Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Noelle
In the darkness, I could feel every inch of my skin burning.
Kholod's weight finally lifted from me as he lay down beside me. Only our ragged breathing filled the room. My thoughts were spinning—I'd thought there was an intruder, but instead he'd claimed me in that primal way. Though it had been thrilling. The kind of thrill I actually enjoyed.
"You..." I gasped, catching sight of a box that had appeared on the nightstand.
A velvet jewelry box, gleaming softly in the moonlight.
It took me a few seconds to process what I was seeing. So all his sneaking around had been about delivering this?
I couldn't help but laugh, the sound sharp in the silence.
"What's so funny?" Kholod turned toward me, amber eyes boring into mine through the darkness.
"Nothing." I reached for the box, fingertips brushing the soft velvet. "Just never expected the great boss of the Morozov family to deliver gifts like some common thief."
His breathing hitched.
I opened the box to reveal the necklace I'd admired that afternoon. Dmitri must have told him.
"Didn't they say I had to wait a month?" I lifted the necklace, examining it with delight.
"Morozovs don't wait." His voice carried smug satisfaction.
"So bossy!"
"Whatever you want, I'll give you." The intensity in his gaze made my heart skip.
"Couldn't you just give me a gift like a normal person? Why snuck in and tried to slip away?"
"I wasn't trying to slip away." His voice was strained.
"Really?" I turned to face him, lips curving into a teasing smile. "Are you being actually shy?"
"Shut up." His warning carried no real threat.
"Seriously though." I sat up, clutching the sheet as it slipped. "I thought we had a real burglar. And you just went ahead and..."
I didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
I couldn't make out Kholod's expression in the moonlight, but I could feel his predatory stare fixed on where the sheet had fallen.
"It's late. We should sleep!" I quickly wrapped myself tighter.
"Noelle..."
"What?"
"Nothing."
He lay back down beside me, closing his eyes.
I studied his profile. Normal people just hand over gifts with a simple "this is for you." Not him—midnight room invasion, then distracted me in a weird way when caught.
The thought made me laugh again, shoulders shaking.
"Enough laughing." Kholod suddenly rolled over, pinning me again.
"No." I reached up, fingertip tracing his tense jawline. "You know what? You look even more like a pervert right now."
His breath was hot against my face, rapid and scorching. I could see fury blazing in his eyes, but strangely, I felt no fear.
"Whatever." He ground out the words.
He rolled to the far side of the bed, one arm behind his head, glaring at the ceiling.
"Kholod," I called softly. "Thank you for the gift."
The next morning, Kholod was already gone when I woke. The sheets still held his warmth and scent, proving that last night's madness hadn't been a dream.
I sat up, the necklace sliding down to my collarbone. I touched the small pendant, my lips curving involuntarily. After washing up and heading downstairs, only Anastasia and Anya were in the dining room. Kholod was obviously already handling business.
"Morning." I greeted them politely.
Anastasia looked up, her gaze lingering briefly on my throat. "Lovely necklace."
"Thank you." I sat across from her as a maid immediately served my breakfast.
Anya glanced at me. "From Kholod? He's certainly attentive to you."
"He's attentive to all his family."
Anya fell silent, and the dining room grew quiet.
I started thinking about next weekend's Philadelphia Art Association gathering at Fairmont Park.
I'd wanted to go since receiving the invitation, but considering Kholod's restricted list—if any banned individuals attended, would he still allow me to go?
Anxiety gnawed at me.
Go to his study and ask directly? "Kholod, I received an invitation. May I go?"—that felt too much like begging, likely earning only cold rejection or worse, that scrutinizing silence that would make me feel like a child making unreasonable demands.
Frustrated, I decided to head to the library for some peace. Perhaps I could find answers among the books, or at least temporarily forget this dilemma.
As I walked through the corridor connecting the main house to the west wing, Dmitri's familiar tall figure appeared ahead, coming from the direction of Kholod's study with a tablet in hand. We approached each other.
"Ma'am." He gave his usual expressionless nod.
"Dmitri." I nodded back, not slowing, planning to walk straight past.
But as we passed each other, he spoke in that steady, emotionless tone—casually, yet somehow deliberately. "Ma'am, regarding next week's Fairmont Park arrangements, security details have been preliminarily drafted. I'll have a car waiting for you at ten AM."
I stopped dead in my tracks, my heart clenching before racing. I spun around to face him.
Dmitri had also stopped, turning back with the same impassive expression, as if he'd merely commented on the weather.
"What did you say?"
Meeting my shocked stare, Dmitri explained. "The invitation was received and logged three days ago. When the boss reviewed this week's schedule this morning, he saw this appointment and raised no objections, instructing me to prepare your security detail in advance."
Raised no objections.
Kholod had seen the invitation. He knew I'd be attending a public event with countless strangers, and he'd permitted it.
Joy and disbelief washed away my earlier anxiety. I struggled to maintain composure, but felt my fingertips tingling.
"I... I see." I kept my voice steady. "Thank you, Dmitri."
"Just doing my job." He nodded again, then turned and walked away with measured steps.
I stood there, watching him disappear around the corner, motionless for a long time. Sunlight streamed through the tall stained glass windows, casting brilliant patterns on the floor. I reached up, touching the small pendant again—the cool metal seemed to carry warmth now.
Sunday brought exceptional sunshine. Walking into Fairmont Park with my art supplies, even the air felt sweet.
About a dozen easels were already set up on the grass, people in various casual clothes gathered in small groups discussing composition and lighting, filled with pure love for art.
"Hey! Are you new?" A cheerful female voice called from behind.
I turned to see a girl in paint-splattered denim overalls waving at me. She had fluffy golden curls and blue paint smudges on her cheeks, her smile radiant.
"I'm Zoe Harper." She approached, extending her hand without hesitation—fingers also covered in colorful paint. "And you?"
"Noelle." I shook her hand, feeling the warmth and roughness of palms clearly marked by years of holding brushes.
"Noelle who?" She tilted her head.
I hesitated. "Noelle Morozov."
"Cool! You're the legendary Mrs. Morozov?"
"Hardly that dramatic." I laughed.
She shrugged, clearly unconcerned about family backgrounds. "Come on, let's paint those cherry trees. The light's amazing—I want to try impressionist brushwork today."
Just like that, she pulled me toward a grove of cherry blossoms. We painted quietly for a while. Spring breeze stirred the petals, sending them floating like pink snow. Sunlight filtered through leaves, casting dappled shadows on the grass. We chatted while painting.
"Oh," Zoe pulled out her phone, "let's exchange contacts? When the association has more events, I'll invite you. Or you could visit my gallery—I'll treat you to coffee."
I hesitated, then gave her my number. Zoe quickly typed on her phone, then mine chimed.
"Done!" she said with satisfaction. "I'll call you whenever I discover interesting places. Philadelphia has so many fascinating corners that high society people never explore—those places hold the city's real soul."
"I'm looking forward to it."
As the sun began setting, the gathering wound down.
"See you later, Noelle." Zoe gave me a warm hug. "Remember to smile, okay?"
"I will." I hugged her back. "See you later, Zoe."
On the ride home, I sat in the car watching Philadelphia's streetscape. Dmitri's car followed like a silent shadow. But right now, I didn't mind. I touched the necklace, then checked Zoe's message. "Had such a great time today! Looking forward to seeing you again! [heart emoji]"
The next evening, a deep blue velvet gown was delivered to my room. Elegantly cut with a perfectly designed neckline, paired with silver heels and a simple diamond bracelet.
Another dinner party, but this one was different—this was a gambling night.
When I came downstairs with my hair arranged, Kholod was already waiting in the hall. He wore his signature black three-piece suit, diamond cufflinks glinting under the lights.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes."
He extended his hand, palm up—a gentleman's invitation. I placed my hand in his warm, firm grip.
As our car pulled away from the manor, I spotted a familiar figure at the gate—Isabella.
She wore a flowing lavender chiffon dress, clutching a delicate handbag. Seeing our car, she immediately looked panicked and waved at us.
Kholod frowned, signaling the driver to stop.
As the window lowered, Isabella bent down, eyes slightly red. "Kholod, sorry to bother you... I wanted to return that bracelet, but you seem to be heading out..."
"What I give away is yours to keep." I knew the bracelet—Kholod had given it to Isabella specifically.
Isabella bit her lip, voice trembling. "It's too valuable. I feel uneasy keeping it. And..."
Tears welled in her eyes. "My family's all traveling, leaving me alone. Noelle knows I've always been afraid of the dark..."
Tears finally spilled over, glistening under the lights.
I sat in the back seat, emotions conflicted. Isabella had indeed been timid since childhood, always seeking my company when her parents were away. But since the Lorenzo incident, I'd felt an inexplicable distance from her.