Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Noelle
Kholod set the carefully prepared lasagna in front of me, his eyes bright with anticipation.
"Try it. I made it the way you taught me."
I took a bite. The cheese and tomato melded perfectly on my tongue. "Better," I said objectively. "But you still used too much cheese."
He immediately pulled out his phone to record my feedback, his serious expression making me smile despite myself.
His transformation over these past weeks was undeniable.
From kitchen disaster to decent cook. From fumbling with a crying Leo to expertly changing diapers and getting him to sleep. Even when I remained cold toward him, he stayed patient.
That night, Leo was particularly fussy, squirming in my arms, refusing to settle.
"Come on, baby..." I patted his back gently. "Close your eyes..."
Kholod looked up from his paperwork. "Need help?"
"No," I said. "He's almost asleep."
I carried Leo to the window, gazing out at Niaube's peaceful night. The distant sound of waves drifted in. Lorenzo suddenly crossed my mind, and I murmured without thinking, "Wonder how Lorenzo's doing..."
The temperature in the room plummeted.
"You're still thinking about him." Kholod's voice could have frozen hell.
I turned to face his dangerous stare. "I'm just worried about a friend," I said wearily. "Don't be ridiculously jealous."
"Friend?" He moved closer, step by predatory step. "Noelle, are you sure he only thinks of you as a friend?"
"What else would it be?"
"I think he wants a hell of a lot more than that." His voice turned acidic. "And you... you enjoy his attention."
"Kholod Morozov," I took a deep breath. "Stop being paranoid."
"I'm not." He stopped in front of me. "I just want to know how much longer you're going to keep giving him pieces of your heart."
"Kholod!"
"I watch you smile at him, accept his help, live like a family..." His voice dropped, wounded. "Do you know how much that hurts?"
I stayed silent.
"I'm here, trying everything to make you happy. Learning to cook, taking care of Leo..." His voice cracked. "But he's still in your heart."
"You deserve it," I said. "Think about what you did to me."
"I know." His voice shook. "I know I deserve it. But Noelle, I'm human too. I get jealous. I hurt..."
Leo stirred in my arms, making soft little sounds.
Finally getting sleepy.
"Let me put him down first."
Kholod stood frozen, watching me. I gently placed Leo in his crib and tucked him in.
"Sleep tight," I whispered.
When I turned around, Kholod was still there.
"Noelle," he said suddenly. "I've made a decision."
"What decision?"
"I'm moving in here."
"Kholod, don't push your luck!"
"How is this pushing my luck?" He stepped closer. "I need everyone to see exactly who you belong to."
"You're insane! I'll never agree to that!"
"Why not?" He kept advancing. "I'm your husband. I have every right to live here."
"You—"
"I know you don't accept me yet, but I can wait. Noelle, I can't stand watching you and Lorenzo be so close anymore."
He trapped me between the wall and his body, hands braced on either side of me.
"Don't worry," he leaned down, his breath brushing my cheek. "I'll just take even better care of you."
"Impossible!"
"Say yes." His eyes pleaded. "Let me stay. I promise I won't bother you. I can sleep on the couch, do whatever you want..."
"No..."
"Why?" Panic flashed in his eyes. "Noelle, are you waiting for him to come back?"
"I'm not..."
"Then let me stay." His voice turned stubborn. "Noelle, please..."
His tone was demanding, his movements possessive, but the vulnerability and fear in his eyes were crystal clear. Even after all these days together, he still lived in constant terror—afraid of losing me, afraid Lorenzo would return, afraid I'd choose someone else.
Seeing him like this made my heart soften. Then I hated myself for that softness. Just like I hated this body that he could always so easily bewitch.
Fine.
One more month. If he behaved himself for one more month, maybe... maybe I could consider telling him the truth about Leo.
"All right," I finally gave in. "But you sleep on the couch."
"Yes! The couch is perfect!"
"No going in the bedroom."
"Fine."
"And absolutely no watching me sleep."
"I swear—"
Before he could finish, chaos erupted outside.
Glass shattered, followed by screams and shouts.
"What the hell?" I tensed.
Kholod's face darkened as he yanked me behind him. "Stay put." It was an order.
"But—"
The door exploded open.
A crowd surrounded the entrance. Lorenzo stood in the doorway, eyes blood-red, hair wild, radiating pure madness.
"Noelle!" he roared, reaching out. "Come with me! Now!"
"Lorenzo?" I stared in shock. "How did you—"
"Come with me!" he repeated. "Get away from this monster!"
"Lorenzo Conti." Kholod's voice was ice-cold as he shielded Leo and me. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"Of course I know!" Lorenzo bellowed. "I'm taking Noelle! Taking her away from you!"
"She won't go with you."
"That's not up to her!" Lorenzo pulled a gun from his waistband, the black barrel pointed straight at Kholod. "Kholod Morozov, let her go!"
My heart stopped.
"Lorenzo!" I screamed. "What are you doing? Put the gun down!"
"I won't!" His hand shook. "Noelle, come with me! I'll take you somewhere he'll never find you!"
"Lorenzo, calm down..."
"I am calm!" he roared, madness blazing brighter in his eyes. "Noelle, he destroyed you! You can't forgive him! You can't be with him!"
"Put down the gun." Kholod's voice was arctic. "Lorenzo, last warning. Put it down."
"No!" Lorenzo's finger tightened on the trigger. "Unless you let Noelle go!"
"Never."
"Then die!"
The gunshot rang out.
I instinctively shielded Leo, then felt strong arms wrap around me.
"Ugh..." Kholod grunted.
I looked up—
Blood. Pouring from his back, staining his white shirt red.
He'd been shot.
"Kholod!" I screamed.
Kholod staggered but stubbornly stayed standing, using his body as a shield between Lorenzo and me.
"You... you still won't let her go?" Lorenzo held the smoking gun, voice shaking.
"No." Kholod's voice was weak but steady. "Lorenzo, kill me if you want. But you'll never take her. And you sure as hell won't hurt her."
"Kholod..." Tears streamed down my face.
He turned back to me and smiled.
That smile—weak but tender.
"Don't be scared..." he said. "I won't let anyone hurt you... including myself..."
Before he finished speaking, his body swayed and crashed to the floor.
"Kholod!"
I rushed to him, dropping to my knees.
Blood kept pouring from the wound, soaking the carpet.
"Kholod! Kholod!" I pressed my hands to the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. "Don't die! You're not allowed to die!"
"Noelle..." he whispered weakly. "Is Leo... is he okay..."
"He's fine!" I sobbed. "Don't talk! I'm calling an ambulance..."
"Noelle..." He gripped my hand. "Sorry... didn't mean to scare you..."
"Shut up!" I yelled. "Kholod Morozov, I forbid you to die! You hear me!"
He smiled—satisfied and peaceful.
"Noelle..." His voice grew fainter. "I love you..."
"I know! I know!" Tears fell on his face. "Kholod, hold on..."
I turned toward Lorenzo. He stood there dazed, the gun fallen from his hands while his men started to advance.
"I... I killed him..." Lorenzo mumbled, walking toward me, even trying to take my hand. "I killed him... Noelle... come with me..."
"Get away!" I dodged his touch, voice fierce. "Lorenzo Conti, get out! Now!"
"Noelle..."
"GET OUT!"
He stumbled backward as Nick arrived with backup to restrain him. His accomplices were captured too.
"Boss! How bad is it? The doctor's coming!" Nick shouted.
"Get... everyone... out..." Kholod whispered.
"Boss—"
"That's... an order..."
"Yes..."
After Nick left with the others, only Kholod, Leo, and I remained. Leo was crying in his crib.
"Kholod..." I leaned down, pressing my forehead to his. "Hold on... please hold on..."
"Noelle..." His hand touched my cheek. "Don't cry..."
"I don't care!" I cried harder. "Kholod, you can't die... Leo needs you... He's your son! Yes! He's your son! You can't abandon us... I..."
I haven't forgiven you yet.
Light flickered in Kholod's eyes, then faded.
"Noelle..." His voice was barely audible. "Tell Leo... Daddy loves him..."
"You tell him yourself!" I yelled. "Kholod Morozov! You stay alive!"
His hand fell limp.
His eyes slowly closed.
"NO—!" My scream tore through the room.
Something ripped apart in my chest at that moment. The wall I'd spent over a year building crumbled to pieces.