Chapter 8

The night was unforgiving, the biting cold seeping through Noelle’s thin clothing and chilling her to the bone. Yet, she stayed outside, sitting on the front steps of their house, refusing to go back inside. The warmth of their home now felt like a prison, suffocating her with memories that once brought her joy but now only served to twist the knife deeper into her heart.

Noelle hugged her knees, her bare feet numb against the concrete, her fingers trembling as they clutched the edge of her cardigan. The wind howled, cutting across her skin like icy blades, but she didn’t move. She couldn’t.

She glanced down the empty street, her eyes scanning for the familiar sight of Adrian’s car. But the road was silent, just like her phone, which she had left inside. He hadn’t called, hadn’t texted—not even a simple message to let her know he was running late.

Her teeth chattered as the cold seeped into her bones, but she didn’t care. She deserved this, she thought bitterly. Sh