Chapter 189: Killing Me Slowly
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About halfway down the hallway, I almost bumped into Mom, who was gliding past in one of her effortlessly chic outfits, waving her hands animatedly at a group of maids and servants trailing behind her, all clutching clipboards and fabric samples.
She was deep into redecoration mode, pointing out crown molding that seemed to offend her aesthetic and chatting about whether to go with eggshell or ivory for the guest suites.
"And I’m thinking we switch out the drapes in the east wing for something lighter—maybe a soft sage to let in more natural—" She paused mid-sentence when she noticed me, her perfectly manicured hand frozen in the air. Her piercing blue eyes narrowed, scanning my face as if she had a built-in radar for emotional crises.
"Noah, sweetheart," she said, stepping away from the group and moving towards me with that concerned tilt of her head she always used when she sensed something was off. "You look absolutely miserable. What’s going on?"
I mustered what I hoped was a tired smile and shrugged, holding onto my backpack strap like it was a lifeline. "Nothing, Mom. Just... really tired. Long day." My voice came out flat and unconvincing, even to my own ears, but I just didn’t have the energy to make it better.
She frowned, clearly not believing a word of it, but before she could start the full lecture—complete with a gentle hand on my forehead and questions about whether I’d had enough protein today—I mumbled a quick goodnight and hurried past her towards my room.
I slipped inside, closed the door with a soft click that felt louder than a slam, and leaned against it for a moment, releasing a shaky breath.
On the other side, I could hear her hesitate, probably staring at the closed door with that little crease between her brows. But Mom was nothing if not persistent; after a beat, her voice picked up again, bright and sure as she resumed directing the crew about upholstery samples and accent walls. Footsteps faded down the hall, and finally, I was alone.
Hours later, after the sun had set and painted my room in soft twilight hues, I sat cross-legged on my bed in my favorite oversized hoodie, staring at the stuffed penguin Ethan had won for me at the carnival on our first date.