Chapter 0158
When I finished telling Viona my story—everything from my pregnancy to my death to my rebirth, all of it from beginning to end—the room was utterly silent. Down below, the sounds of the bustling city rose, but I hardly heard them. Only the sound of my blood rushing in my ears filled the space.
Viona said nothing for a long time, her mouth working uselessly. Her face had gone pale, her eyes wide as if she had just seen a ghost. I’m sure I looked much the same.
And then, suddenly, she started laughing. “Hannah, this is ridiculous,” she crowed, smacking my arm and rising from the couch to walk to her kitchen. “Did Amber put you up to this?”
I furrowed my brow and followed her, watching incredulously as she casually prepared two cups of tea. “Viona, I’m serious,” I said. She chuckled again. “Yeah. Sure.”
“Viona.” Stomping my feet, I circled the counter island and gripped her shoulders to force her to look at me—so she could see my sincerity. “I’m serious.”
For a few long moments, Viona blinked at me, her face slowly blanching once more. “Hannah…”
“Look, I know how it sounds,” I said, releasing her and stepping back, “but it’s true. All of that stuff that happened at the acceptance ceremony with Zoe? Yeah, in my past life, I didn’t handle it well and faced a lot of public scrutiny. That’s why I took it so well this time; because I knew it was coming.”
Viona swallowed, hastily shaking her head. “Oh, honey,” she breathed, “you need help. I’m sorry, Hannah, I know you’re going through a lot, but it’s simply not possible.”
“When have I ever lied to you, Viona?!” I snapped.
Her eyes widened further, if that were even possible. Her mouth waggled as she tried to come up with a retort, but clearly there was none. Finally, gripping her hair, she whirled around and strode to the window. “Okay, okay… So let’s just say, for the sake of argument, that this really did happen…” She paused, and I could hear her audibly gulp. “What about Noah? He doesn’t know any of this?”
“No. And he never will.”
“Even the baby?” she asked. I felt my chest clench at the mention of it. “I might tell him about the baby when the divorce is finalized. But not a moment before. And likely not at all.”
Viona whirled around, her mouth hanging open. “Hannah, you can’t keep his child from him,” she breathed. “The whole… rebirth thing is one thing, but your baby? His heir? He’ll find out anyway!”
“And if he does, then I’ll be protected,” I said. “I already made him promise that once we’re divorced, I can take anyone or anything I want from Nightcrest back to my own pack. That includes our child, although he doesn’t know it yet.”
Viona continued to stare at me incredulously.
“Look, Vi,” I continued, “I know how it sounds. But I can’t tell Noah about the baby, I just can’t. Because if I do, he’ll make me stay in this marriage. And…” I paused, my throat constricting. “…I can’t do it, Viona. I can’t stay in a loveless marriage forever. If I do, then I know I’ll just wind up dead again.”
After I spoke, I looked away and clenched my jaw hard. No, I wouldn’t cry. I needed to be strong, but damn, it was hard.
Viona sighed softly and crossed the room again, gripping my hands in hers. “I understand,” she said gently. “But… is it really so loveless?”
“Wh…What?”
She shrugged. “I mean, it seems like he’s trying. Maybe you two could… I don’t know, rekindle what you once had.”
I let out a wry laugh. “Fat chance of that happening.”
There was a long silence—long enough for Viona’s words to sink in, at least. Maybe she was right… Maybe there was a way to rekindle our love. Unlikely, but there had to be at least a shred of a chance.
“Hannah,” Viona finally said, “I won’t tell anyone because I respect you and love you. And if you decide not to tell him, then I’ll support you through that.”
“Thanks, Viona.”
“But…” She paused, fixing me with a stern look. I braced myself for what was to come. “At least consider telling him,” she said softly, her hand coming to rest on my belly. “Just consider it.”
I swallowed hard and looked away. “I’ll think about it, Viona. I will.”
Chapter 0159