Chapter 0384

“Besides,” Zoe continued, “if you’re worried about having an heir, Adam will become your heir once we’re married. You know how much he adores you already.”

Noah couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Zoe’s son. The boy had quickly wormed his way into Noah’s heart over the past few months. He was a good boy, not at all like his philanderer father.

Zoe’s cheeks flushed slightly as she added, “And… I wouldn’t be opposed to having another child. With you.”

The idea sent a thrill through Noah. He nodded, feeling some of the tension leave his body as he took another sip of tea. “I’d be more than happy to make Adam the heir to Nightcrest,” he said. “And having another baby with you… with the love of my life… That sounds wonderful.”

Zoe let out a relieved sigh, leaning up on her toes to press a soft kiss to Noah’s cheek. “I’m so happy we’re finally getting married,” she murmured. “After all these years, I still love you just as much as I did before our mate bond was severed.”

Noah’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of their mate bond. It was something that had been weighing on his mind lately. “Do you think…” he started, hesitating for a moment. “Do you think our mate bond will rejoin once we go through the wedding ceremony?”

Zoe’s eyes lit up, a radiant smile spreading across her face. “Of course it will,” she promised. “And then we’ll finally be one big, happy family… without her getting in the way and ruining everything.”

Noah felt a twinge of discomfort at her words, but he pushed it aside and took another sip of tea. Zoe was right. They were going to be happy together. This was what he wanted.

“Oh!” Zoe exclaimed suddenly, her eyes widening with excitement. “I almost forgot! I have some wedding samples I want to show you.”

She hurried over to a nearby drawer, pulling out a folder stuffed with fabric swatches and color palettes. Noah’s gaze followed her. He finished his tea and poured another cup. Zoe had introduced him to this jasmine tea a while back, and it really did soothe his nerves. It cleared his mind, making him realize the truth.

“What do you think about these for the napkins?” Zoe asked, holding up two nearly identical shades of cream. “I’m leaning toward the eggshell, but the ivory could work too.”

Noah squinted at the swatches, struggling to see any difference between them. “They both look nice,” he offered diplomatically.

Zoe rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “Come on, Noah. This is important. We want everything to be perfect for our big day.”

She continued to prattle on about table settings and floral arrangements, holding up various samples for Noah’s approval. He nodded along, making noncommittal sounds of agreement when prompted, as he sipped his tea.

He wanted to make his bride happy, to be excited about their future together. But as Zoe chattered away, Noah found his mind drifting. Despite his best efforts to focus on wedding plans and their life together, he couldn’t shake the image of Melody from his thoughts. Those forest green eyes, so much like his own, seemed to stare back at him from his memory.

And then there was Hannah. The way she had looked at him when he’d visited, a mixture of defiance and hurt in her eyes. The protective way she’d held their daughter—no, not their daughter, he corrected himself. Melody wasn’t his. Zoe had assured him of that.

But still, Noah couldn’t stop the nagging doubt that crept into his mind. He couldn’t stop thinking about that baby… and Hannah.

Noah poured another cup of tea.