The Silent Patient and Atmic Habit Novel 26
405 We Found Noah
Evelyn squeezed Martha’s hand, feeling how cold it had be. “Yes, Axel found-”
She halted long enough for Martha to slowly ask in a calm, almost whisper–like voice, “Found what?”
“Aunty, don’t be surprised, all right…” Evelyn’s eyes lit up with happiness as she gazed at Martha’s shocked expression. “Axel, he found Noah.”
Silence lingered for a few more seconds before Martha gasped, too shocked by what she heard.
Then-
“Evelyn,” she whispered, gripping her hand tightly now, “please, please dear…don’t joke with me. I’m old. My heart is not strong enough for jokes like this.”
Evelyn forced a small smile, though her own eyes had begun to sting. “I promise you, Aunty. I would never joke about Noah. Axel really found him. And I… I already met him.”
The room remained wrapped in silence for a long moment, so fragile it felt as though even breathing too loudly might shatter it.
Evelyn stayed still, her hand resting over Martha’s, offering warmth and reassurance without pressing for words.
Atst, Martha broke the silence.
“Eve…” Her voice trembled, thin and unsteady. “You really met him? My…My Noah?” She swallowed hard, fighting the sob lodged in her throat. “You really saw my son?”
“Yes, Aunty,” Evelyn replied softly, tightening her grip just a little. “I met him.”
Martha’s eyes filled instantly. She lifted her other hand to cover her mouth, as if afraid the sound of her own happiness might escape too loudly. “He’s… he’s really still alive?” she whispered. “My Noah… alive?”
“Yes,” Evelyn said, her own vision blurring. “Yes, Aunty. He is alive.”
That was all it took.
Martha let out a broken sound, somewhere between augh and a sob, and tears
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405 We Found Noah
streamed freely down her cheeks. She shook her head again and again, as if trying to convince herself this wasn’t a dream cruel enough to vanish the moment she woke.
Evelyn couldn’t hold back anymore either. Tears slid down her face as she watched the joy bloom in Martha’s eyes, bright and overwhelming. For the first time since she had known her, the grief that had always lingered behind her smile finally loosened its grip.
“Thank God…” Martha whispered, her shoulders trembling, but her voice was stern. “Thank God… My son is alive! My son is alive!”
She gripped Evelyn’s hands tightly.
“Tell me about him,” she pleaded. “What does he look like now? Is he tall? Does he still have his father’s eyes? Is he… is he healthy?”
Evelyn smiled through her tears. “He’s tall,” she said gently. “Very tall. And yes, he has your husband’s eyes. The same gaze. When he looks at you, you’ll recognize it immediately.”
Martha let out a soft, wateryugh. “I knew it,” she murmured. “I always said he would grow taller than his father.”
“He’s healthy,” Evelyn continued carefully. “Strong. He lives in another city now, and he has a good life. He’s… doing well.”
“Another city…” Martha repeated quietly. Then she looked up, confusion flickering across her features. “Is he married? Does he have children?”
Evelyn shook her head. “No, Aunty. He isn’t married. He doesn’t have children.”
Martha nodded slowly, absorbing the information. For a brief moment, her expression softened with relief. But then something darker crept into her gaze,
“Then…” Martha’s voice wavered. “Why does he nevere home?”
The question hung heavily in the air.
Martha looked away, staring at the teacup on the table as though it held answers she had been searching for all these years.
“I waited,” she said quietly. “I waited every day. Every birthday. Every winter. I kept the house the same because I thought… maybe one day he would walk through the door and recognize it.”
Evelyn’s chest tightened painfully.
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405 We Found Noah
“Aunty…” she began, choosing her words carefully. “After Noah disappeared in
Sunflower Country, something terrible happened.”
Martha’s fingers stiffened.
“He… lost his memory,” Evelyn said softly. “He doesn’t remember his past. He doesn’t remember his family. He didn’t remember which country he came from…”
Martha froze.
For a long moment, she didn’t react at all. Then her lips parted slightly, and a shaky breath escaped her. “Memory…” she whispered. “He lost his memory?”
“Yes. That’s why he never returns,” Evelyn answered apologetically.
Martha closed her eyes tightly. Tears slipped down again, but this time they carried a different weight.
“I thought so,” she said faintly. “Sometimes, when the nights were too quiet, I thought… maybe he forgot the way home. Maybe he didn’t remember me.”
She opened her eyes and looked at Evelyn, her gaze filled with pain and longing.
“But hearing it like this…” she pressed a hand over her heart. “It still hurts.”
Evelyn leaned closer and wrapped her arms around Martha, holding her gently. “I know,” she murmured. “I know it hurts.”
Martha clutched her, crying softly into her shoulder. After a while, her breathing slowly evened out.
Then, Evelyn spoke again.
“Aunty,” she said quietly, her voice trembling with anticipation. “Tomorrow… Noah wille to meet you.”
Martha pulled back abruptly. “What?” she gasped.
“It will also be his birthday,” Evelyn continued. “Tomorrow, you’ll finally see him.”
For a second, Martha looked stunned. Then her eyes widened, and fresh tears spilled over. She covered her face, overwhelmed, her shoulders shaking violently.
“My son…” she sobbed. “I will see my son…”
Evelyn didn’t interrupt. She simply held her, letting her cry until the emotion finally poured itself out.
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405 We Found Noah
“I’ll prepare everything,” Evelyn said softly when Martha’s sobs had quieted. “The best food. All the dishes you used to make for him. We’ll celebrate properly.”
Marthaughed weakly through her tears. “He loved home cooking,” she said, sniffing. “Even when he was little, he ate more than he should.”
Evelyn smiled. “You can cook his favorite food tomorrow. I can ask the chef to help.”
Martha wiped her tears and took a deep breath. “Thank you, Eve,” she said firmly, her voice suddenly strong, “And, even if he doesn’t remember me… even if he doesn’t call me Mother…”
She looked up, her gaze steady and resolute. “I’ll wait. I’ve waited this long. I can wait again.”
Evelyn smiled warmly, tears still clinging to hershes. “You won’t be waiting alone anymore.”
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Thank <i>you </i><i>for </i><i>the </i><i>Golden </i><i>Ticket </i>& Power <i>Stones</i>. Please continue <i>so </i>we can raise the rank <i>and </i><i>give </i>this book <i>more </i><i>opportunities</i>. Xoxo
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<strong>Olivia Harris</strong> is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.