Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Rebuilt

Chapter 70: Rebuilt

She bit her lip, willing herself not to dy

She didn’t mean it. Not really.

But at the same time, she did.

She wanted to rum before this place felt too much like home. Before Valerian felt too much like hers.

“Noelle…” He uttered in a more careful tone. “Did I do something wrong?”

She shook her head quickly, but she still couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

Valerian exhaled, rumning a hand through his hair. His voice was steady, but there was a quiet urgency behind it. “You can stay here for as long as you want,” he assured her. “Treat this place as your home. If I’m making you uncomfortable, just tell me, and I’ll make sure 1-”

“No!” Noëlle blurted out, cutting him off before he could even finish.

Valerian froze.

“You’re not doing anything wrong, and you’re not making me uncomfortable,” she continued, her voice softer now but still insistent. “…At least, not in that way.”

Her hands clenched in her lap as she took a deep breath, summoning the courage to finally look him in the eyes.

“I just… I really want to go.”

Valerian didn’t react at first. He only stared at her, searching her expression as if hoping to find something–anything–that would tell him this wasn’t what she truly wanted.

But it was.

Her eyes were honest and pleading.

And it hurt.

More than he expected.

He had done everything he could to give her a safe place, a home where she didn’t have to run, where she didn’t have to fear anything anymore. And yet, she still wanted to leave.

“…Alright,” he finally said and stood up. “I’ll have someone prepare your things.”

Noelle watched him walk away, and for a moment, she thought she saw the briefest flicker of disappointment in his expression before he turned his back to her.

She tried to ignore the heaviness in her chest as she returned to her room to gather some of her things. The mansion’s staff had been efficient, and in no time, her bags were packed and ready to be loaded into the car waiting outside.

Now, she stood beside it with her hands gripping the strap of her small bag.

She glanced over her shoulder.

Valerian was nowhere in sight.

Somehow, she had expected him to be here, standing by the door, watching her leave. But maybe this was for the best. Maybe he didn’t want to see her.

She inhaled deeply and was ready to step inside.

Chapter To Rebail

But before she could, the driver’s side door suddenly swung open

To her utter shock, Valetian himself popped out of the seat, flashby her a playful grifi.

“Going somewhere?” he asked, leaning against the car like he had all the time in the world.

Noelle blinked. “What–what are you doing?

“Well, I figured,” he said easily, “if you’re going to leave, I shouldt least be the one to take you.”

She frowned slightly, eyeing him with suspicion. “…Why?”

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Valerian feigned offense as he placed a hand over his heart. “Can’t man want to spend a little more time with someone he cares about?”

Noelle narrowed her eyes. “Valerian-

“Relax,” he interrupted, smirking, “I’m not kidnapping you. I just want to take you somewhere first.

Her brows furrowed. “Where?”

“You’ll see.”

Before she could protest, he opened the passenger door for her, a silent invitation.

Noelle hesitated.

She had been so set on leaving. She had told herself it was the right thing to do. So why, when she looked at him, at the gentle warmth in his gaze, did she suddenly feel like it wouldn’t hurt to stay just a little longer?

After a moment, she sighed, reluctantly sliding into the seat.

Valerian grinned in satisfaction before shutting the door and walking back to the driver’s side. He started the engine, and with a

smooth turn, they were on the road.

The drive was silent and awkward for her, but not to Valerian. Noelle stole glances at him, confused by the sudden change in

him. He had been distant earlier. But now… he was different.

“Valerian,” she finally said, unable to hold back her curiosity. “Where exactly are we going?”

“You’ll see.” he repeated with amusement lacing his voice.

She frowned but said nothing and turned her gaze toward the passing scenery instead.

Almost half an hour later, the car slowed. Noelle barely noticed at first, lost in thought, until something familiar caught her eye.

Her breath hitched at the familiar street…

Her heart began to pound as she sat up straighter, eyes widening in realization.

“Wait,” she breathed.

Valerian said nothing, but the knowing smile on his face told her everything.

As the car came to a gentle stop, Noelle turned her head—and felt her chest tighten.

It was her flower shop.

The very one she had sold.

But it wasn’t just the same—it was better. The exterior had been carefully restored, the wooden panels were repainted, the sign above the entrance gleamed under the sunlight. Large, beautiful floral arrangements were displayed outside, making the entire place look as if it had come straight out of a dream.

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Chapter 70: Rebuilt

+25 BONUS

Her hands trembled as she reached for the car’s window wanting make sure she was looking at the right place. “I don’t understand…”

Valerian turned off the engine and looked at her softly. “I bought back.”

Noelle whipped her head toward him, eyes wide with disbelief.

“You–what?”

“I bought it back,” he repeated, his voice calm but firm. “And I make a few improvements. I wanted it to be exactly the way you dreamed it to be.”

Noelle stared at him, her lips parting slightly as his words settled in.

“H–how did you know?” she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper, still caught in the shock of the surprise in front of her.

Valerian didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped out of the car, rounding to her side and opening the door for her like a gentleman. Then, he extended a hand.

“You see…” he trailed off, his silver–grey eyes twinkling with mischief.

Noelle hesitated for only a moment before slipping her hand into his, letting him help her out of the car. The warmth of his palm sent a strange flutter through her chest, but she ignored it, too overwhelmed by everything else.

He led her forward until she was standing right in front of the shop. The place that had once been hers, the place she chose to give up.

And now, it was back in her hands.

“…A little bird told me,” Valerian finally said as a smirk tugged at his lips.

Just as Noelle was about to ask what he meant, a sudden burst of giggles erupted from behind her.

“Surprise!!!”

A small pair of arms wrapped around her waist, startling her so much that she nearly jumped.

She quickly turned, only to see Alexei clinging to her with a wide, triumphant grin on his little face.

“You should’ve seen your face, Noelle!” he giggled, looking up at her with excitement. “Uncle Val and I planned this together!”

She remembered those afternoons with Alexei, how he would sit beside her while his little legs were swinging off the edge of the couch as he listened intently. She had told him about the things she loved, the simple joys that made her heart light. She had shared pieces of her past, stories of her flower shop and the comfort it once brought her.

She never thought he would remember.

Her lips trembled as she looked back at her shop, overwhelmed by emotions she couldn’t quite put into words.

She had thought she had lost everything.

But here they were, showing her she hadn’t.

And while she was trying her best to keep her emotions in check, Valerian’s hand simply slipped into hers and held her hand tightly while he kept his eyes on the humble building in front of them.

“You know… when I had this place restored, the builders told me something interesting,” he murmured.

Noelle blinked, forcing herself to focus despite the emotions threatening to overwhelm her. “What?”

“They said some of the old wooden beams were too damaged to keep. If they left them as they were, the foundation wouldn’t hold, no matter how much they tried to reinforce it,” he explained. “So they had to replace them. Not to erase what was there

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Chapter 20 Rebuilt

before, but because they needed to make sure the place could stand strong again. To be better. To last.”

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“This place… it had to be torn apart before it could be built again. And now, it’s better than before. It is now a place that will stand tall for years to come.”

“Studier and more beautiful…” He paused and turned his head towards her then finally looked at her earnestly.

“Just like you, Noelle.”