Chapter 0052

Hannah stood frozen in Drake’s arms as the surrounding chaos subsided into a semblance of normalcy. The warm amber lights illuminated the room, revealing the haunted house as a cleverly constructed set, complete with costumed actors and special effects.

Pulling away from Drake, her heart still pounding, Hannah’s gaze fell upon Noah across the room, his arms protectively encircling Zoe’s trembling form. Zoe was crying, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.

Drake shrugged, a mildly amused expression on his face. “Shall we?” he asked, gesturing toward Noah and Zoe.

Hannah nodded mutely, following as they approached the couple. Noah looked up, his features hardening slightly.

“What’s going on?” Hannah asked, frowning at Zoe’s distress. Whether her upset or her proximity to Noah caused her frown, she couldn't say.

“It’s nothing,” Noah replied gruffly, tightening his hold on Zoe. “Just too much stimulation, I think.”

Zoe whimpered, burying her face against Noah’s chest. Hannah’s brow furrowed with concern, and a sharp, unpleasant feeling gnawed at her stomach.

“Are you sure she’s alright?” Hannah pressed. “Maybe we should call it a night.”

“An excellent suggestion,” Drake interjected. “I think we’ve all had enough excitement. Wouldn’t you say so, Zoe?”

At the sound of Drake’s voice, Zoe’s head snapped up, her gaze fixed on him with venom. With a strangled cry, she wrenched herself free from Noah’s grasp and stumbled away, a hand pressed to her mouth as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

Noah watched her go, his expression unreadable. An awkward silence hung in the air. Then, with a sigh, Noah followed Zoe without a word, leaving Drake and Hannah alone.

“Well,” Drake said, raising an eyebrow. “That was certainly… dramatic.”

Hannah shot him a withering look but followed Noah and Zoe. She found them outside the haunted house, Zoe hunched over, gasping for breath. Noah stood beside her, a hand resting soothingly on her back.

As Hannah approached, Noah looked up. She opened her mouth to speak, but he shook his head, silencing her.

“She’s alright,” he murmured. “Just overwhelmed.”

Hannah frowned, studying Zoe’s trembling form. Then, grabbing Noah’s arm, she pulled him away. He resisted, but a sharp look from Hannah made him release Zoe and follow her to a secluded corner.

“What’s really going on, Noah?” Hannah asked quietly, glancing cautiously at Drake, who had approached Zoe. “I mean, first dinner, and now this…”

Noah ran a weary hand over his face. “Zoe’s been under incredible stress lately,” he admitted quietly. “With the divorce and everything with Drake…” He shook his head. “Tonight was too much for her.”

Stress, Hannah thought. I’m stressed too, but my stress doesn't seem to matter.

A pang of guilt struck her as she watched Zoe struggle to breathe. She had been so focused on her own anger and hurt.

Zoe lifted her head, wiping away tears as her gaze met Hannah’s. “Hannah, I’m so sorry,” she gasped, her voice trembling. “I never meant to ruin your evening…”

Hannah took a step closer. “No, Zoe, you didn’t ruin anything. I…”

Before she could hesitate, she pulled Zoe into a hug, feeling Zoe stiffen before relaxing.

“I’m sorry,” Hannah murmured, squeezing her eyes shut. Tonight felt like her fault—her arrangement with Drake had gone further than intended, and she never meant to hurt Zoe. It had been self-serving and cruel to conspire with her ex-husband.

They stood there for a moment, Drake and Noah watching with surprise. When they separated, Zoe managed a watery smile.

“Thank you, Hannah,” she said softly. “I feel better now.”

Hannah smiled back, squeezing Zoe’s arm before glancing at Noah. His expression was inscrutable, his gaze flickering between them with an intensity that made her stomach churn.

They started toward the parking lot, another silence falling over the group. At the cars, Drake cleared his throat.

“Well, ladies,” he said, “this has been eventful. Zoe, may I give you a lift?”

Noah started to object, but Zoe shrugged and nodded. “Sure. I guess.”

Drake and Zoe left, leaving Noah and Hannah alone in the amber-lit parking lot. An uncomfortable silence stretched between them.

Finally, Hannah turned to Noah. “Did you hear me calling for you back there?” she asked, her voice shakier than she intended. “In the haunted house, when that man with the chainsaw showed up… I called your name.”

Noah’s expression softened slightly, then hardened again. “Yes,” he said, unlocking his car. “I heard you.”

Hannah stared at him. “Then why didn’t you come for me?” she demanded. “Why was Zoe the only one who mattered?”

Noah’s jaw tightened. “Zoe needed me,” he said.

White-hot fury surged through Hannah. “You still love her,” she hissed, slamming his car door shut before he could get in. “Don’t you?”