Chapter 0304

I just… never cared before. All I cared about was marrying a handsome man and becoming his Luna. I was weak before. But not now; now, I intended to take up my birthright and put that weak, simpering girl behind me.

“Oh, you know, just… worried about the family,” I replied, perhaps a little too quickly. “It’s been so long since I’ve been home.”

“Right,” Lily said slowly, not sounding entirely convinced. “Well, don’t worry too much. We’re managing.”

I was about to respond when a sound in the background caught my attention. It was faint, but unmistakable—the cry of a baby.

My eyes widened. “Lily… is that a baby?”

There was a sudden rustling on the other end of the line, and the crying became muffled as though she had slipped out of whatever room she was in. “What? No, no, that’s just… that’s the cat.”

“The cat?” I repeated, incredulous. “Lily, that sounded like a baby.”

“Well, it’s not,” Lily insisted, her voice strained. “Look, Hannah, I’ve got to go. We’ll see you in a couple of days, okay?”

Before I could protest, the line went dead. I stared at my phone, my mind racing. A baby? In Silvermoon? And why would Lily lie about it?

The next morning, I started packing for our trip to Silvermoon. I pulled out every suitcase I owned, filling them with clothes, books, and personal items—everything that was too precious to leave behind. If Noah thought I was coming back to Nightcrest after this visit, he was sorely mistaken.

As I lugged another heavy suitcase down the stairs, Noah appeared in the foyer, his eyebrows raised. “Planning on staying awhile?” he asked, eyeing the growing pile of luggage.

I shrugged, not meeting his gaze. “Just want to be prepared.”

Noah crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “Prepared for what, exactly? It’s just a birthday party.”

“You never know,” I said vaguely, heading back upstairs for another load.

When I returned with two more bags, Noah was still there, his expression a combination of amusement and concern. “Hannah, seriously. What’s going on?”

I dropped the bags with a thud, straightening up to face him. “Nothing’s going on. I just like to have options.”

“Options,” Noah repeated, his voice flat. “For a weekend trip.”

“Yes, options,” I snapped. “Is that a problem?”

Noah held up his hands in surrender. “No problem. Just curious.”

I turned away, busying myself with reorganizing the luggage. “Well, don’t be. It’s none of your business.”

Noah stared at me incredulously as I continued going through the luggage, and I ignored him. Finally, seeming to grow tired of watching me, he turned on his heel and strode off.

“For what it’s worth,” he called over his shoulder, “as your husband and the father of your child, I’d say it is my business.”

“Not for long,” I muttered under my breath.

Noah suddenly stopped and glared at me over his shoulder. “You’re planning on staying in Silvermoon, aren’t you?”

I lifted my chin defiantly. “And what if I am?” I asked. I didn’t care if he had a suspicion that I wasn’t coming back to Nightcrest with him, or that he might even try to drag me back kicking and screaming. I wasn’t coming back. I’d die again before I let that happen.

“Hannah,” Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Hannah, Hannah, Hannah…”

With that, I pursed my lips at him and scurried past with my arms full of bags. Noah sighed but didn’t argue. In fact, he even picked up a couple of bags and headed out to the car with me.

Once the last bag had been packed, I flung the car door open. Without looking at Noah, I slid into the passenger seat, slamming the door behind me.