"Yea,...you did but I don't know much about it because I was unconscious." Sydney tried to drift away from the topic.

"Were we married at the moment?" Noah asked and Sydney gave him weird eyes before telling, "No, we were not. But we got married shortly after...Is there anything that is disturbing you...I can explain..."

"No," Noah was quick to cut her off but Sydney couldn't help noticing his flustered face and red ears.

Sydney wondered why they had to get to his office but couldn't help reminiscing their first time here.

"Have a seat?" Noah made her sit on the couch while Sydney's heartbeat skipped looking at the files on the table.

"Is everything alright?" Sydney asked,

"Yea, everything is fine,...why do you look tense?" Noah asked holding her hand.

"We can have the talk later if you don't feel good," Listening to concern in Noah's voice Sydney relaxed a little and managed a smile. "I am fine,"

"I know I wasn't there when you wanted me most but I need to tell you something very important." Noah started,

"What is it?" Sydney whispered,

"Jasper didn't tell you about me or kids because the team did the best to save you..."

"I,...I don't want to hear it,..." Sydney cut him off,

"Listen to me,..." Noah trailed off before starting, "My granny was trying to kill you. I,...I know it is hard to believe...To save you, Jasper lied to her that you were killed. And, of course, you would have not stayed away if you knew I was alive and our kids are around." His heart clenched for the pain on her face and how she bit her lip so hard.

He held her hand before revealing, "I have applied for a restraining order against my granny. I,...I can't legally proceed with the whole procedure. She...she is old and have medical conditions but...if I ever got out of the picture. She will never have any claims on your kids. And, as long as I am around you she will be caged in her castle."

Sydney looked at him with doubts in her eyes. She knew how much he was attached to his granny for his own weird reasons because though Sydney had never seen her she knew that lady must look vile. She was still processing the news when he added, "Here, take it."

"What is it?" Sydney asked before getting the file from his hand.

"The file has easy interpretation to the all secret routes in all of the estates owned by Miller enterprise." She heard Noah say and asked,

"Why are you telling me all of this?" Sydney looked at him in confusion but noticed him retrieving a box.

"Let me complete, this wristwatch is bugged. Kids have their own gadgets and I will give one to Nick too. Kids know better than to remove it and you should too. Sydney..." Noah trailed off to show her how it opens from the back and make her see a string.

"You pull this string and authorities will know in an instant that you are asking for help and want to be tracked," Noah said and she looked at him with confusion.

"Why are you doing all of this?" Sydney asked,

"I can keep my granny away from you but until I don't find a way to put a leash on Carol's ways. We always need to be more cautious...I have made some arrangements..." Noah stopped before continuing, "Mr. Benz will leave for Germany in two weeks' time. I have invested in his father's company and he is very much interested in the deal."

"...Thank you." Sydney smiled a little. The realization that he made the effort to keep Maria away from her kids made her heart at ease.

"The file has information about an agent too. He will be on your payroll. Don't worry I have arranged an account for you to pay him for the five years. He will take orders from you only. So...when you feel to take a decision to protect yourself or kids you can use him to retrieve any information and order any action without my prior consent." Noah said and Sydney gaped at him before uttering,

"I think this is a lot and unnecessary," But felt his hand grazing her cheek. She looked up to notice the guilt in his eyes before he said, "You will never understand the pain having your wife in your arms who is scared to give birth over lack of protection she owns in his husband's arms. And, the worst part is? My family is the reason behind your miseries...Sydney, I know it seems unfair but I would like you to stay quiet about all of this to our kids. Let them only know the love everyone has for them. We are here to protect them. If they ever come to know what my granny did to you. They will have trust issues, forever..."

"We can do that," Sydney assured him without wasting a minute.

"Sydney..." Noah trailed off and seemed to be deep in his thoughts before adding, "If you are pregnant the last thing I want you is to worry or hide it from me." Noah said making Sydney press her lips before she spoke,

"How can I ever hide it from you?" She smiled but Noah was quick to say,

"Well, I would love to join you if you ever run a pregnancy test in the future too." She took a few seconds to process and got her eyes widened,

"I,...I...did you check the strip?" Sydney asked but was cut off when Noah questioned back, "You didn't?"

She had confusion in her eyes before she shook her head in no, "I was in a panic. I wasn't really checking it,"

"We are expecting..." Silence followed before Sydney slowly looked at her waist and then back to Noah.

The surprise was enough to inform Noah that she didn't know about it. Noah held her hand before whispering, "Sydney, listen to me. Your kids are safe. I am here. But you...you need to be saved. We can go and seek help."

Sydney looked at him with wary eyes but after a few minutes revealed, "I...I was seeking help from someone. But...the day I found you and kids. I didn't have any time to talk to her. And,...I thought you will...judge me."

"Why I will ever judge you? My family rips you off from your rights and literally threw you on the streets...You can talk to her or the best? You can talk to me," Sydney nodded before Noah asked, "And, by the way, will you enlighten me why you never claimed your rights on the property?"

"I was...I lost you, Noah. No amount of wealth in this world can replace your arms. My best shot to live was to drown myself into work just like you did once..."

"Me?" Noah seemed surprised.

Bind your tongue, Sydney. Sydney screamed in her head,

"I meant..." Sydney gave a pat on his shoulder with a smile before whispering, "You will know, soon."

"I guess here you start with yours, I won't tell you. Know on your own game again but I will let it slide. Just keep my prego wife happy...Can I touch it?" Noah held her cheek and grazes his thumb over her face while she blinked and looked at her belly again. "Thank you," Sydney said and felt him grazing his hand on her belly.

"For what?" Noah asked with his eyes still on her belly.

"For this baby...for always being you......thank you," Noah looked at her and wondered how he managed to get this angel.

"Come here," Noah guided her over his lap and held her close to his chest.

"I am the luckiest..."Noah whispered before taking her lips in a soft kiss.

"Let's not keep my baby hungry,..." Noah whispered against her lips and looked at her beautiful face in wonder.

"Mom," Amber knocked on the door and they both got sobered before letting her in.

"Dinner's ready," Amber chirped and Sydney was surprised knowing Amber could be very responsible at times.

They were walking behind Amber when Sydney mentioned, "I hope it's a girl,"

"You like Amber more?" Noah asked,

"No, I have a name for a girl," Sydney shared and Noah laughed asking, "What?"

"Shannon," Sydney said and saw Noah still. "What happened?" Sydney asked, "Oh, it's nothing," Noah smiled before getting to the dining area.

Noah woke up early in the morning to see Sydney sleeping peacefully beside him. He feared what Jasper had to tell him but he was ready to do anything to protect his wife and kids no matter what dangers are looming over them.

Last night he recalled how they decided to name their kids Nick and Shannon. He couldn't help and think about Sydney's misery. He knew if she could afford another child she would have adopted a girl and named her Shannon. He carefully got out of the bed and left a note before leaving for his office.

He knew Jasper must already be there and couldn't wait to know on what important matter Jasper was spending a huge budget for the last three years.

"Good morning, Mr. Miller." Noah heard Jasper say but only spared him a nod.

"Jasper! Let's start with what you have to tell me about the potential danger over my family and your explanation will decide if the budget you have spent so far is justified or not."

Jasper looked at him disappointed before uttering, "Your answer is Lucifer."

"Lucifer?..."

"I think it is time that you are informed that you were never in an accident. You were shot by...Lucifer."

"Excuse me?" Noah sucked a little on the air.

"Your doctor was of the view that any kind of emotional trigger would have halted your recovery. But Mr. Miller...it is time now."

Silence prevailed before Noah asked, "Why? Why did he shot me?"

"Your granny had always pay Lucifer 10 million a year. But it was more of a security pact..."

"What age we are living in?" Noah asked,

"Of course, you had the same set of thoughts in the past too. But...in one of your business tours to Paris he set his eyes on Mrs. Miller..."

"What?...what?" Noah first asked in surprise and then in a sour face.

"You two decided to deliver your kids in your favorite estate. Mrs. Miller got a call about your fake accident. She was en route to the hospital when Lucifer tried to kidnap her. We were informed. Mrs. Miller's driver informed us about the potential threats before his last breath. But you got there before us and he shot you straight in the head,..."

"You told me I was in an accident...How?... Did you reach her in time?" Noah asked totally forgetting she was safe in his home now.

"I,...I need to take you to hospital..." Jasper tried to continue but Noah was quick to cut him off,

"You should have followed him. She was pregnant!" Noah almost yelled,

"I got there in two days. Mrs. Miller had already delivered the babies and refused to come with me without her babies. Things got hard saving them and we had to flee without much support."

"What about Sydney?" Noah whispered as a chill ran in his body. He could only imagine what horror she would have experienced.

"I was injured while your granny denied any help to Mrs. Miller. Sydney...Mrs. Miller called me two weeks after the incident. I was still in hospital and knew she will be in danger if your granny or Lucifer got to know about her. So, I contacted Saad. No one knew about my contact with him. And, I knew she will be safe there. We had an eye on her all this time."

Noah looked at Jasper for two good minutes before asking, "From where you got the heart to tell her that her kids weren't saved?" Noah seemed disappointed,

"We didn't have to tell her. It turns out that after losing control over your kids, Lucifer staged their deaths and let Mrs. Miller believe that they were no more,..."

"Where is he now?" Noah asked,

"The news that Mrs. Miller is alive will get him back. For apart, I didn't want Mrs. Miller to return now. It would have been perfect if we were able to trace Lucifer and kill him before she arrives."

"Have you traced him already?" Noah was quick to ask.

"We were not even able to get his latest pictures. Either he is dead or got perfect in hiding. But it's not his pattern. So, we doubt that he is in other troubles..."

"Jasper,...do you really think I am sitting here to listening to you praising the goon who kidnapped my wife?" Looking at his balled fists Jasper felt bad for him.

Noah swung in his chair to look at the sky. It was grey reflecting his inner battle. Jasper had all the reasons for lying to him. He couldn't even go off at him.

For a second, he couldn't help but wonder if this is the reason that his wife wanted his memory back. He recalled how he kept telling his wife to share things if she wanted to but she didn't. Does she really believe that I can't protect her? Or she fears I will let her down? Sydney....He let out a cold sigh.

"I want you to get to Lucifer and kill him. But I want you to get security around my family tighten too...And, let me ask you once more. Is there anything else I should know?"

His eyes held the storm but Jasper knew it wasn't his place to tell him anything.

"There is nothing I should be telling you further. I have explained all the matters that concern my job." Noah heard Jasper say and his heartbeat quickened.

Is Sydney hiding something from me? He thought and ordered, "I want daily reports from you. About every single matter you are running in this investigation."

"Of course, Mr. Miller," Jasper said before taking his leave.

All the information revealed to him was nothing less than a shock but it didn't matter. The realization that Jasper lied to him, his friends lied to him, or his granny brutally scarred him were aside and the only thing he could focus on was his wife...Sydney. She was the only one who silently got him agreed to get his treatment. She was the only one who had nothing to hide. He realized that all this time she was loving him and leading him to the light of truth.

He could see that it was essential to protect his family that he got his memories back. And, no one cared besides Sydney. His kids and he himself didn't matter anything to anyone except to his wife.

Taking a deep breath he got his cellphone out to look at her picture he clicked when she was sleeping in the morning. "I swear to never let you down. I promise..." He whispered and laughed looking at a tear trailing down his cheek. For a second, he wondered what would have happened if Sarah was at her place and knew in an instant that she could have not managed. No woman could have managed except her. Everything happens for a reason and he realized that Sydney and he were meant to be together.

He got back to his place but it was pouring hard at that time. He got in to get to his room but found it empty. He didn't change his clothes and look for Sydney in Gideon's room before getting into Amber's room where he found his whole family at once.

"Hello everyone," Noah said his greeting but saw only Nick and Amber remove their headphones to look at him while Sydney and Gideon kept looking at the screen.

"Dad!" Nick and Amber ran to meet him while Sydney and Gideon only passed him a smile before getting their attention back to the screen.

"What's up?" Noah asked and Amber replied,

"Gideon and Mom are scared of lightning. So, Nick got them at playing games with full volume." Nick looked at Noah as if he had solved the world's huge mystery.

"You have done a great job," Noah said before taking Nick and Amber to the kitchen and prepared hot chocolate milk. Sydney and Gideon got their headphones for the next one more hour and didn't care for how they were trolled after by Amber and Nick.

Sydney did notice Noah's gaze over her and wonder what it could be. "Was everything fine in the office?" Sydney asked him while kids were busy watching the Lion king.

"Yea,..." Noah whispered before kissing the back of her hand. "How are you? How my Shannon is doing?" Noah asked making Sydney smile.

"Have you thought about how to tell them?" Sydney asked him looking at her kids.

"You have any plan?" Noah asked but Sydney could hear he was not interested.

"I was thinking to wait until we can keep it," Sydney said making Noah nod.

"Let's do it this way,"

Sydney noticed how Noah spoke very little for the next two days. And, on the third night, she opened her eyes to saw him sitting at the edge. She looked at his tense back and worried about what he is going through. She got his attention when she lighted her bedside lamp. He didn't move and she went to hug his back.

They stayed the same for a while before Sydney whispered, "You know you can tell me anything,"

Silence remained and it only got Sydney tense. "It is fine if you don't want to talk. We both know you will figure it out."

"I have a question," She finally heard him say and worried over his tone.

The next chapter will be up soon.

The next chapter will have the most emotional revelation. And, you think you can guess it but no,

I would appreciate it if you can check out my story Needs.

You can find it on my profile.

The story is seven-chapter old and will have regular updates the moment I finish Shattered,

I know a lot of you won't prefer to start a story that is destined to go on to sales but I will appreciate it if you still can check it out and write your feedback to me.

Have a great day,

XOXO