Elena's back slammed against the wall.
Her breath caught painfully in her throat.
Noah's fingers were like steel around her wrist, his grip so tight it made her bones ache.
She winced sharply, her eyes wide with fear.
His face was inches from hers, close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath against her skin.
But there was no warmth in his eyes.
Only ice-cold fury.
His voice was low—
Dangerous.
Deadly.
"You were working with him."
Elena's eyes filled with tears.
She shook her head violently, her voice breaking.
"No—Noah, please—"
But he didn't let her speak.
His hand tightened around her wrist, jerking her closer.
"Don't lie to me."
His voice was a low, venomous growl.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
Elena's heart slammed violently in her chest.
Her breaths were shallow and uneven, her hands trembling against his hold.
"I wasn't—"
Her voice cracked.
"I swear, Noah, I wasn't—"
But his eyes were merciless.
Deadly.
"I saw you."
His words were cold and lethal, slicing through her like a blade.
"You met with Alvarez."
Her eyes widened.
Her stomach dropped violently.
Oh God.
He knew.
He knew everything.
She struggled to breathe, her throat tightening painfully.
But she couldn't look away from him.
She couldn't move.
Her voice shook.
"I had no choice, Noah…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"He was going to kill Daniel. I—"
But Noah's eyes flashed with rage, and he cut her off sharply.
"You lied to me."
His voice was hoarse, filled with undiluted betrayal.
"Over and over. You looked me in the eye and lied."
Elena's lips parted, her eyes stinging with tears.
She tried to reach for him, her free hand trembling as she gently pressed it against his chest.
Her touch was desperate.
Pleading.
"Please, just listen to me—"
But Noah's eyes were hard and unyielding.
He didn't move.
Didn't soften.
His voice was cold as death.
"I trusted you."
His words were barely above a whisper.
But they hit her like a physical blow.
Her breath caught painfully, her chest tightening.
Her voice cracked.
"Noah, please… I didn't betray you. I was protecting Daniel."
Her eyes were wild with desperation, her voice breaking with every word.
"You have to believe me. I had no choice."
But Noah's eyes were void of mercy.
And when he spoke, his voice was laced with deadly finality.
"You had a choice."
He yanked her closer, his voice low and sharp.
"And you chose to betray me."
Her legs buckled beneath her, and she sagged slightly against the wall.
Her vision blurred with tears.
"No… no…" she whimpered, shaking her head violently.
But Noah's grip was unrelenting.
His jaw was clenched violently, his knuckles white.
And then—
His voice lowered into a deadly whisper.
"You're no different from the rest of them."
His lips curled into a cruel, bitter smirk, his eyes dark with loathing.
"Nothing but a liar. A backstabbing little liar."
Elena sucked in a sharp breath, her heart shattering into pieces.
Her hands shook violently, her nails digging into his chest as she desperately clung to him.
"Noah, stop!" she sobbed brokenly.
"You don't understand!"
But he wasn't listening.
He was done listening.
Without another word, he jerked her roughly away from the wall.
Her legs nearly gave out, and she stumbled slightly.
His grip on her wrist was merciless, and she cried out softly as he dragged her down the hallway.
Her voice cracked with desperation.
"Noah! Please! Let me explain!"
But he didn't stop.
Didn't slow.
And when he finally did—
He threw the door open, forcing her inside.
Her eyes widened violently—
And her breath hitched painfully.
Because there—
Sitting in the middle of the room, bound and bruised—
Was Daniel.
His face was pale and bloodied, his eyes glassy with exhaustion.
But he was alive.
Elena's knees nearly buckled with relief, a sob catching in her throat.
"Daniel!" she choked out.
Her voice broke with pure, raw relief, and she surged toward him—
But Noah's fingers tightened violently around her wrist, jerking her back.
"No! Let me go!" she screamed, thrashing against his hold.
Her voice was wild with desperation, her eyes wide with panic.
But Noah didn't budge.
His jaw was clenched violently, his eyes brimming with venomous fury.
"You really thought you could fool me?" he snarled, his voice low and guttural.
Her eyes filled with tears, her chest heaving violently.
Her voice broke.
"No, Noah, I swear—"
But before she could finish—
He suddenly shoved her toward Daniel, making her stumble.
Her knees hit the cold, hard floor, and she gasped sharply at the impact.
She quickly scrambled to her hands and knees, her eyes wide with terror as she crawled toward Daniel.
Her fingers trembled violently as she cupped his face, her voice shaking.
"Daniel… Daniel, look at me!" she choked out, her voice thick with tears.
Her hands were trembling, her entire body shaking.
"You're okay… you're okay…"
But Daniel's eyes were heavy, unfocused.
His voice was weak.
"Elena…" he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper.
Her vision blurred with tears, her fingers trembling as she brushed his bloodied hair back from his forehead.
Her voice was breaking with raw emotion.
"I'm so sorry…" she sobbed softly, her forehead pressing against his.
"I'm so sorry… I'm here. I'm here."
But Noah's voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Don't waste your breath."
His voice was low, merciless.
Cold as death.
Elena's head snapped toward him, her eyes wide with panic.
Her voice cracked.
"No, please—"
But Noah's eyes were void of all mercy.
He slowly took a step forward—
And then another.
His voice was deadly calm, each word dripping with venom.
"You think you can manipulate me?"
His eyes narrowed sharply.
"You think you can save him?"
Elena's heart slammed violently in her chest.
Her entire body was trembling.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Broken.
Desperate.
"Noah… please…"
But he was done listening.
Done trusting.
Done caring.
Without another word—
He slowly pulled a small black pistol from his holster.
And then—
He slowly raised it.
Pointing it directly at Daniel's head.
Elena's blood turned to ice, and she staggered forward violently.
Her voice was a broken scream, raw with terror.
"No! Noah, stop!"
But his eyes were cold and unyielding, his expression devoid of all emotion.
And his finger slowly tightened on the trigger.
---
Noah's wrath reaches its peak, and he holds Daniel's life in his hands.
Elena is powerless, her betrayal costing her everything.
The line between love and hatred is violently blurred.
------
See you in next chapter.....