Elena's legs felt like lead as she stumbled into the cold night air.
Her breath came in ragged, uneven gasps, her chest heaving violently.
The biting wind stung her skin, but she didn't feel it.
Her pulse thundered in her ears, drowning out every other sound.
She couldn't see.
Couldn't think.
All she knew was that she had to keep walking.
To get as far away from him as possible.
Her hands were still trembling violently as she pulled her coat tighter around herself.
Her fingers were numb, her knuckles white from clenching the fabric.
Her vision blurred slightly, and for a brief moment, she thought she might collapse right there on the sidewalk.
But she didn't.
She couldn't.
She just kept walking.
One foot in front of the other.
Because if she stopped—
If she slowed down for even a second—
The weight of what she had just done would crush her completely.
---
Noah's POV
From the balcony, Noah stood in the shadows, watching her.
His hands were braced against the railing, his knuckles white from how tightly he was gripping it.
The cold wind whipped through his hair, but he didn't move.
Didn't blink.
He just watched.
Watched her leave.
His chest was tight, his breathing shallow.
But his face was completely blank.
Devoid of emotion.
Because if he let himself feel—
Even for a second—
He knew he would lose it completely.
He stared at her retreating figure, every muscle in his body coiled like a steel trap.
His jaw clenched painfully.
His throat tightened violently.
And then, as he watched her disappear around the corner, he slowly turned away.
Without a word, he walked back inside, closing the balcony door behind him.
But the moment the door clicked shut—
His control snapped violently.
In a blur of movement, he grabbed the glass decanter from the bar cart and hurled it across the room.
It shattered against the wall, shards of glass raining down onto the marble floor.
His chest heaved violently, his breathing ragged and uneven.
And then—
Without thinking—
He grabbed the nearest chair and slammed it against the wall, the wood splintering on impact.
His vision blurred slightly, his temples pounding with a vicious rhythm.
And then—
He staggered backward, bracing his hands against the edge of the bar counter.
His fingers dug into the polished surface, his knuckles white.
His chest was rising and falling unevenly, his breath coming in shallow gasps.
And still—
Her voice echoed in his head.
"They have Daniel… I didn't have a choice."
Noah's eyes squeezed shut.
His stomach twisted violently, a sharp, suffocating ache spreading through his chest.
He knew she wasn't lying.
He had seen it in her eyes.
The raw, helpless desperation.
The undeniable terror.
And still—
She hadn't told him.
Her silence was a betrayal.u
One that cut far deeper than her lies ever could.
---
Elena's POV
By the time Elena finally reached her apartment, her legs were shaking violently.
Her hands were clumsy and unsteady as she fumbled with the key.
Her vision was blurry—
From the cold wind.
From the tears she refused to let fall.
She finally managed to push the door open, staggering inside.
The moment she did, she slammed the door shut behind her, leaning heavily against it.
Her legs buckled, and she slowly slid down to the floor.
And then—
Her breath hitched violently, and the first sob escaped her throat.
Her fingers clutched at the fabric of her coat, trembling violently.
Her chest heaved with silent, choking sobs.
She pressed the back of her hand against her lips, trying to muffle the sound, but it was useless.
Her shoulders shook violently, her body trembling under the weight of everything.
And she couldn't stop it.
No matter how hard she tried.
Because he hated her now.
And she had no one to blame but herself.
---
Vincent's POV
From across the street, Vincent Alvarez watched her.
His car was parked in the shadows, barely visible from the apartment window.
He sat completely still, his eyes fixed on the faint silhouette of Elena as she collapsed inside her apartment.
His lips slowly curled into a cruel smile.
Cold.
Satisfied.
He reached for his phone, his fingers moving slowly over the screen.
And then, without hesitation, he made the call.
The line rang once.
Twice.
And then a familiar voice answered.
"Do it."
Vincent's voice was low, flat, and devoid of emotion.
"Now."
And then, slowly, he leaned back in his seat, his eyes still on Elena's apartment window.
He watched the light flicker faintly through the curtains.
Watched the faint shadow of her crumbling figure as she sat alone in the dark.
And he smiled.
Because he knew—
She was about to lose everything.
---
Noah's POV
The next morning, Noah sat at his desk, staring at the black screen of his laptop.
His eyes were bloodshot, his face blank.
The curtains were drawn, leaving the room in near darkness, but he didn't move.
Didn't turn on the light.
Didn't even glance at the untouched glass of whiskey on the table.
He just sat there.
Completely still.
But his mind was a violent storm, flashing with fragmented memories of the night before.
Of her eyes.
The pain in them.
The fear.
The betrayal.
A sharp knock suddenly echoed through the room.
Noah didn't move.
Didn't acknowledge it.
But the door slowly opened anyway.
And then, without a word, Xavier walked in, his expression dark.
Noah's eyes finally lifted, narrowing sharply.
The coldness in his gaze was enough to make most men back down.
But Xavier didn't even blink.
He simply walked over to the desk and placed a file in front of Noah.
"You're going to want to see this, boss."
His voice was low.
Grave.
Noah's eyes slowly dropped to the folder.
For a long moment, he didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
And then, finally, he slowly reached for it, flipping it open.
His eyes hardened instantly.
His blood ran cold.
Inside the file were photos.
Grainy, black-and-white surveillance images.
Of Elena.
And Vincent Alvarez.
In a car.
In a restaurant.
At the back entrance of the warehouse.
Multiple meetings.
Multiple interactions.
Undeniable evidence.
His grip on the folder tightened violently, his knuckles white.
And then, without a word, he slammed it shut.
The sound echoed sharply through the room.
Xavier didn't flinch.
He simply stared at him, waiting silently.
Noah slowly lifted his gaze.
His eyes were dark and lifeless, devoid of all emotion.
And then, in a low, gravelly voice, he finally spoke.
"Find Daniel."
His voice was low.
Flat.
Final.
Xavier's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded once.
And then—
Without another word, he turned and walked out of the room.
Noah sat there for a moment longer, his hands clenched into fists.
And then, slowly, his lips curled into a dangerous smile.
Because if Vincent Alvarez wanted a war—
He was going to get one.
---
Noah receives proof of Elena's meetings with Vincent, unaware that Vincent was blackmailing her with her brother's life.
Noah vows to destroy Vincent, but Elena is still caught in the middle.
See you in next chapter....