Chapter 0294
Hannah
The next day, I woke up feeling groggy and irritable. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, but it did little to improve my mood.
I didn’t expect Noah to show up again. Yesterday was probably just a one–time thing, a way to placate me or ease his guilt. And so, after showering and having breakfast, I settled into the living room with a book, determined to enjoy my solitude.
But to my surprise, Noah burst through the door at precisely the same time as yesterday. A little early, in fact.
“Get ready,” was all he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “We’re going out.”
I lowered my book and stared at him, dumbfounded. “What? Where? Why?” I asked. I didn’t want to go out, especially not with him; I wanted to be left the hell alone.
“We’re going to the nursery store,” he replied almost exasperatedly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Come on, hurry up and get dressed. I made an appointment.”
Begrudgingly, I got up and went to change into something suitable for going out. I had no intention of building a nursery with him, but I figured it was easier to go along with it for now. Anything to keep him placated while I brainstormed over how the hell to get out of this marriage.
The drive to the store was silent, save for the sound of a pop song playing on the radio. I stared out the window, watching the familiar streets of Nightcrest pass by, and repeatedly avoided any and all of Noah’s attempts to strike up a conversation–not that there were many, thankfully.
When we finally arrived at the nursery store a little while later, Noah held the door open for me, an oddly gentlemanly gesture that caught me off guard.
“Thanks,” I muttered, avoiding contact with his body as I walked past him.
Inside, the store was a pastel wonderland of cribs, changing tables, and tiny clothes. The scent of baby powder and new fabric filled the air, and I had to admit I was a bit astonished. For the first time since realizing I was pregnant, I was finally shopping for my baby.
It made it feel all the more real, all the more permanent.
Noah immediately started browsing, picking up items and showing them to me as we wandered through the store. Since we had made an appointment, an attendant followed us around the store with a large cart, answering any questions that we may have.
“What do you think of this?” Noah asked, holding up a soft yellow onesie for a newborn.
I shrugged, trying to maintain my indifference even though the butter–yellow color and the little embroidered ducks on the front were the cutest things had ever seen. “It’s fine, I guess.”
To my surprise, he immediately added it to our cart. I shook my head and continued wandering through
-the aisles.
My gaze landed on a little knit set then–a little sweater, pants, and a hat. It was a deep maroon color, with little lilies of the valley embroidered up the sleeves of the sweater and a ring of the same flowers
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Chapter 0294
around the brim of the hat.
I couldn’t help but smile. Pausing, I ran my fingers over the soft fabric, allowing myself to momentarily imagine my child–boy or girl, it didn’t matter–wearing the little set.
And no sooner had I touched the fabric than Noah had suddenly grabbed the set, tossing it into our cart.
“What the “I blurted out, but Noah had already moved on his way, distracted by an expensive stroller.
As we continued shopping, I noticed a pattern. Anything I so much as glanced at, Noah would add to our cart. It was infuriating and confusing all at once.
He had never been like this–shopping so mindlessly. Especially not when it came to things that I wanted. He had never stopped me from doing my own shopping, sure, but he had never been so… supportive.
I
“Noah,” I finally said, exasperated when he threw an expensive wooden toy set into our cart the second I laid eyes on it, “you don’t have to buy everything I look at.”
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Chapter 0205
