Chapter 120

NOAH I took a step forward, and Olivia instinctively took a step back, her heel brushing against the edge of the doorway as if she hadn’t expected me to close the distance so quickly. She reached out as if to stop me, her hand lifting between us in a reflexive, uncertain motion—but I took that brief hesitation as an opening. Before she could react, I slipped the paper bag I was carrying onto her fair wrist, letting it settle there deliberately. “Merry Christmas,” I said lightly, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. Before she could form a response, I caught her other hand, guiding her inside with an ease that came from familiarity rather than force, and reached back to close the door behind us. The click of the lock echoed louder than it should have in the quiet stairwell, sealing us off from the outside. “Uncle Noah.” Hannah tilted her head and looked over at me as I stepped into the living room. She was sitting on the sofa, one leg carefully tucked to the side, the ot