Chapter 7

Justine thought, "Would a human really make such a choice?"

Noah always found a way to outdo himself. Just when she thought he couldn't sink lower, he did.

"Looks like you no longer have backup," Alger said smugly, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

Justine pulled a key from her coat pocket and shoved it straight into his eye.

Alger screamed, throwing a punch at her. They scuffled violently.

Justine took several brutal blows, but she spotted her opening and landed a sharp kick to his private part. As he crumpled to the ground, howling in pain, she snatched his phone and called the police.

The officers quickly arrived and took in the scene.

Still unwilling to give up hope, Justine asked, "Excuse me, was there a report made earlier from this area?"

One of the officers replied casually, "No, nothing came through."

So, Noah hadn't even bothered to call for help.

After giving her statement at the station, she made her way to the hospital. The doctor patched her up while marveling at her ability to endure such heavy injuries.

Justine gave a small, indifferent smile and didn't say a word. Compared to the emotional blows she had taken recently, this physical pain felt like nothing.

By the time everything was done, it was nearly 3:00 am. She dragged her aching body home. The house was silent, cold, and empty. Collapsing onto the couch, she stared at the ceiling, utterly drained. Her mind went blank.

She had no idea how much time had passed before she heard the door unlock.

The lights suddenly blazed on. She squinted and lifted her hand to shield her eyes. Through the slits between her fingers, she saw Noah and Gavin walking in.

"I knew you pulled the whole sympathy act to get Dad's attention," Gavin sneered, his voice sharp and full of disdain.

Justine didn't have the energy to scold or correct him. She closed her eyes and ignored them, her voice flat and distant. "Whatever you need, just take it and leave. I just want some peace and a moment to breathe."

Noah looked at her. She was bruised all over, her cheek was swollen, her fingernails were cracked and broken—yet she didn't say a word. The only thing left in her eyes was exhaustion. It was like she didn't even have the strength to complain anymore.

He was supposed to protect her.

Meanwhile, Gavin was standing beside her, completely unfazed. He didn't even show a flicker of concern for his mother.

A chill spread through Noah's chest as he realized how cold his child had become.

When there was still no response, Justine slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. Her voice was detached, almost mechanical. "What? Do you want an apology? For ruining your date? Fine. I'm sorry."

She just wanted him to leave. She was too tired to fight anymore.

Noah barely glanced at Gavin and said, "Go to your room."

Then, he walked out the door. Justine didn't care where he was going. She didn't even bother wondering.

Half an hour later, the front door opened again. Noah came back in carrying a plastic bag filled with medications. He crouched beside her and pulled out antiseptic and cotton swabs.

The quiet rustling of plastic stirred Justine from her sleep. "What are you doing? I've already taken care of it. What's the point of pretending now?"

Noah's expression twisted in irritation. "I'm trying to help, and you're snapping at me? Justine, are you the kind of woman who only responds when someone treats you like crap?"

She let out a cold laugh. "So, you do know how badly you treat me."

Noah fell silent, no longer interested in pretending to be the good guy. He tossed the cotton swabs and antiseptic onto the table and stood, towering over her. "I told you not to go to places like that, but you didn't listen. You brought this on yourself."

She brought this on herself? Of course, Noah would say that. He had a talent for finding the one part of her that hadn't completely fallen apart, just to tear it open himself.

Justine didn't even have the strength to argue anymore. Her voice was flat when she asked, "And where did you run into Hazel again, then?"

If she had heard it correctly, Hazel had said it herself that they met at the bar.

Justine didn't wait for his response. She pulled the blanket over her head and shut everything out. She was drained. She didn't want to deal with any of it.

Two more weeks—that was all that was left. Yet even staying one more hour in this house felt impossible.

She vaguely heard Noah's phone buzz a few times, but he didn't answer.

A moment later, Gavin's door creaked open. He walked out with his phone in hand, shouting without the slightest attempt at subtlety, "Ms. Gilbert is calling you."

Another 30 minutes passed before Noah and Gavin both headed out. When they left, dawn had already broken.

Justine didn't fall asleep until then. When she finally woke up again, darkness had returned to the skies.

She sat up, her body sore from head to toe.

After so many days, Noah hadn't even bothered to check if her phone was working. If he had tried calling, he would have realized she was completely unreachable.

Justine dragged herself off the couch and headed downstairs to buy something to eat. But just as she turned the corner, she saw Noah and Hazel standing close, whispering sweet nothings.

At the same time, a shadow darted past her. Before she could react, a searing pain tore through her abdomen. She looked down and saw blood blooming across her shirt. Stunned, she looked up.

Hazel's scream pierced the air as she threw herself into Noah's arms. "Noah, I'm so scared!"

The attacker, startled by the scream, panicked. In a frenzy, he stabbed her again before bolting.

Justine slowly collapsed to the ground, her vision blurring as she watched Noah in the distance—still clinging to Hazel and holding her tightly.