hapter Nine
The villa felt strangely empty as Anna pushed through the front door, her heels echoing in the marble foyer. The events of the day had left her drained, and all she wanted was to collapse into her favorite chair with a glass of wine.
“Pervis!” she called out automatically, her voice carrying through the spacious rooms. “Bring me som water, please!”
She waited, tapping her foot impatiently against the polished floor. Seconds stretched into a full minute with no response.
“Pervis!” she called again, louder this time. “Where are you?”
Noah limped slightly as he followed her inside, his bandaged hand held carefully against his chest. ” Anna, maybe he’s still upset about earlier?”
“He better not be sulking in his room,” Anna muttered, kicking off her heels. “Pervis! Answer me!”
The silence that greeted her was absolute. No footsteps, no apologetic voice, nothing.
“Oh,” Anna said suddenly, realization dawning on her face. “He left. I forgot.”
“Left?” Noah asked, though he already knew the answer.
“Earlier today, after the… incident in the kitchen, Anna explained, sinking into the leather sofa. “But he’ll be back. We’re still married, after all. Where else would he go?”
Noah settled beside her, maintaining his carefully crafted expression of concern. “Anna, I hate to say this, but what if he doesn’t come back?”
“What do you mean?”
“That woman who was with him at the hospital,” Noah said carefully. “What if… what if Pervis has been seeing someone else?”
Anna’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Excuse me?”
“I’m probably wrong,” Noah backtracked quickly, “but the way she spoke to you on the phone, so possessive and protective…. it seemed like more than just a friend helping him.”
“You think Pervis is having an affair?” Anna’s voice was deadly quiet.
“I don’t want to believe it,” Noah said with false reluctance. “But he did disappear for hours today, and then suddenly this mysterious woman appears…”
Anna stood up abruptly, pacing across the room like a caged tiger. “If that pathetic excuse for a man thinks he can cheat on me and get away with it…”
“Maybe we should check the security cameras?” Noah suggested, his heart racing. “You have surveillance
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throughout the house, right? If anything inappropriate happened, there would be evidence.”
Anna stopped pacing, her eyes lighting up with the prospect of catching Pervis in the act. “You’re absolutely right. The cameras would show everything.”
Noah’s blood ran cold, but he forced his expression to remain supportive. “I could help you go through the footage, if you’d like. It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me.”
“You would do that?” Anna asked, her voice softening slightly.
“Of course,” Noah replied, his mind racing for ways to delay or sabotage the investigation. “You’ve been so kind to me, Anna. If Pervis were even half as considerate and understanding as you are, your marriage would be perfect.”
Anna’s expression grew thoughtful at his words. “You really think so?”
“I know so,” Noah said earnestly. “Any man would be lucky to have someone like you.”
Inside, Noah was sneering. As long as he could delay Anna from checking the surveillance footage, he could continue working to poison her mind against Pervis. Eventually, she would forget about her husband entirely and cast him aside like yesterday’s newspaper. Even if Pervis came crawling back on his hands and knees, Anna would never take him back.
“Why don’t we start reviewing the cameras tomorrow?” Noah suggested casually. “It’s been such a long day, and your hand needs time to heal properly.”
“You’re right,” Anna agreed, exhaustion clear in her voice. “Tomorrow we’ll find out exactly what my dear husband has been up to.”
After Anna retired to her room for the night, Noah waited until he heard her shower running before making his move. He crept quietly up the stairs to Pervis and Anna’s bedroom, his bandaged hand throbbing with each step.
Pervis’s side of the walk–in closet still held his clothes, though Noah noticed that some items were missing. The bastard really had packed a bag earlier.
Noah selected a pair of Pervis’s silk pajamas and quickly changed into them. The fabric felt expensive against his skin, and he couldn’t help but smile at the irony. Soon, everything in this house would belong to him, not that worthless fool.
He positioned himself on Pervis’s side of the massive bed and held up his phone, making sure to capture the luxurious bedroom in the background. The angle made it look like he was getting ready to sleep in
Pervis’s spot.
With malicious glee, Noah typed out his message: “Thanks for the comfortable bed, Pervis. Anna and I are about to get some well–deserved rest. Sweet dreams wherever you are.”
He hit send and tossed the phone aside, imagining Pervis’s face when he saw the image.
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Meanwhile, at the Coleman estate, Pervis was experiencing the most restful sleep he’d had in years. The quest suite Aria had given him was larger than his and Anna’s entire bedroom, with floor–to–ceiling windows that looked out over the estate’s gardens.
For the first time in months, he wasn’t jolted awake by Anna’s demands or Noah’s presence in his home. The silence was peaceful rather than oppressive, and the bed was comfortable beyond anything he’d ever experienced.
When morning light filtered through the curtains, Pervin woke naturally, feeling refreshed and clear- headed. He checked his phone out of habit and saw Houl’s message from the night before
Instead of the rage or hurt Noah had been hoping for, Pervin felt only mild disgust. The pathetic attempt at manipulation was so transparent it was almost pitiful
He deleted the message without replying and got dressed for breakfast.
“Good morning.” Aria greeted him as he entered the dining room. She was already seated at the long table, newspapers spread before her and a cup of coffee in her hand.
“Good morning,” Pervin replied, taking a seat across from her. “I slept wonderfully.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Aria smiled. “You look much better than you did yesterday.”
“I feel better,” Pervis admitted. “But there’s one problem. I left so quickly yesterday that I didn’t take any of my personal documents. My passport, birth certificate, social security card–they’re all still at Anna’s house.”
Aria frowned thoughtfully. “Those are important documents. You’ll need them for the legal proceedings when your parents return.”
“I know,” Pervis said. “I’ll have to go back and get them.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Aria asked, concem evident in her voice. “After everything that happened yesterday…
“I’ll be fine,” Pervis assured her. “Besides, Anna probably isn’t even awake yet. I can slip in, grab what I need, and leave before she knows I was there,”
Aria studied his face carefully. “If you’re determined to do this, I’m coming with you.”
“That’s not necessary-”
“It absolutely is necessary,” Aria interrupted firmly. “I’m not letting you face that woman alone again, especially not on her home territory.”
Pervis considered arguing, but the determined look in Aria’s eyes told him it would be futile. “Alright. But we go in, get my documents, and leave immediately.”
“Agreed,” Aria said, already rising from her chair. “Let’s get this over with.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
