Alpha's Regret After Her Rebirth

Chapter 0498 Chapter 0498 Hannah

My hands shook a little as I straightened the delicate flower crown over Melody's soft hair, adjusting it so the petals framed her tiny face just right. She blinked up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, slapping her hands contentedly on the top of her high chair. I smiled as I ran my fingers through her fine baby curls, watching the golden strands catch the light.

"You're gonna have a little brother or sister, you know that?" I whispered, pinching her chubby little cheek.

Melody, for her part, just let out a happy gurgle and blew a spit bubble at me. I laughed as I wiped my thumb across her chin. "I hope your little sibling is as sweet as you," I said. "But even if they aren't, I know you'll teach them.

She giggled in response and slammed her hand into the nearby bowl of Cheerios, sending them scattering across the carpet, as if to say, "Not so sure about that one, Mommy."

Shaking my head amusedly, I bent down and picked up the scattered pieces, tossing them in the nearby trash can and brushing my hands together.

As I turned back toward the dining room, I glanced around to take in my hard work. The table was set, candles flickering softly. Roasted meat glistened on a serving platter at the center of the table, fragrant vegetables and sides piled high around it. I'd even baked a small cake for dessert. One with extra icing and a sweet vanilla interior. Decadent, but we had something to celebrate tonight.

And then there was the gift, hidden in a drawer in the kitchen, simple and unassuming, waiting for him to open it.

My heart thudded in my chest at the thought of what was inside. The pocket watch, but something else, too: a letter. I had agonized over every word, wanting to make sure that it was absolutely perfect. I couldn't wait for the look on his face when he read it. The sound of Noah's car rolling up the driveway made me jump. I took another breath, pressing a hand to my stomach. Melody squirmed as I picked her up, giggling at the excitement in the air, as if she could sense that something big was happening. The door opened, and there he was, shaking off his coat and glancing around. His eyes lit up the second he saw us. He took us both in, the sight of me in a dress and Melody in her tiny flower crown bringing a smile to his face. "Well, what's all this about?" He stepped forward, reaching out to touch one of the delicate flowers on Melody's crown. "You girls are looking especially fancy tonight. Did I miss an occasion or something?"

I shrugged, trying to play it off for now. "No occasion. I just wanted to do something nice for you on my day off."

He studied me for a second with a knowing look in his eyes, but if he sensed the way my hands were trembling, he didn't press any further. Instead, he just smiled and leaned down, brushing a soft kiss to my forehead.

"Well, I'm not complaining. This is incredible, Hannah." He gestured to the table. "You went all out, didn't you? On your day off, no less?"

"Maybe a little," I admitted, trying to keep the smile from turning into nervous laughter." But Melody and I had lots of fun today. Come on, let's eat before it gets cold."

I didn't need to tell Noah twice. He helped Melody back into her high chair, brushing her nose with a finger and making her giggle, then settled into his seat across from me. The delicious scent of meat filled the air, but I found myself more focused on Noah's reactions, watching him as he picked up his fork and took a bite..

"Mm, you really outdid yourself, love." He shot me a smile, raising a brow as he took another bite. "You didn't need to do all this. It's only Thursday."

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