Page 73 of The Moral Dilemma

When she was done, she checked the footage, noting Raf was in the shower.

Licking her lips in anticipation, she took out a mirror from her bag, checking her make-up and making sure everything was in place.

Her belly was in knots as she imagined having him inside her again… God, but it was all she could think about.

Satisfied with her appearance, she took the keys, heading for his door. She plugged the key in, opening it and stepping inside just as he turned off the water.

Her lips were stretched in a wide smile as she opened her mouth to speak.

Yet as soon as he saw her, a deep scowl permeated his features. Slowly, it gave way to anger before he barked at her.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Noelle’s eyes fluttered in confusion for a moment before disappointment sank in.

He was coming towards her, and she knew he wouldn’t let her go—he now saw her as the enemy. So she did something that cost her more than anything—she turned back and locked the door in his face.

Tears stabbed at her eyes as she made her way to the other room, locking herself inside and taking a seat on the bed to calm herself.

What had she been thinking? That one moment together would magically make his memories come back? It wasn’t as if he forgot them intentionally—it was all a chemical process of the brain. She’d known that all along, but she’d still hoped that… that he might recognize her.

It was only after she calmed down that she went next to the wall, laying against the cold concrete and releasing a weary sigh.

“Raf?”

“Lucero?” His voice immediately sounded through the wall, and she winced at the name he used.

They’d shared the most special moment together and he couldn’t remember it. She wanted to howl in pain, but she could only blame herself for she’d known it… She’d known he might not remember and she’d still done it.

“I’m here,” she answered weakly.

“Please be careful. I sawher,” he said, his words imbued with venom. “Noelle Villanueva. She’s around. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

Her heart ached.

“I won’t,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Hey, are you okay? You don’t sound good. Please tell me nothing happened.”

“No… Not really,” she lied—or, made a poor attempt at lying for he seemed to see right through her.

“What happened? Tell me,” he demanded, his voice sounding closer.

“Nothing, just… Life can be disappointing, you know?” she sighed.

“Talk to me,” he said in a gentler voice.

More tears rolled down her cheeks as she tried to keep the anguish from her voice. She huddled against the wall, her knees to her chest as she told him—not the truth, but a truth nonetheless.

“It’s just loneliness. I wish… I wish I could be by your side.”

Not a moment later she was startled by a loud bang in the wall.

“Don’t say that,” he said in an anguished tone. “It’s killing me to know I’m here and you’re… there. That I’m not by your side.”

“Me too, Raf,” she whispered. “You have no idea just how much…”

They spent an hour talking, and Noelle tried her best to put on a happy front, so he wouldn’t realize how close she was to breaking. She made an excuse that she needed to be somewhere and left—something she would have never imagined herself doing.

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