Wedcuffed

Chapter 59

Sarah's POV

I sat at the kitchen table, the sound of my heartbeat loud in my ears as I waited for Ester to come in from the living room. Alessandro had gone out earlier in the afternoon, leaving me with a reassuring kiss and a promise that everything would be okay. I wanted to believe him, but it was hard to shake the fear and the shadows Adrian had left behind.

The door creaked as Ester entered, her face soft with concern. She set down a mug of tea in front of me and sat across the table. Her silence spoke volumes—Ester knew me well enough to understand that I needed a moment to gather myself. The truth was, I didn't know where to start. I felt raw and exposed as if talking about everything might unravel me further.

I took a breath, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I'll ever be free of him, Ester."

Her eyes were sharp as she reached across the table and grabbed my hand. "You will, Sarah. You're stronger than him, stronger than everything he's tried to take from you."

I squeezed her hand, but the ache in my chest was still there. "I've tried to move on, but it's like he's always there, haunting me."

Ester's expression hardened. "Adrian won't get away with this. Alessandro's making sure of it, and you've got me, Sarah. I'm not going anywhere."

I nodded, the tears welling up in my eyes again. "I don't want Alessandro to get hurt because of me. I can't let Adrian keep controlling our lives like this."

Ester looked at me with a soft smile. "Alessandro is doing this because he loves you. He won't let Adrian hurt you again."

I exhaled shakily, and then something in her expression shifted. There was a glint in her eye that I hadn't noticed before. She hesitated for a moment, but then the words tumbled out.

"Actually, Sarah, there's something I need to tell you."

I blinked, suddenly aware that this wasn't just about Adrian. "What is it?"

She looked down for a moment, then back up, her voice soft but steady. "Noah... Adrian's friend... he proposed to me."

I gasped, taken aback. Noah had always been Adrian's closest friend, someone I'd thought would stick by him no matter what. But the way Ester's eyes softened, the blush creeping up her cheeks—it was clear she had feelings for him.

"You said yes?" I asked, my voice filled with disbelief.

She smiled nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I did. He's nothing like Adrian, Sarah. He's good, and kind, and he's been there for me through everything. I didn't expect it, but... I love him."

I stared at her, trying to process everything. "Are you sure? Noah... he was so close to Adrian. Does he know everything?"

Ester nodded. "He knows. And he's not like Adrian at all. He's been working on distancing himself from that life, from everything Adrian represents. He's different."

I could see the sincerity in her eyes, the hope that this new chapter would be different. I wanted to trust her, to believe that Noah wasn't tainted by his past association with Adrian. But a part of me still felt uneasy.

"I just... I don't want you to get hurt, Ester. Not after everything we've been through."

She squeezed a little tighter. "I know. But I'm happy, Sarah. Truly happy. And I think you deserve to be happy too. You and Alessandro."

Her words hung in the air as I let the warmth of her support wash over me. Ester had been my rock for so long, and if she trusted Noah, then maybe—just maybe—there was hope for something better.