Noah was instantly on his feet and at her side, his heart pounding out of his chest as he cradled her in his arms, following the doctor's instructions to place her on the bed. His concern was palpable as he called her name, trying to rouse her.
In that moment, he didn't care that she wasn't his wife, to be reacting like that. In his heart, she belonged to him, and it was unbearable for him to see her unconscious and vulnerable.
The doctor had to push him aside to elevate the legs of the bed. "It's just shock, but we need to do a thorough evaluation, just to be sure it's nothing serious." The doctor said with urgency in his voice, which didn't ease Noah's anxiety.
When the nurse arrived, Samantha was now coming to. Noah's eyes darted between Samantha's pale face and the doctor's and nurse's movements. Noah protested when he had to step out of the room to have an ECG done. They insisted that only her husband could be in with her, which hit him like a punch to the gut.
Noah stepped outside the room, his heart aching that he wasn't inside with her. He leaned back against the wall, trying to compose himself. He was Saint's dad, but that didn't change the fact that he was still the outsider. Samantha wasn't his, and now, with the paternity out, he could rectify it. The sterile smell of the hospital and the distant sounds of medical equipment faded into the background as he reflected on the journey that lay ahead. He needed to secure his role as Saint's father legally, and that was going to cause a significant upheavel in her marriage and give him the opening he needed.
Noah envisioned a future where the kids would have the father they were meant to have. He and Liam were identical, so even though Liam wasn't around, it was like Shevon still would have his dad. And he would also have Samantha, the love of his life. The woman he hadn't gotten over after three years.
When he was called back into the room, he quickly snapped out of his contemplation and swiftly headed back in. Samantha was sitting up sipping water. She still had a pale cast to her face. "How are you feeling?" He asked approaching her.
"I'm okay. Thanks." She replied, avoiding his eyes, staring down into the glass. "So you were right. Shaun lied to me, so what am I going to do?"
Noah, attuned to her emotions heard the bitterness and the depth of betrayal in her voice and ached to hold her. "Shaun tampered with our lives. He took away your choice and manipulated everything. You can choose to take control now."
"What if I still love him?"
He rocked back as if slapped, hearing her confession and the mixture of confusion and vulnerability. Noah took a deep breath choosing his words carefully. "You know love is about trust and respect. Shaun hasn't demonstrated either of those things. He took advantage of your vulnerability when you were at your lowest." Noah's gaze was unwavering amd earnest as he tried to convey the gravity of what Shaun did. He was so close he could smell the familiar floral shampoo he loved wafting up from her hair. "He stole your love. Shaun may have been present, but he manipulated the truth which is not love." Noah leans in slightly closer. " I don't want to invalidate what you feel, but you deserve better than this. You deserve someone who values you. Who would never dream of stealing your love or your memories."
