Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 74

Extra Chapter 1

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Noelle had somehow convinced Valerian to take the day off and amparry Irer and Alexel to the mall. At first, he had been his usual grumpy sell about it, insisting that anything she wanted cord be delivered straight to their doorstep. But when she gave him that look – the one that made him question all his life choices he found himself reluctantly agreeing

And now, her he was, arms loaded with shopping bags while trailing behind his wife and nephew like a glorified pack mule.

Alexei, on the other hand began to walk beside him with an overpriced smoothie in hand, barely holding in his laughter. His silver–grey eyes sparkled with mischief as he took in his uncle’s current predicament.

“Uncle Val, you look like a peasant.”

Valerian exhaled slowly, adjusting the weight of the bags. “When you get married, you’ll understand. A happy wife means a happy life.”

Alexei took another loud sip of his smoothie, clearly unimpressed. Meh. You’re just scared of her.”

Valerian didn’t even try to deny it. He glanced toward Noelle, who was admiring a pair of shoes on sale with her eyes practically glowing in excitement. His stern expression softened instantly. If carrying half a department store on his arms meant she was happy, then so be it.

“Which one do you think looks better?” Noelle called out, turned to him while holding up two pairs of shoes.

Valerian looked at her, then at the shoes, then back at her. He had no idea what he was supposed to be looking at. “They’re… both nice?”

She sighed, rolling her eyes. “That’s not helpful.”

Alexei smirked. “He’s helpless, mommy Noelle. Just pick whichever one you like. Uncle Val doesn’t know the difference between a stiletto and a sneaker.”

Valerian narrowed his eyes. “I do, actually.”

“Oh yeah? Then which one is she holding?”

Valerian glanced at the shoes again. “…The expensive one.”

Alexei burst out laughing, and even Noelle shook her head fondly.

Valerian followed her, adjusting his grip on the bags. His arms were beginning to ache, but he would rather die than complain. He was a feared former mafia leader–he could handle a few shopping bags.

Or so he thought.

As they continued walking, Noelle suddenly slowed down. Her steps grew unsteady and her posture slightly slouched. Valerian who was ever watchful, noticed immediately.

His brows furrowed. “Milaya?”

Noelle barely had time to blink before a wave of dizziness washed over her. The bright lights of the store blurred and the chatter around her faded into a distant hum. She reached out, as if trying to grab onto something but before she could, she began to stagger back.

Valerian’s heart stopped.

“NOELLE!”

And that was the exact moment his brain completely malfunctioned.

His arms were still full of bags, and in his panic–fueled desperation, he forgot about the six–year–old standing beside him.

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Chapter 74: Protect

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Without hesitation, nor an ounce of forethought, he hurled all the hopping bags at Alexel.

Alexei barely had time to process what was happening before he was swallowed whole under a mountain of luxury goods. One of Noelle’s perfume boxes smacked him square in the forehead.

His smoothie? RIP. It hit the floor with a pitiful splat.

Meanwhile, Valerian had already lunged forward, catching Noelle just before she collapsed. His pulse roared in his ears as he cradled her against him.

“Noelle? Milaya, wake up.” His voice was rough with panic while his fingers tightened around her limp form. She didn’t respond and it made his stomach twist violently.

Valerian’s men who had been keeping a respectful distance just a few meters away, witnessed the entire disaster unfold.

And then they sprang into action.

Within seconds, two men rushed to excavate Alexei from the pile of shopping bags. Another man secured the fallen smoothie like it was a critical crime scene. The rest surrounded Valerian and Noelle in a tight defensive formation, half–expecting an assassination attempt.

Alexei who was finally freed, coughed dramatically as a pair of sunglasses slid off his head. “Uncle Val?!”

But Valerian wasn’t listening. His brain was fried. His wife looked pale and that was not okay.

“Where’s the nearest hospital?!” he barked in panic.

A store clerk immediately responded. “Uh, sir, she might just be dehydrated-‘

Valerian shot him a glare. “Did I ask for a diagnosis?”

The clerk took an instinctive step back.

“Boss, there’s a clinic nearby,” one of his men reported.

Valerian was already moving. He lifted Noelle effortlessly and stormed out of the store like a man possessed, cutting through the mall crowd with terrifying speed.

Alexei who was jogging after him, threw up his hands. “So we’re just not gonna talk about how you threw stuff at my face?”

Valerian didn’t even acknowledge the complaint.

“Cool, cool,” Alexei muttered. “Just making sure.”

By the time they reached the clinic, Valerian’s nerves were completely everywhere. He kicked the door open literally and barked, “HELP HER.”

The doctor and nurses nearly jumped out of their skin.

“Sir, please, calm dow-”

“I am calm,” Valerian snapped. Yet his voice was anything but calm.

The doctor wisely shut up and focused on examining Noelle. The minutes dragged by painfully as Valerian hovered like an overprotective dragon with his jaw clenched so tightly it could crack. His hands that had once held weapons without fear, trembled as he waited for her to wake up.

And then, finally-

She stirred.

Valerian’s breath caught and quickly rushed to her like a puppy. “Honey? Darling? Sweetheart???”

Her eyelashes fluttered before she slowly opened her eyes. “Mm…

2/3

Chopter 74. Protect

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A rush of overwhelming relief hit him so hard he almost collapsed You fainted,” he told her, gripping her hand like a lifeline.

The doctor smiled as he finished his examination. “She’s alright. Just a little low on blood sugar and dehydrated. It’s normal during early pregnancy.”

Valerian froze at the doctor’s words.

Noelle blinked. “Wait… what?”

The doctor looked between them, confused. ‘You… didn’t know?”

Alexei who had been watching with wide eyes, suddenly choked on nothing in mere awe. “Wow… How did you do it?”

But Valerian’s brain already short–circuited to even respond to his nephews innocent question.

Pregnant.

His wife is pregnant.

With his child.

“…I need to sit down,” he muttered, looking genuinely shaken.

Alexej raised a confused brow and walked towards Noelle who was still recovering, and whispered. “Mommy Noelle, I think my uncle is damaged. You need a new husband.”

Noelle let out a soft, exhausted laugh. “Oh, sweetheart…”

Meanwhile, Valerian finally rebooted hearing Alexei’s words and turned his head sharply to the boy.

“Alexei,” he said.

Alexei who was completely unbothered, took a loud sip of his imaginary smoothie – since his real one had died a tragic death.

“Yes, uncle?”

Valerian narrowed his eyes. “Repeat. That. Again.”

Alexei blinked up at him innocently. Then, without missing a beat-

“I said, mommy Noelle needs a new husba-”

Valerian lunged.

With a yelp, Alexei dodged, darting to the other side of the clinic.

“I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP-”

“COME HERE, YOU LITTLE-

“I

Noelle, watching her six–year–old nephew effortlessly evade his uncle, sighed and rubbed her temples.

Her husband was panicking.

Her nephew was instigating.

And she was, apparently, going to raise two children instead of one

He protecc, he attacc, but most importantly… he overreacc.~