Chapter 264

Chapter 264
Emma

The morning sunlight streamed through the gauzy curtains of the beach house, casting golden patterns across the polished wood floors. I stretched languidly in bed, savoring the peaceful quiet and the distant sound of waves.

Noah had slipped out earlier—I'd felt his gentle kiss on my forehead before drifting back to sleep. The lingering warmth from his side of the bed made me smile into my pillow, knowing he couldn't have been gone long.

After our wedding re-registration and the intimate celebration that followed, we'd escaped to this secluded spot on the coast. A perfect honeymoon, even if it was technically our second one.

The smell of something delicious finally lured me out of bed. Wrapping myself in a silk robe, I padded barefoot toward the kitchen, only to stop short at the sight before me, my hand instinctively rising to my mouth in surprise.

Noah had transformed the dining table into a feast. Bubble tea in tall glasses with extra-wide straws, a mountain of fried chicken, an assortment of pastries, fresh fruit, and several small plates of appetizers were arranged artfully on the wooden surface. He'd even added a small vase of wildflowers, their colors bright against the rustic table.

"What is all this?" I asked, unable to hide my surprise, my eyes widening as I took in the elaborate spread.

Noah looked up from where he was arranging the last few items, his face breaking into that crooked smile that still made my heart skip a beat. He wore casual linen pants and a white t-shirt that emphasized his tan, looking nothing like the intimidating CEO the world knew him to be.

"Breakfast," he replied simply, pulling out a chair for me. "Or brunch. Or whatever meal you want to call it." His hand found the small of my back as I approached, the casual touch sending warmth through me.

I surveyed the spread with narrowed eyes, trying to maintain a serious expression despite the joy bubbling up inside me. "Are you trying to turn me into a fat person? Because this looks like a pretty effective strategy."

Noah laughed, the sound warm and relaxed in a way I was still getting used to. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he gazed at me with undisguised affection. "These are all your favorite things. I figured we could eat while watching the ocean, and you don't have to worry about finishing everything." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, letting his fingers linger against my cheek.

"That's not how food works," I countered, but I was already sliding into the chair, eyeing the fried chicken hungrily. My fingers drummed excitedly on the table as I tried to decide where to start.

"It's exactly how food works on vacation," he insisted, taking the seat opposite me, his knee gently bumping against mine under the table. "No rules."

I bit into a piece of perfectly crispy chicken, letting out an involuntary moan of pleasure. "Okay, you win this round," I conceded, licking a drop of sauce from my finger.

Noah watched me eat with such tender attention that I felt myself blushing. He occasionally reached across to wipe a crumb from my lip or refill my glass, his fingers deliberately brushing against mine each time. We talked about nothing important—the weather, the nearby town we wanted to explore, whether the water was warm enough for swimming—but the conversation flowed with an ease that felt miraculous after our complicated history.

It struck me how different this was from our early days together. The tension and calculation that had marked our interactions for so long had dissolved, replaced by something genuine and effortless.

It hadn't been an easy journey to get here, but sitting across from Noah, watching him laugh at my terrible jokes while the ocean breeze ruffled his hair, his hand occasionally reaching for mine as if he couldn't bear not touching me, I knew it had been worth it.

My phone buzzed on the table, and I glanced down to see Marcus's name on the screen. My heart did a little flip—my brother was calling. I chewed my lip anxiously, torn between excitement and worry.

I still wasn't fully used to thinking of Dr. Marcus Reid as my brother, but the DNA test had confirmed what seemed impossible: we shared a father. The mysterious Chronos, who had orchestrated so much chaos in both our lives.

"It's Marcus," I told Noah, answering the video call, my fingers slightly trembling.

Marcus's face appeared on the screen, looking tired but alert. The background behind him was nondescript—some hotel room or safe house, I assumed. He was on assignment, tracking down the remnants of our father's organization.

"Hey," he said, his voice hushed. "Just checking in. Sorry to interrupt your getaway."

"It's fine," I assured him, angling the phone so Noah could see too. My shoulders tensed slightly, a habit whenever I was worried about someone I cared for. "We're just having breakfast. Everything okay?"

Marcus ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I'd noticed we both shared. "Yeah, all good. Making progress. We've identified three more operatives in Chicago."

Noah leaned in, his chest warm against my back as he looked over my shoulder. "Any pushback?"

"Nothing we can't handle," Marcus replied, but there was something in his eyes that told me he wasn't sharing everything. "Listen, I can't talk long. Operational security and all that."

I nodded, understanding but disappointed, my fingers fidgeting with the sleeve of my robe. Despite our complicated beginnings, I'd grown to care about Marcus. He'd protected me for years without my knowledge, risking everything to keep me safe from our father's experiments.

"When do you think you'll be back?" I asked, unable to keep the note of longing from my voice.