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🌙 Chapter 11 – Adrien Speaks Too Late
Adrien Fernandes had waited too long.
He knew it the moment he saw Noah Watson standing alone in the garden, her hands wrapped tightly around her phone, eyes fixed on nothing. She looked smaller somehow—like she'd folded parts of herself inward just to survive the silence around her.
"Hey," Adrien said softly.
She turned, surprised, then smiled a little. "Hey."
That smile hurt him more than tears would have.
"Can I sit?" he asked.
She nodded.
They sat in silence for a while, the kind that felt heavy but familiar. Adrien finally spoke, his voice quieter than usual.
"You know… I'm really bad at saying things on time."
Noah glanced at him. "Most people are."
He let out a breath. "But some things don't get easier when you wait."
She didn't interrupt.
"I like you, Noah," Adrien said. "Not in a casual way. Not in a confusing way. In a way that made me stay quiet because I didn't want to make things worse."
Her eyes widened slightly—not shocked, but sad.
"Adrien…"
"I know," he said quickly. "I know this isn't fair. And I'm not asking you to feel anything back. I just—" His voice cracked. "I didn't want this to stay unsaid forever."
Noah looked down at her hands. "You're kind. And you're honest. And I wish this moment had come earlier."
He nodded slowly. "Me too."
Inside the house, Luca Fernandes stood frozen near the stairs.
He had heard everything.
Every word Adrien hadn't meant him to hear.
Every truth Luca had been too afraid to speak himself.
Sabrina Fernandes stood beside him, whispering, "You waited too long."
Luca didn't respond.
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Later that night, Noah sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling again—too many nights like this lately.
Her phone buzzed.
Adrien:
I'm sorry if I made things heavier. I just wanted you to know the truth.
She typed back slowly.
Noah:
Thank you for being honest. That matters more than you know.
She set the phone aside and closed her eyes.
Down the hall, Luca stood outside her door—hand raised, heart racing.
He could knock.
He could finally tell her everything.
But he didn't.
Because fear whispered louder than courage.
And downstairs, Alina watched Luca retreat from the hallway, her lips curling into a satisfied smile.
"Too late," she murmured.
Because sometimes, the most painful words in a love story aren't I don't love you—
They're I should have said it sooner.