We Will Love Again – Episode 22
Noah felt the hotel suite tilt beneath the force of his mother’s admission. For five years, he had blamed Alaina alone. Now the woman he trusted most stood before him defending her role in the lie.
“You asked my fiancée to prove she loved me by destroying our engagement.” His voice was quiet enough to frighten Nora more than a shout.
“I asked her to stop allowing you to ruin your life.” Nora held her ground. “Harvard was gone. Oxford was next. How many opportunities was I supposed to watch you sacrifice?”
“They were mine to sacrifice.” Noah had once believed Alaina stole his right to choose. He now saw that both women had made the decision without him.
Nora’s anger sharpened. “You were twenty-two and blinded by love. Someone had to think about the future.”
“The future where I trust no one?” He remembered telling millions of viewers that self-reliance was the only safety. The lesson had made him wealthy and profoundly alone.
“The future where you built Triple AI,” Nora countered. “You are worth fifty billion dollars because she let you go.”
“I built it because I thought she despised me.” Noah’s expression hardened. “There’s a difference.”
Nora saw that argument would not restore the obedient son she expected. She reached for her purse. “You’re emotional. We’ll speak when you remember what she did.”
“Stay away from Alaina.” The command stopped her at the door. “You’ve interfered enough.”
Nora left without agreeing. By morning, she had located Crazy Maple Studio through news of Triple AI’s proposed acquisition. Protecting Noah’s future still felt, to her, like a mother’s duty.
Alaina was alone at the reception desk when Nora entered. The older woman looked elegant and unchanged, as though the hospital conversation had occurred weeks rather than years ago.
“Mrs. Preston.” Alaina rose instinctively. Her body remembered the fear before her mind found words. “What are you doing here?”
“Cleaning up a mess I believed was settled.” Nora glanced toward Noah’s temporary office. “You told him.”
“Peter did.” Alaina hated how quickly she defended herself. “Noah was already asking questions.”
“Then you should have denied everything.” Nora lowered her voice. “Do you have any idea what this can do to him?”
Alaina thought of Noah’s face at the café. “I know exactly what our silence did to him.”
“And telling him will turn him against his only family.” Nora’s words found the wound Alaina still protected. “Is that what you want?”
The office elevator opened before Alaina could answer. Noah stepped into the reception area and saw the two women facing each other.
Nora turned with a composed smile, but Noah had already noticed Alaina’s white knuckles gripping the desk. “I told you to stay away from her,” he said—and every employee within hearing distance fell silent.
