Dearest Noelle,

    You should've never tried to kiss me. Not because I was married. Not because it made Juliet mad. You shouldn't have kissed me because one taste was never going to be enough. I am left wanting what I can never have. And now you are gone.

    Please come back, and finish what you started.

    Ever yours,

    Aiden

― Aiden Summers to Noelle Montcliff after thirteen weeks of her disappearance.

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    "Aren't you nervous?" Aiden asked Noelle. 

    Although Noelle was nervous, years between them had taught her how to mask her expressions. "Why? It is just a party. And I have this," she used her free hand to conceal her face beneath a black mask.

    Aiden couldn't catch his breath. To be honest, he was having difficulty catching his breath whenever she was around. But right now, it was harder because she looked so alluring in her black gown, which perfectly clung to her curves, her hair swept behind—instead of a dastardly knot—with a few tendrils lying around her face. He had a strong urge to push them behind her ear.

    He ground his teeth at the direction of thoughts, he was already growing hard, and the night hadn't even started. This was going to be pure, exquisitely bad torture. And he was going to love every minute of it.

    He saw Noelle pick up a hideous black cloak, and tossing it over her dress. He frowned, but didn't complain because it was too cold outside. 

    He simply looped his arm around the crook of her elbow, and they walked in companionable silence. It was awkward, especially after their emotional row in the afternoon. 

    "Grandmother will be so happy."

    Noelle stiffened upon her mention, but didn't say anything. As they reached Manor, the warmth in Aiden's heart and fire burning within paled in comparison to the cold and dread he felt now. He stole glances at her, but she was too lost in her own thoughts. He gave her a hand a gentle squeeze, and Noelle met his gaze, then gave him a stiff nod, as if to say she was going to be fine. 

    When they entered the room swarmed with people, no one noticed them. Everyone were whispering about the 'Black Sheep Montcliff' which he himself found discomfiting. Aiden looked at Noelle to find complete indifference to the murmurs.

    She was so much better now—stronger, resilient and so confident. They reached the center where most of the Montcliff clan stood, eager to meet her after eight long years. Noelle slowly withdrew her mask, and gave them a polite smile. 

    "Mrs. Ainsley. Mr. Ainsley. How do you do?"

    Jane and Douglas recovered from shock of being formal addressed. "Noelle. You've changed." Jane smiled scornfully at her.

    "Of course," she gave her a crisp nod, then riveted her gaze to Grandmother who stood beside Jane. "Mrs. Lucinda Montcliff. You look dazzling as usual."

    The expression on Lucinda's face caused Aiden's heart to constrict. I just want to listen to her call me Grandma again.

    Lucinda tugged at a loose strand of her silvery hair—lord, she was nervous—and gave her the brightest smile. "My Noelle. You've grown so much, darling! I have been dying to see you, and knowing that you stayed so near the entire day didn't help much." Then she came forward, and wrapped her arms around her. 

    Everybody was watching the family reunion, their eyes widening in surprise. The whispers became violent by now.

    "You should have brought your husband with you. Imagine my shock when Aiden told me you got married—I always dreamed of watching you walk down the aisle, dear."

    "But I am not married. At least not yet."

    "But you last name—"

    "—is Frostine by choice, and not marriage. I hope you understand, I am past that phase now. I have no desire to be a Montciff anymore."

   Douglas Ainsley gave her an icy glare, "And what is exactly wrong with the Montcliff name? It gives you money and power, Noelle."

    Noelle simpered. "Both the things which I simply don't desire. Especially not from the Montcliffs." 

    Aiden didn't care about the altercation, because his mind was still reeling from the fact that Noelle had no husband. At least this time, he would be free of guilt and regret for wanting something which was not utterly forbidden. It felt right, and it was right. He didn't notice the man approaching towards them, outfitted in a black suit.

    "Noelle! How are you darling?" It was a handsome gentleman, around Noelle's age. Blonde hair, a warm smile revealing they were close.

    Noelle beamed. "Nicholas!" Then she wrapped her arms around his neck scandalously, and whispered something in his ear. The man—the guy who was his business partner— simply laughed in response.

    So much for thinking he could approach her even now. Noelle was not the hearty eyed teenager who used to dangle behind him in the past. She had different friends, responsibilities, and a devilishly business partner with whom she shared private jokes.

    "Why don't you introduce us?" Lucinda broke their reverie.

    "Of course. This isn't polite," Noelle cleared her throat. "This is my business partner, and a very dear friend, Nicholas Brooke." 

    Nicholas turned to Mr. Ainsley to shake hands. He sneered, but obliged. Noelle was swirling the glass of champagne in her hands, before she accidentally spilled it on Nicholas' jacket, and immediately regretted her jumpy ardor. "Oops. Why is it that whenever I'm around you, disaster happens? I'm so sorry."

    Nicholas gave him a candid smile. "Oh, no bother. I'm sure my valet has another suit to spare. Please excuse me ladies. Gentlemen." He gave them a polite bow and perambulated through the sea of guests until he was out of sight.

    When he left, Jane was the first to break the silence with her scathing tongue. "I see, you haven't changed after all, Noelle Frostine."

    Aiden rolled his eyes. If only Aunt Jane could see beyond her prejudices, she could see what a wonderful woman Noelle had grown to become. She was a sight to behold with many men stealing glances at her, without her even trying. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if Juliet's parents came to know about Noelle's visit. All hell could break lose.

    Noelle seemed least bother by her tongue. "I'll see you all around," she murmured politely, and strode towards the refreshment room. 

    Lucinda held Jane's wrist tightly in a painful grip. "You should have been polite to her. What is wrong with you, Jane?"

    Jane folded her arms across chest as she groaned, "How can she come bouncing back to our family after all this time? She's here only because you're ill, Mother. She's worried that you would cut her off from her share of inheritance. Didn't you see her haughty demeanor?"

    Lucinda chastised Jane softly, "We both know that's untrue."

    Aiden thought it was best to speak on Noelle's behalf. He couldn't bear such false accusations once again "She's business partner with Nicholas Brooke. Nicholas owns Intercorp, and she owns a controlling amount of shares of his company. Without even her Montcliff inheritance, Noelle is a millionaire on her own, Aunt Jane. Her shares amount to five hundred million dollars."

    Jane couldn't believe her ears. "Nonsense. She can't be that rich. If that's the case, then what is she even doing here? Surely not to renew familiar relations."

    Aiden ignored Jane's retort, and forced his gaze on Lucinda. "She's here for you. I hope you know that. She calls you Lucinda because—"

    "—Pride. She may claim she's not a Montcliff, but it doesn't simmer down the pride she has, Aiden. I know Noelle enough to realize she still cares for me. You don't have to make excuses on her behalf." Lucinda smiled with ardor.

   "I'm not making excuses for her behavior. She's still angry at us, and we must accept her anger, painfully so."

    Lucinda gave him a serene nod.

    Aiden smiled in return, and was glad that she understood the reason behind Noelle's anger. She was left a little broken by what happened eight years ago, no matter how much she tried to put it behind her with her cold and indifferent deportment. Eight years of bottled anger had left her so bitter but still she was innocuous.

    How wrong was he.

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    The grand premise of the house was no surprise to Noelle. The gold chandeliers above, and the dancing shadows of people inside made her feel so out of place. An overabundance of diamonds and gems caught the light, draped and dangling from elegant throats and wrists of ladies and gentlemen—god how much she loathed rich people—who laughed in merriment, and gossiped at her expense.

    She wished she could be curled into a ball beside Cecily, watching an action movie instead. Revenge business was messy.

    A voice startled her. "Why are you looking sorry?"

    Could Aiden ever leave her alone in her misery? No, actually. A forced habit since childhood. "Do I? I don't even realize it, Mr. Summers."

    Aiden scrunched his eyebrows in half-disgust and half-amusement. "We're back at it, huh? Why are you standing at the edge like a wallflower, Miss Frostine?"

   The fact that Aiden thought she was married was almost laughable. She could have no one near her. Never been kissed, that's what she would always remain. She remembered when she had almost kissed Aiden when he was married to Juliet. And the fight it had brought along with it, Juliet had almost thrown a vase at them when she saw them in the compromising situation. That followed a row of insults: whore, tramp, slut.

    Never mind the fact that she was pregnant with someone else's child.

    Noelle shook her head to break her chain of thoughts. She couldn't afford to think about Aiden and Juliet and their farce of a marriage. She focused her gaze on Aiden instead, "I was just thinking how hard it is to be different. No matter where the difference comes from."

    "You should not take what Jane tells you seriously." He spoke gruffly.

    "She's worried that I'm after the inheritance, isn't she? She has two sons and one daughter. I understand where she comes from now. When I was little, I would have been hurt, but now, I feel almost invincible. Her scalding words do not burn me anymore."

    "I don't know if that should make me happy, or upset me," he muttered, before clearing his throat, then spoke softly, "Are you and Nicholas—I mean—did you—"

    Noelle laughed at his nervousness. Who knew she could have that effect on Aiden? "Mr. Summers, Nicholas and I are friends. Close friends, nothing more. I do not allow more."

    "Good," he smiled, then shifted his gaze on the dance floor.

    Noelle's eyes caught Emmaline and Michael—they were called the cheater cheater couple—who looked into each other's eyes as if—as if—they were very much in love. "Isn't that the cheater cheater couple? They looked like they're in love."

    Aiden smirked. "You weren't here for a long time. You did miss an epic love story. They don't cheat on each other anymore, and they are at the topmost pinnacle of martial bliss now."

    "Whatever happened while I wasn't here," she guffawed gleefully. Aiden looked at her the same moment, his eyes glinting with such warmth, then he leaned closer as if he was going to kiss her.

    Noelle cleared her throat, leaned backward, and looked around for Nicholas. She then glanced at her watch, to avoid Aiden's intense gaze. "I'll take a walk in the garden. Need some time alone. People of Cherry Hills make my stomach nervous," she quickly excused herself, then stepped out.

    Aiden clucked his tongue as she left, cursing himself under his breath. It was so hard to look at her, and not feel anything like she did. He had eight years of hunger and frustration bottled inside her.

   And love. Of course, he still loved her. He had always loved her. Even when he was married to Juliet, as deuced it sounds. Maybe that's why his closeness to Noelle bothered Juliet so much. And now, Juliet was dead. There was an opening for them, but she wouldn't let him in.

    So goddamn stubborn.

    He followed Noelle, just to make sure she was alright. As he sauntered into the garden, he saw a movement in the bushes but ignored it. He saw Noelle walking under the moonlight, looking like Venus. When he was within two arm distance, he saw a glint of metal from behind the shrubbery—a gun pointed at Noelle.

    He scrambled in her direction to pin her down, when he heard the gunshot. The man with the gun scampered away in the darkness. He felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, and he leaned beside Noelle.

    "Aiden, no, no." Noelle gasped. "Why? Why? You stupid, stupid man. Why did you—ugh"

   He ignored her rambling, and desperately wanted to take his mind off the pain. "Which creature do I remind you of?" he asked, intensely gazing at her, when Noelle dug out a linen cloth from her cloak. She dabbed it on his wound to cease the bleeding. 

    She didn't reply.

    The crimson battled with the white of the cloth, and won easily without resistance. "Damn it, tell me, Noe. This question has been haunting me since years."

    Noelle gave him a questioning glance, she hadn't heard him at all. "Is it Apollo? Hades? Achilles? Definitely Achilles."

    Understanding dawned, then she slowly shook her head, and leaned closer to him. Her lips brushed ever so softly against his, and the pressure on his wound increased too but he couldn't feel it.

    The years of longing he felt was stronger.

    "Odysseus," she brought her lips to his ear, and whispered softly, as a lone tear rolled down her cheek—breaking her years long penance. "You were always my Odysseus, Aiden."