Lorenzo and I both stood.
"I'm going in first."
"Says who?"
"I'm her husband."
"Bullshit!" Lorenzo snapped. "You're divorced! I'm the one who—"
"You're what?" I turned to face him.
He clenched his jaw, remaining silent.
"Lorenzo, I never signed those divorce papers."
Ignoring him, I pushed through the door.
Noelle sat propped up in bed, pale as death, the oxygen mask removed. The moment she saw me, her body went rigid, fear flashing in her eyes.
"Don't be afraid." I stopped at the doorway. "I won't hurt you."
She didn't speak, just watched me warily.
"Why are you here?" Her voice was weak.
"I arrived a month ago."
"What?"
"I bought a house near yours," I confessed. "I've been living there."
"You... you've been watching me?" Her face grew even paler.
"Protecting." I corrected. "I just wanted to ensure you were safe."
"Please leave."
"I will." I took several steps closer, stopping beside her bed. "But first, you need to know the truth."
She closed her eyes. "I don't want to hear it."
"Noelle, listen to me." I moved closer, stopping at her bedside. "I uncovered everything."
She opened her eyes, looking puzzled.
"About the attempted murder—Kieran threatened your safety to force your father into leaking some trivial information."
Her breathing quickened.
"Your father's death wasn't suicide either. Kieran killed him and staged the scene to frame me."
"No..." Tears slid down her cheeks.
"And Isabella. She was colluding with Kieran, orchestrating every deception. That day at the café—she tricked both you and Lorenzo into meeting there, then led me to witness it."
"I already know all this." She turned away. "If there's nothing else, please leave."
"Noelle, I was wrong about everything."
