CHAPTER 6: Uncertain
The clock on the wall ticked steadily. Each passing second only deepened the unease that clawed at Noelle's chest. She sat at the dining table with her hands resting on her lap and fingers twisting nervously. The food she had prepared hours ago sat untouched, now cold and unappetizing. Her eyes flicked to the clock again—10:05 PM.
Adrian still wasn't home.
Noelle's phone sat on the table beside her with its screen staying dark and silent. She had checked it dozens of times, hoping for a message, a missed call or anything to explain why he was late. But there was nothing. Not a single word from him.
She let out a shaky breath as her anxiety began bubbling to the surface. It wasn't the first time he'd been late, but tonight felt different. Her mind was in a storm of thoughts with each one more painful than the last.
'What if he's with her?'
The image of Bianca kissing Adrian earlier today flashed through her mind like a cruel taunt. Noelle clenched her fists. Her nails began to dig into her palms as she fought to push the thought away. But it wouldn't leave her alone.
It wasn't just Bianca. It was everything Carol had said. The cold, cutting words about how she wasn't good enough for him, how he'd chased after Bianca for years, how Noelle was just another phase, another mistake.
Her chest tightened, and her throat felt dry. She didn't want to believe it. Adrian had given her no reason to doubt his love for her. He had been kind, attentive, and devoted which were everything she had ever wanted in a partner.
But the scars of her past relationships were hard to ignore. She had been here before, sitting alone, waiting for someone who wasn't coming back, only to learn later that they had been with someone else. The pain of betrayal, the humiliation of realizing she hadn't been enough, it all came rushing back like a flood.
'No. Adrian's not like that,' she told herself, but the thought felt hollow.
She glanced at the cold meal in front of her and saw that the candles she had lit hours ago now melted down to stubs. She had wanted to make tonight special. She wanted a chance to talk to him, to clear misunderstanding occurred to her, and to have him tell her the truth about everything. She wanted to believe in him, in their love, but the silence was eating away at her resolve.
Her hand trembled as she picked up her phone again, staring at the empty screen. She typed out a message as her thumb hovered over the send button.
'Adrian, where are you? Are you okay?'
But Noelle ended up hesitating while biting her lip. Would he think she was overreacting? Was she? Her heart screamed at her to press send, but her pride, her fear, held her back.
She set the phone down with a frustrated sigh with tears stinging her eyes. The walls of their cozy home that was once a source of comfort, now felt oppressive. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold it together.
'I need to stop this. I can't let my past ruin what we have', she thought, but the ache in her chest refused to subside.
The clock chimed softly, marking another quarter-hour. It was now 10:15 PM, and there was still no sign of Adrian.
Noelle's thoughts spiraled again. 'Does he love me?' she wondered, her stomach twisting. 'Or am I just fooling myself?'
Suddenly, the sound of the front door unlocking jolted her from her thoughts. Her heart leaped in her chest, and she turned toward the sound.
Adrian stepped inside with a tired look in his amber eyes but warm as they landed on her. "Noelle," he said softly, noticing the uneaten food on the table and the tension in her posture.
Noelle swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she broke the silence. "You're late," she said softly, though the worry and accusation in her tone were unmistakable.
Adrian frowned, setting his keys on the table. "I'm sorry. The meeting ran late, and I couldn't leave earlier," he replied, his tone measured but weary.
"Oh... I see," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Normally, Adrian would greet her with a kiss, a smile, and an embrace no matter how tired he was. Tonight, there was none of that.
'Am I overthinking this?' she wondered, forcing herself to push aside the creeping doubts. But then, a faint scent wafted past her. A delicate, floral cologne she didn't recognize. Her chest instantly tightened at the realization.
"Where were you, really?" she asked in a steady voice this time as she met his gaze. Adrian froze, startled by the intensity in her eyes, so unlike her usual warmth.
"What? I just told you," he replied with a defensive edge creeping into his voice.
"Who were you with?" Noelle pressed, her voice cracking as tears began to well in her eyes.
Adrian sighed, his frustration evident. "Noelle... are you seriously doubting me?"
"Are you cheating on me?" she shot back, her words sharper than she intended.
Adrian flinched at the question, and though he quickly masked his reaction, Noelle caught it. Her heart sank like a stone, and the fear that had been gnawing at her finally spilled over.
"...Are you?" she repeated, her voice trembling as her lips quivered.
Adrian let out a long, exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Noelle, you're being ridiculous."
The dismissal stung, and she took a shaky step back. "Okay... I'll stop asking," she said quietly, turning away before he could see the tears that spilled over. She walked back to the dining table and began clearing the plates of the now-cold food she had spent time preparing.
Adrian watched her in disbelief as she scraped the untouched food into the trash. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice rising slightly.
But Noelle chose not to answer. She kept her focus fixed on her task as if it was the only thing keeping her together.
"Noelle!" he called out more firmly, stepping forward to grab her wrist.
The sudden contact startled her, and a jolt of fear shot through her. Memories of her past relationship crashed into her—of being grabbed, dragged, and hurt. Instinctively, she yanked her arm back as her wide eyes betrayed the panic she felt.
Adrian froze, his hand dropping to his side as he realized what he had done. "Noelle..." he began, his voice softening.
"The food was cold," she said simply in a hollow tone. She placed the last dish in the sink before turning and walking briskly upstairs to their bedroom.
Adrian stood there with guilt weighing heavily on his chest as he watched her retreat. He ran a hand over his face, sinking into a chair at the table. The tension in the room was suffocating, and he pinched the bridge of his nose as his thoughts spiraled.
With Bianca reappearing in his life, everything felt unsteady. His focus, his emotions—it was all in turmoil. But seeing the pain and fear in Noelle's eyes just now... that struck a chord deeper than he wanted to admit.
Meanwhile, Noelle closed the door as she arrived in the room. She leaned against it for a while with her hand clutching her chest as she tried to steady her breathing. Her tears came silently, streaming down her cheeks as she sank onto the edge of the bed.
She didn't know what hurt more, the scent of another woman's perfume on him or the fact that she felt like a fool for questioning his love. But the ache in her chest was undeniable, and as much as she wanted to believe him, the shadows of her past and the present uncertainty wouldn't let her rest.