Chapter 5: Old Wounds, New War

Noah

Anger rose in my chest the moment I saw the lingering smirk on John's face.

It hadn't changed. Not after all these years.

Memories came rushing back, sharp and unwanted. His father had been a close friend of mine for as long as I could remember. People thought we were brothers; we shared almost everything but never the truth.

John had always had a way of taking things that belonged to me. And worse, he always got away with it.

Whenever I spoke up, no one believed me, not even my father. John was better at pretending. Better at playing innocent.

And now, here he was again, too close to Aria.

The way he said her name, it wasn't casual. It wasn't new. That meant something. Something I didn't like. The thoughts alone unsettled me.

My jaw tightened.

I wasn't going to let him take her too. Not again. Not like the first time.

I still remembered it, clear as day. I had trusted him and told him about the girl I liked. And then he went behind my back and asked her to prom.

Though we were young, people like John, they don't change.

"Everyone leave", my voice low but firm.

"Except John."

The room stilled.

Miss Gina didn't move.

I shut my eyes briefly, forcing myself to breathe.

"Including you, Miss Gina"

"Noah," She said softly, stepping closer, her hand patting my arm "Remember this is an office."

"I know," I replied, opening my eyes. "Nothing will happen. We just need to talk"

She studied me for a second, then nodded and walked out, closing the door behind her.

Silence filled the room.

I walked back to my seat, expecting him to follow suit, but he didn't. Instead, he moved around the office slowly, touching things like he owned the place. His fingers brushed the edge of my desk, the glass walls, the files like he was inspecting everything.

Then he sat. Right in the center chair. Crossing his legs like he had all the time in the world.

"You have a nice office," he said; his baritone voice laced with mockery.

I exhaled slowly through my nose, trying not to lose my temper.

"What are you doing here?" I forced the words out through my gritted teeth like they tasted of vinegar.

"And who gave you the right to interfere earlier"

He didn't answer immediately; he just leaned back, watching me like this was entertainment.

"Relax," he said lazily "You've always had anger issues"

My hands curled into a fist.

"Don't push me, John"

"Noah pooper,"

A nickname that had stuck for ages.

I was back there, my young self sitting on that chair with a melted chocolate bar. The entire class was laughing and pointing towards me. I found out later it was John who had played the prank on me.

He chuckled, raising my irritation.

Unable to control my anger, I slammed my hand against the table, making a loud thud,

"Do not call me that!" I snapped, my voice echoing across the room. Drawing attention to myself once again. Heads had turned the second time.

I closed my eyes, forcing the anger down. But he was not done

“My father,” he said casually, standing up, “is still one of the major shareholders in Diamond's company.”

My eyes snapped open. So that was it.

He walked past me slowly, heading for the door, then paused.

"You should take it easy, Noah", he paused, then added

"You don't want to scare the workers" His eyes glanced toward Aria's office through the glass. His eyes lingered... just a little too long.

There was something in his eyes, a glitter. Possession. My chest tightened.

"Stay away from her," I snapped.

He let out a low laugh, then without turning back.

"This one is mine, Noah"

The door clicked shut behind him.

For a moment I didn't move.

Then my fists clenched harder, veins rising along my arms.

"Damn it", I muttered

Just when I thought I had Aria within my grasp, John decided to show up.

He doesn't back down easily, and I won't allow him. I knew what to do. I turned sharply and headed straight for my father's office.

Miss Gina sat just outside his door.

"Is he in?" I asked hesitantly, already walking away.

"Yes, but Mr Sterling, you can't go in now..."

Her voice trailed behind me as I pushed the door open without waiting for a response.

I was too late

He was there already, sitting beside my father. Smiling.

John had beaten me to it.

"You have just resumed," my father said sharply without even looking at me properly, "and you are already creating problems"

My father's voice was stern as always. I never remembered him showing me love like other fathers showed their children.

"Mr Sterling," John cut in smoothly, "everything is under control, I'll guide Noah for now"

My teeth clenched. I could just punch him right now.

"Hmm," my father nodded, trying to place his worn-out tobacco in the ashtray. John quickly handed it to him, meeting his hand halfway

He was still a good pretender as always

"Mr Sterling, I need to speak to you alone," I said

Father's head flew up.

"You ungrateful boy", he snapped "The only reason I allowed you to chase hockey was to fix that attitude of yours, and yet you stand here and address me this way"

His voice rose, echoing.

Then suddenly, he stopped talking. His hands trembled. The unsmoked tobacco slipped slightly between his fingers. His breathing changed. Uneven. My chest tightened.

"Father?"

He didn't respond.

His eyes widened slightly, then he began coughing mildly at first, then harder in just a few seconds.

John stepped forward quickly, supporting him, patting his back. "It's okay, sir, just breathe". But it wasn't okay because he kept coughing.

Miss Gina rushed in immediately, panic already on her face. She grabbed a bottle, poured the pills into her palm, and reached for a glass of water.

"Sir, take this...please." He didn't respond; something was wrong. Something I didn't understand.

His chest rose sharply, then dropped... slower this time.

Too slow.

My body refused to move; I just stood there in a spot, watching.

Then his eyelids began to fall.

"Call 911!" Miss Gina screamed

And just like that, everything faded. Voices. Footsteps. Movement.

In what felt like seconds, he was being wheeled out. And I was still standing in the same spot. Frozen.

Something deep inside me shifted,

This...

This was far from over.

And for the first time in my life, I realized I wasn't prepared for what was coming next