When Love Is a Lie

Chapter 189 You're Repaying a Debt, and I'm Your Creditor

Elijah stood by the window, paring not at the diveway. Behind him, his trusted aide, Isaac, voiced his concem

“Mr. Howard Sender, are you really letting Ms. Spencer Trave like this? I'm afraid she wen’t erfum in the Howard

residence once shar’s gone. ”

Elijah sighed deeply, “Bainian monged her. What right do | have to make her stay

A few days earlier, Mr. Isaachad been sent to investigate Rachel's medical records at the clinic where she had

her pregnancy confirmed. At first, there was nothing to find noterma trace of an appointment. But the doctors

quickly fabled when they were informed that the inquiry cat Elijali’s request.

1. The men sent by bude

It tamed out Rachel was nearly two months porgivet. The attending physician admitted to deleting all reconds

after being bribed by hilly. 1 made in diren to the doctor that Damian was not under any decumstances to be

informed of this discovery

As Elijah watched from the window, he saw Whitney loading her lippage into Norlar. He let out another bewysigh

“Damian and Whitney were never mean to be. Let's just leave it to fate now,” he said, turning back to tar “Start

making arrangements. I'll visit the Spencer Tandero call at the engagement ”

Inode the car, the tension was p

was palpable.

Whitney glanced at Noel out of the comes of her eye. His sharp proble-cold and beautiful-lordcarved from stone.

The cleared her throating the

courage to speak.

“Abeat that...agterment”

“What agreement?” Noelirplied, his tone indillefent as he fertised on the mad

Whitney gritted her teeth. Was he pretending to forget, or was be really this shameless?

She finally blurted out, “I’m not paying you back that way. Forget it.”

Noel turned the wheel, smoothly navigating the car through traffic. His voice was calm but firm. “You don’t have

to agree to it”

Whitney felt a wave of relet-until he added, “But it doesn’t matter. You're repaying your debt on my teams.

“You're ridiculous!” Whitney snapped, her voice rising in frustration.

“know,” he said, histone unapologetic.

“Yop-1

Heranger bubbled over The cool and composed Noel that everyone admired was nothing but a sham. This man

was infuriating, stubbom, and completely

seeing her putted-up cheeks and fiery glane, Noel chuckled softly, basely audible.

After a long silence, he spolie again. “There’s another option”

Whitney pecked up. “What is it?”

They had just pulled up to Yvette’s gated community. Noel parked the car and turned to her, his eyes dark and

unreadable.

“You stop trying to cutout of your life. No mote avoiding me. When Frall, you come. And no more secrets. No

lies.”

Whitory frowned. That sounded suspiciously like going back to their previous arrangement, only with even more

strings attached.

“Fine,” she said after a pause, “I won't avoid you, but we keep things strictly casual. | won't drop everything for

you, and I'm entitled to my privacy.”

Noel snirked, leaning back in his seat. “You're repaying a debt, Whitney. I'm the creditor. If you want to pay it off

quickly, you don’t get to negotiate terms.”

“Are you serious?” che thot bark

“Completely

“This is ridiculous!”

“You can always go with the finu option,” hesaid with a slygén..

ped, coussing lar

“Noelanlord, his smirk widening-

“Tine. It’s settled, die inuttered, gritting her breth

Noel's satisfaction was evident in the faint smile that played on his lips. Without missing a beat, he asked, “Are

you plotting something against Damian?=

Whitney straightened in her seat, caught off guard. “We just agreed on the trans!”

“They take effect immediately.” Noel said, his gaze plening. “No inde secrets”

Whitney hesitated. She could bring Damian down with the evidence in her hands, but revealing her plano codd

jeopardize everything. So, she decided to tell

“Yes. I'm worlding with Rachel. We're aligned on tlaTM

Noel's expression starkened, his features lardening like stone. His voice dropped a notch, cold and demanding.

“Do you honestly think the two of you alone can take Damian down? He's not just spettyemook-lie’s the

Cool Howard Gimup.”

Before she could respond, he leaned closer, gripping ile backed berneck tumly but not harshly

Chudder The You's Hiplaying a Debt and I'm Your Creditor

“po you think Damian got to where he is by being weak? Noel said, his voice laced with both anger and concert.

Whitney flinched at the intensity of his words. “That's because

She stopped herselt. She couldn't reveal the full extent of what she'd uncovered, not yet. Damian’s downfall

could potentially involve the entire company, and Noel- might not be on her side it that happened.

“Because what?” Noel pressed.

Whitney winced. “You're hunting me.”

Realizing his hand had tightened too much, Noel loosened his grip, briefly softening his expression. The red mark

left on her neck made him frown “From now on,” he said, his voice steady but firm, “you stop everything. Leave

this to me.”

ther

His words carried an unusual weight-urgency, tear, and an unyielding determination to protect i For a moment,

Whitney was caught off guard. Did she really matter to him that much? Or was this just another form of control?