Chapter 25 Chapter 25: Wife Chapter 25: Wife The sharp chime of the alarm clock shattered the peaceful quiet of the morning. Noelle groaned into her pillow, her fingers blindly reaching for the source of the noise. After a few failed swipes, she finally managed to press the snooze button, sinking back into the warmth of her blanket with a heavy sigh. But then it hit her. Today was that day. Her eyes fluttered open, sluggish with sleep, but there was no escaping reality. She had agreed-no, been forced-to attend Alexei's school's family day. As his mother. And worse, with Valerian posing as her husband. Noelle groaned again, this time into her pillow, before finally forcing herself to sit up. The cool morning air nipped at her skin, sending a shiver down her spine as she dragged herself toward the closet. She wasn't sure what kind of event this would be, but she imagined it would be filled with other well-dressed, well-to-do parents, given that Alexei attended an elite school. Her fingers brushed through the hangers, hesitating. What exactly did one wear to pretend they belonged to a rich man's family? After a moment, she pulled out a soft periwinkle dress. The fabric was light and airy, with short puffed sleeves that gave it an innocent charm. The waist cinched just enough to flatter her figure, while the knee-length skirt swayed delicately, like a gentle breeze on a spring morning. It was simple yet sweet, the kind of dress a loving, doting mother might wear-though in her case, that role was purely an act. She held it up in front of the mirror, tilting her head. "...I look like I'm about to host a bake sale." Not exactly the look of a woman married to a powerful, insanely wealthy man. Then again, it's not like she is actually married to Valerian-he was just Alexei's uncle. A very rich, intimidating, and confusingly overbearing uncle. Deciding it was her safest option, she tossed the dress onto the bed and set about getting ready. Whatever the day had in store for her, she just had to get through it. How hard could it be? With a yawn, Noelle stretched before trudging toward the bathroom, dragging her feet like a prisoner marching toward her sentence. If she had to play pretend as Alexei's loving mother today, she might as well look the part. 55 F5 She turned on the shower, letting the warm steam fill the small space as she undressed. The heat melted away the last remnants of sleep, and for a moment, she just stood under the spray, letting the water soothe her nerves. This is fine, she told herself. It's just one day. Smile, be polite, and don't let anyone suspect a thing. She scrubbed herself down, massaging citrus-scented shampoo into her hair before rinsing it out. By the time she stepped out, wrapped in a towel, she felt a little more awake-but no less dreading the day ahead. After drying off, she wore her undergarments and slipped into the periwinkle dress, smoothing the fabric over her waist before standing in front of the mirror again. It still gave her "wholesome mom" vibes, but maybe that wasn't a bad thing. She reached for her peach lip balm-the only thing she ever used on her face-gliding it over her lips before tucking it back Into her bag. Her dark hair, still slightly damp, was braided loosely over one shoulder. Simple. Presentable. Fake wife material. Noelle sighed. "Alright, let's get this over with." She slipped on a pair of white flats, smoothing down her dress before heading for the door. With a quiet grumble, she made her way down the stairs, still half-asleep despite her best efforts. At the front desk, Mrs. Ellis sat comfortably behind the counter, scrolling through her phone, her reading glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. The older woman barely looked up-until Noelle greeted her. "Good morning, Mrs. Ellis." At the sound of her voice, the older woman lifted her gaze, her expression immediately softening into a warm smile. "Well, don't you look lovely today, dear! Where are you off to?" Noelle froze for half a second before forcing out an awkward laugh. She couldn't exactly say, Oh, I'm just going to pretend to be a child's mother for the day. You know, normal things. "Ah... I'm just heading out to meet someone," she said instead, instantly regretting it. Mrs. Ellis's brows lifted. Then, with a knowing smirk, she leaned forward on the desk. "Ooooh, out on a date, are we?" Noelle nearly choked. "Wha-No! It's not a date!" Mrs. Ellis chuckled, shaking her head. "No need to be shy, love. You're dressed up, looking all sweet and proper. A young lady like you should be going on dates, after all." Noelle waved her hands frantically. "I swear, it's nothing like that! I'm just... helping someone out." The older woman hummed as if she didn't quite believe her. "Mhm. Helping someone out. And would this 'someone' happen to be a gentleman?" Noelle let out a strangled groan. "Mrs. Ellis, please!" The woman only laughed harder, shaking her head in amusement. "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing. But if it were a date, you'd tell me, wouldn't you?" "Absolutely not." Mrs. Ellis cackled. "Oh, you're no fun! Go on then, dear. But if your not-a-date turns into something more, don't leave an old lady out of the gossip." Noelle sighed, shaking her head as she made her way to the door. "I'll be sure to do that-when pigs fly." Mrs. Ellis's laughter followed her all the way outside but the moment Noelle stepped outside, she was met with an unexpected sight. A line of familiar sleek black cars were parked right in front of the apartment building. Her breath hitched, and before she even realized it, she instinctively took a step back. 'What the-?' 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