Chapter 85

Noah's eyes were fixed on the phone in his hand, his face pale and drained of color, as if the conversation he had just ended had left him reeling. He didn't even flinch when Hazel entered the room, her sudden presence seemingly unnoticed. It wasn't until she spoke, her voice laced with concern and curiosity, that he snapped back to reality.

He hung up the phone with a jerky motion, his eyes darting up to meet Hazel's, a mix of shock and guilt written across his face. 

"Hazel...I...I wasn't expecting you," he stuttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hazel's eyes narrowed, her curiosity piqued. 

"What's going on, Noah? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost? You're shaking," she said, her voice softening as she took a step closer to him.

Noah's eyes darted around the room as if searching for an escape route or a plausible explanation.

 "I...I just received some unexpected news, that's all," he muttered, his voice laced with eva