Noah looked at Adam with a newfound sense of warmth, almost as if there were stars shining in his eyes.
He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratification because of the way Adam had just stepped up to defend his honor against Kai.
Noah was smart enough to know that this sudden kindness most likely came from a place of intense guilt, but he didn't mind the reason.
At the very least, he felt reassured that this one year marriage would not be quite as miserable or as suffocating as he had initially feared.
If Adam was capable of seeing the truth and standing up for him, then perhaps they could find a way to coexist in peace until the contract was up.
Adam, meanwhile, was still wrestling with a storm of internal emotions. He was very angry at Kai for the elaborate scheme, but sitting right beside his anger was a feeling that was much greater and more uncomfortable: a profound sense of apology toward Noah.
