Let’s not worry about fancy rocks tonight. We have other things to worry about.”

Noah nodded, and together we looked over the elaborate lie that we’d concocted. Servants bustled around, arranging the table with decadent food and fancy place settings that were really just recycled from the baby shower.

“People are gonna be so pissed when they find out what tonight is really for,” I mused with a wry chuckle. “And I don’t think the fancy cake and party favors are going to make up for it.”

Noah sighed and rubbed his hand down the back of his neck as he glanced at the side table against the wall. It was piled high with little gift baggies, each one containing a miniature bottle of champagne, some expensive chocolates, and a little card that read “So sorry for lying to you!” on the inside.

“They’ll understand,” he finally said after a few moments. “They have to.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. I hoped he was right. And I hoped that tonight would be worth the fuss. Because if Marcus didn’t fall for our trap like we planned…

Before I could express my concerns, the doorbell suddenly rang.

“That’ll be our first guests,” Noah said, turning to me with a grin. “Remember, Hannah. We’re happily engaged tonight.”

It didn’t take much effort to plaster a grin of my own on my face. While Noah went to open the door, I turned toward the hallway mirror and adjusted my outfit one last time. I wore a warm, baby pink turtleneck tucked into a flowy black skirt, strappy heels, and a delicate silver necklace ringing my throat—to match the engagement ring, of course.

I’d taken extra care with my hair and makeup as well, opting for a curled updo and soft pink eyeshadow. Everything about my appearance screamed ‘woman who just got engaged to the love of her life for the second time’, even down to my freshly-manicured nails.

And I really was happy, even if we were just pretending tonight. It’s easy to pretend when the thing you’re pretending about is what your heart truly wants.

“Hannaaaah!” a familiar voice called out. I turned away from the mirror, beaming, to see Amber rushing toward me with a gift bag slung over her arm and a wide smile on her face. Before I could even greet her, she was throwing her arms around me and hugging me tightly.

“Amber,” I choked out, laughing, “we said no gifts.”

Amber pulled back with a smirk. “Oh, I know, but I couldn’t help myself,” she said, thrusting the bag toward me. “It’s just a little thing, anyway.”

“Mhm, sure it is,” I chided, knowing fully well that whatever it was had to be expensive if Amber had been the one to pick it out.

Noah and I had specifically told our guests not to bring gifts since we’d be breaking the news that the engagement was fake by the end of the night. I should have known that people wouldn’t listen. Hopefully they saved their receipts so they could return whatever they bought.

Still, I managed a smile and set the bag down on the hallway table, leading my friend into the dining room. Amber gasped and exclaimed over the decorations, and was busily adjusting balloons by the time Emma swept in.

“Hannah, you look even lovelier than the last time I saw you,” Emma said, planting a kiss on each of my cheeks before shoving a wrapped gift box into my hand. “Yes, I know you said no gifts, but I don’t care.”

“I figured you wouldn’t,” I laughed, making a mental note to return that one to her as well.

As I caught up with my friends, who I really hadn’t seen in ages, Noah invited in more and more guests. Soon enough, the house was packed full of people—and the hallway table was piled high with presents, much to our chagrin.

“Maybe I should have just proposed to you anyway,” Noah teased in my ear, wrapping his arm around my waist and tugging me close. “Since it seems that everyone wanted to shower us with gifts.”

I blushed, but smacked his arm and shook my head. “You lost your chance, Alpha.”

Noah smirked as if there was something he knew that I didn’t, but before I could dwell on it, the doorbell rang again.

My stomach dropped as I exchanged wary glances with Noah. Everyone else was here, which only meant one thing.

Marcus had arrived.

Brushing a reassuring kiss across my temple, Noah extricated himself from me and walked over to the door. A few moments later, he returned with his father in tow and a bottle of wine in his hand.

“Hello, Marcus,” I said, resisting the urge to sneer at that bottle. I wondered if he was ballsy enough to lace that one with drugs, too. I wouldn’t put it past him.

“Hannah.” Marcus’s eyes flicked to the ring on my finger before he looked around. “Where is the little one?”

“She’s with a babysitter tonight,” I said coolly. In reality, Melody was being heavily guarded upstairs by nearly all of my personal guards. Noah and I had decided to take every precaution in keeping Marcus as far away from our daughter as possible.

“I see,” Marcus said with a tiny smile. “Adults only tonight, hm?”

I nodded, trying my best not to throttle him right then and there. Of course there were no children here; we couldn’t have them seeing any of what was to happen tonight, after all.

“Well, now that everyone is here,” Noah said, passing the bottle of wine to Viona, who gave me a subtle wink before slipping away, “I’d like to make a toast.”

With that, Noah grabbed a glass of champagne from the passing waiter. Once everyone had taken a glass of their own, he lifted his and beamed at me, looping his arm around me once more.

“Hannah, my eternal moonlight,” Noah announced, his eyes shining, “thank you for giving me another chance—and for making me the happiest man in the world.” He paused, looking at me lovingly, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.

“I really do love you and our daughter more than life itself,” he whispered, his voice so low that I wasn’t even sure if anyone else could hear him. “Not even death can do us part.”

Tears pricked my eyes, and I found myself unable to speak. I managed a watery smile and clinked my glass with his, wishing for all the world that tonight had been real—that it hadn’t all been an elaborate lie to catch a man who wished us both dead.

“To Hannah and Noah!” the guests cheered, clinking their glasses and sipping their champagne.

My eyes flicked to Marcus, who was silent, his drink untouched.

Finally, Noah clapped his hands together. I felt my heart leap into my throat, and I glanced over at the doorway, where Drake and Viona were waiting with their hands on the knobs. They each cast me a subtle nod. It was time.

“Now,” Noah said, turning to his father, “it is time for our honored guests to arrive. Father, I think you in particular will want to say hello.”

Marcus’s eyebrows shot up, but then his face went pale as Marcus and Viona swung open the doors and four new guests walked in—some in chains and some of their own accord with vengeance written across their faces.

Doctor Patel.

Alvin.

Scott.

And Zoe.