Fallen 37 Summary
Meadow wakes up alone, realizing Alaric has left without a word after punishing her with his belt. The promise of spending the night together was a cruel illusion, leaving her feeling rejected and hurt. Wearing his shirt, she quietly goes downstairs for coffee, trying to distract herself from overthinking.
In the kitchen, she encounters Nolan Ashford, Alaric’s brother, who surprises her with a sharp and mocking comment in German. Nolan’s striking appearance and provocative attitude unsettle Meadow as he questions the authenticity of her marriage to Alaric, implying she might be a gold digger or involved in blackmail. Meadow responds defiantly, refusing to be insulted and calling Nolan an asshole.
Their tense exchange is interrupted by Alaric’s arrival. His indifferent yet intense presence makes Meadow’s heart race despite his earlier abandonment. Nolan’s teasing about Meadow’s feistiness and Alaric’s quiet response in a foreign language hint at complex family dynamics.
Alaric then approaches Meadow, pulling her close and kissing her neck gently. He senses her upset and asks her to play along with the facade of their marriage, revealing that his family is unaware it is just a convenience. Meadow realizes she still doesn’t understand what Alaric gains from their arrangement, leaving her with lingering questions.
CHAPTER 0037
Meadow’s Perspective:
I couldn’t pinpoint exactly when sleep had claimed me, but the instant I woke the following morning, the absence of Alaric beside me was painfully clear.
To confirm I wasn’t merely imagining things, I reached behind me, my fingers searching for the warmth of his side of the bed. Instead, they met cold, empty sheets. Turning over slowly, I gazed at the neatly made bed.
He was gone.
Alaric had left me alone after punishing me with his belt, abandoning me without a word. The promise of spending the night together had been nothing but a cruel illusion.
Maybe he had changed his mind.
A lump formed in my throat as the bitter truth settled in—Alaric didn’t want to share the same room with me. Perhaps he was disgusted by the fact that I endured the pain of his lashes just to save a man who, in the end, wasn’t worth it.
Still wearing his shirt, I slipped out of bed quietly, the fabric loose and unfamiliar on my skin. I decided to head downstairs for a cup of coffee, hoping the early hour would keep my mind from spiraling into overthinking.
As I stepped into the kitchen, a deep, amused voice halted me before I could reach the espresso machine.
“Na, fick mich doch zärtlich.”
The words hung in the air, sharp and unexpected. I blinked in surprise, turning around to meet the gaze of the man seated at the kitchen island.
Nolan Ashford. Alaric’s brother.
I hadn’t seen his face the night before—he’d been on the floor, out of sight most of the time I was there. But now, staring at him, I was struck by how striking he was.
“Sorry,” I murmured, my eyebrows knitting together. “What did you say?”
Nolan was the epitome of a handsome man. His dark blond hair fell just past his shoulders, framing a face with lighter blue eyes than Alaric’s. His nose was slightly crooked, bruised purple and black from a punch his brother had landed. A strong, chiseled jawline was softened only by the dimple in his chin.
And then there was the silver ring glinting on his brow, catching the light as he arched it at me. “You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you? I can see why my brother was taken with you.”
I found myself frozen under his intense gaze.
Apparently, the Ashford family had a flair for intensity.
“Though,” Nolan continued, his eyes narrowing as they roamed over me from head to toe, “I don’t quite understand why he would marry you.”
His words were laced with a sneer so degrading it made my skin crawl.
That snapped me out of my stunned silence. I forced a smile, one that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “Well, nice to meet you too, Nolan.”
His eyes crinkled with mischief as he bit into an apple he must have grabbed from the fruit basket, never breaking eye contact.
I turned back to the espresso machine, trying to ignore the sting of his subtle insult.
“So, what’s the real story?” I overheard him mutter as I filled the water reservoir. “What’s so special about you? Apart from the obvious—you’re a gold digger.”
I stiffened.
Nolan pressed on, his tone dripping with skepticism. “Blackmail? You have something on him? Whatever it is—”
“Quite the judge of character, aren’t you?” I interrupted, spinning around to face him fully. Nolan’s eyes narrowed into slits as he tilted his head curiously. I crossed my arms defiantly. “I never realized you could spot a gold digger just by looking.”
He raised a perfect brow. “What other reason would a woman have to tie herself permanently to an emotionally unavailable man like my brother?”
He took another bite of the apple, as if my heart racing at his words was irrelevant.
Was Alaric really emotionally unavailable? He cared for me, showed kindness, and rarely raised his voice. He seemed determined to protect me at all costs.
But I’d only known him for less than two weeks. This marriage was a convenience, nothing more.
I didn’t know him well. In fact, I hardly knew him at all.
Then again, I’d been with Tyler for over two years and thought I knew him, so maybe I was just bad at reading people.
Kind of like Nolan sitting across from me.
I stepped closer to the counter, still crossing my arms. “Now that you’ve got me all figured out, want to hear what I think of you?”
“What?” Nolan asked, intrigued.
Leaning forward, I rested my hands on the counter. “You’re an asshole.”
A dark smirk tugged at one corner of Nolan’s mouth, but before he could retort, Alaric entered the kitchen. He wore a black t-shirt, shorts, and running shoes.
I’d learned that he never missed his morning run.
His eyes briefly narrowed at his brother before settling on me. His expression was indifferent, yet it made my heart skip a beat. I hadn’t seen him since last night, and now, seeing him again… God, he was so intense and undeniably attractive.
And he’d left me alone in his bed, disappearing to wherever he chose to sleep.
Rolling my eyes at him, I turned back to the espresso machine to pour myself a cup, just as I caught Nolan’s voice.
“I like your wife. She’s feisty.”
Alaric muttered something under his breath—not in English, but in the same language Nolan had used earlier. Dutch? German? I hadn’t known he had German roots.
Nolan scoffed, amusement coloring his tone. I wondered what Alaric had said in response.
Lost in thought, I didn’t notice Alaric approaching until his hand slid around my waist from behind.
I froze, my heart pounding as he pulled me closer, pressing a tender kiss to the side of my neck.
“Al—” I began.
“Shhh,” he whispered into my ear. “You seem upset. Are you?”
I swallowed hard, deciding to offer a half-truth. “Maybe.”
He hummed softly, tightening his hold as I instinctively melted into his chest. “I’ll make it up to you. But for now,” his warm breath brushed my cheek as he sighed, “I need you to play along. Can you do that for me, baby?”
I immediately understood what he meant. Just as I suspected, his family had no idea this was merely a marriage of convenience.
But now that I thought about it—
I had no clue what Alaric stood to gain from this arrangement.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
Summary & Review: Fallen
