The Duke's Masked Wife 2: The Prince's Outcast Bride-Chapter 146: Staying together (2)

"Kate, for all the years that we have been married, did you not love me? I know that you fell in love with me just as I fell in love with you. We used each other," Noah confessed.

Noah didn’t have anywhere to go. He would have been lonely had he taken Kate’s money and left. He would even have to avoid town guards for a long time.

The time Noah spent with Clark and Kate was just an experience he missed. He felt like he had a family. He had somewhere where he belonged.

When Noah first made the deal with Clark to court Kate and make her feel wanted, he didn’t think he would stay here so long, but now, he didn’t regret staying.

"I believe that we both came to love each other. I don’t care that you used me because you were obsessed with being married. I don’t care that I was your only option. I still love you, and I know you love me. Someone like you wouldn’t have tolerated me this long if you didn’t," said Noah.

Noah didn’t mind if Kate only enjoyed the comfortable life she had with him. He never looked down on her or mistreated her because she couldn’t walk.

Kate was brought up to marry a man with wealth and status, but they weren’t options for her anymore. Noah had been a safe choice.

Kate didn’t want to respond.

What if she confessed that she did love him, only for him to leave and shame her too?

Kate had already suffered so much, so she couldn’t add a simple man like Noah, getting her to confess that she loved him, only for him to abandon her.

"You’re going to leave me like everyone else-"

"I am not going to leave you, Kate. If I wanted to leave you, I would have done it already. I love you and Warren, though he is set on worrying me. I want the best for you. I want you to enjoy your life instead of being cooped up here. You can be happy," said Noah.

For years, Kate continued to hold onto the past. She thought about her parents and friends who couldn’t be considered her friends. It was as if Kate was stuck in the year her life crumbled.

It was time for Kate to open her eyes to see that it was many years later, and there was a chance to make her life better. novelbuddy-cσ๓

"I know that you can be good. I am not asking you to go to the duchess or anyone you’ve hurt to apologise for what you did, but you must start accepting that you were cruel. Only then can you let go and move on," Noah said.

Kate looked down at the floor to avoid Noah’s gaze. "I have been trying to move on, but they are always with me. I can always hear his voice. Why is it that his voice still plagues my mind? Why can I hear my mother scolding me? All I wanted was to please her and my father."

Kate wiped her eyes as tears threatened to fall.

"I did not know your mother, but I am certain she would be happy that you are alive. You should try to enjoy the life you have because we are not getting younger," Noah said, holding Kate’s hand. "You’ve placed yourself in a box where you are stuck in the past. You haven’t been living life."

"Let me help you. Without any tantrums or you insulting me, let me help you. Let me give you the life you deserve. You are not Kate Barrett or Kate Farley anymore. You are Kate Kennedy," Noah reminded Kate.

Kate didn’t need to compete with anyone. The women she once bickered with had moved on with their lives, whilst Kate continuously thought about them.

"I will ask you one more time. Do you love me? If you don’t, then I will leave. I shouldn’t trouble you to live with a man you think wants to use you. I’ll give back what Clark gave me and leave with what I came with. So, what will it be?" Noah asked, waiting for Kate.

Noah didn’t deserve what Kate put him through. He had dealt with her snapping at him, belittling him, and questioning his intentions for long enough.

Kate didn’t think Noah was serious. "Go! We both know that you cannot do without me. I’ll have Warren check the records for what belongs to me, and if anything is missing, I will send for the town guards."

Noah could only smile bitterly. He let go of Kate’s hand and stood up to begin packing his things.

"What frustrates me is that Warren is more likely to steal from you than I would. He is chasing the same dream you once had, and he is making your sister out to be a villain because we didn’t send him to leave with her," Noah revealed.

Kate frowned.

Why would Warren want such a thing?

No matter how much Warren begged, Kate would never send him to live with Alessandra. It didn’t make any sense for her son to go there, just as it would never make sense for one of Alessandra’s children to come here.

Kate grew nervous as Noah pulled a trunk out and opened it. She picked at her nails, a habit she despised.

Would Noah truly abandon her?

Kate did not want him to leave. It was only hard to say she loved him because she feared she would be left at some point.

"Noah," Kate started to speak, but a knock at the door interrupted her. "Leave us!"

"I apologise for disturbing you, but men from the court are present."

Noah froze, fearing the worst had happened with Warren.

"Why are they here? We have not done anything?" Kate asked, panicking since the court only came when they wanted to ruin her life.

Kate was helpless. She could only watch as Noah walked out of the room, leaving Mary to care for her.

Noah rushed out of the room and down the stairs to see the men at the door.

"Can I help you?" Noah asked, looking around for Warren.

"You must be Noah Kennedy. I’ve come from the court to speak to Kate Kennedy. You can sit with us while we speak. I am Mark Wilkerson," Mark, a man from the court, said.

Mark offered his hand to Noah as a greeting.

Noah stared at the hand offered to him. "Before I shake your hand, tell me what business you have with my wife."

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