When Love Is a Lie (Whitney and Damian)

Whitney had not been cooking at home as much lately ever since Yvette was hospitalized. Her refrigerator was practically empty, so she visited the supermarket near Coaska Heights to stock up. She pushed her cart through the produce section, selecting ingredients for her meal. The weather was getting colder, and Whitney planned to make a hearty beef stew. She had already picked out most of the ingredients, with potatoes being the last on her list.

As she reached for a sack of potatoes from the newly stocked display, another hand reached for the same one. Their hands touched, and Whitney looked up to meet a pair of dark eyes that flickered with surprise.

"Noel?" Whitney blurted out, surprised to see him there. She glanced at his cart, filled with frozen meals, milk, and bread.

"Go ahead and take this one. I'll grab another," she said, pulling her hand back.

"You can have it," Noel replied coldly, pushing his cart forward.

As he started to walk away, Whitney called out, "Wait!" She hurried to catch up with him. "You probably haven't eaten yet. I'm making stew and a few other dishes. Why don't you join me?"

Noel studied her for a moment, his gaze intense and his voice low as he asked, "Weren't you planning to move out?"

Whitney shook her head. "Not anymore."

Noah was caught off guard by her answer. After a brief pause, he said, "I remember you saying you didn't want me coming over for meals anymore."

"I wanted to apologize for that. I misunderstood and thought you were..." Whitney trailed off, embarrassed as she stared at her feet.

"Thought I was what?" Noel's voice came from above her.

"It's in the past now. I was wrong, so please just accept my invitation," she stated.

Even Yvette could tell what Noel meant, yet it seemed to fly over her head. Whitney thought it was just stupid of her, so she avoided any explanation. She feared that Noel would be upset at her foolishness if he found out the real reason. Whitney also could not forget Yvette's words from before, in which she told her, "Noel seems to care so much about you, Whitney. Did he fall for you? I know Noel pretty well. He's a good guy and incredibly handsome, but his family background...

"Being from a political family is different from your usual wealthy family. He probably has little say in who he marries, and someone of our social status wouldn't be considered suitable."

Whitney felt a strange stir in her heart when she heard Yvette's remark. Nonetheless, she quickly brushed it off and said, "I'd have to be crazy to develop feelings for Noel, especially since he's Damian's cousin."

Yet here she was, trying to apologize without giving Noel any confusing signals. She decided that some misunderstandings were best left alone.

"Are you coming?" Noel's voice snapped her back to reality.

"What?" Whitney was startled.

"Aren't you making dinner?" He was already walking ahead. "Any later and it'll turn into a midnight snack."

Realizing he had agreed, Whitney quickly pushed her cart to catch up with him.

Since Whitney had not driven, she rode with Noel. She considered sitting in the back but did not want to make him feel like a driver, so she took the passenger seat instead.

"Yvette has decided not to sue Jenny," Whitney said, breaking the silence in the car. "Instead of continuing this cycle of revenge, we're negotiating a deal. If Jenny can get Rachel to drop her other charges against Yvette, we won't press charges against her." After all, litigations would do no one any favors. If they chose to proceed with the lawsuits, it would surely sour the relationship between the Howard and Jennings families and give Yvette another headache. Hence, going this route might not only give Jenny a lesson but also spare Yvette from a mountain of legal troubles.

Noel focused on the road, glancing at the stream of cars ahead. "You sure you're okay telling me this? What if I spill it?"

Whitney felt embarrassed, remembering how she had previously refused to share information with him. She even insisted it was confidential, but she had done that merely out of frustration and a hint of distrust. Now that she had casually brought it up, she could not blame him for the sarcastic tone.

Swallowing her pride, she replied, "I was being petty before. I know you'd never tell anyone."noveldrama

Noel glanced at her before returning his attention to the road. As they approached Coaska Heights, Whitney remembered she had forgotten a crucial spice at the supermarket. Fortunately, there was a convenience store nearby that stocked everything they needed. "Could you pull over quickly? I need to grab some seasonings. I'll be right back."

Noel steered the car to the curb, and Whitney immediately jogged toward the store. Across the street, a black Maybach drove past, with Damian driving. He turned his head just in time to see Whitney getting out of the passenger side of what he recognized as Noel's G- Wagon.

Damian's expression darkened instantly. Moments later, he watched Whitney jog back to the car, and the black G-Wagon disappeared into the underground parking garage of Coaska Heights. His grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white.