0004

Later that evening, Mrs. Colbert showed up, inviting Noémie to a birthday party. However, Noémie politely declined, not in the mood for festivities. Pretending to enjoy herself felt far too exhausting for her weary mind.

Fortunately, Mrs. Colbert didn’t seem offended. Instead, she encouraged Noémie to reach out if she ever needed anything. At that moment, tears welled up in Noémie’s eyes. She became unexpectedly emotional, struggling to hold back the tears that flushed her face a deep red.

Mrs. Colbert must have sensed something. Later, she returned from the party with a slice of cake for Noémie. The thoughtful gesture touched her deeply.

That night, Noémie couldn’t sleep. She scrolled endlessly through her phone, debating whether or not to call her sister.

Claudia was the only person she could truly rely on in moments like these. Noémie desperately needed someone to confide in, someone to help her release the pent-up anxiety and frustration inside her. There was so much she wanted to express—so much to scream, to let out. But living alone in this forsaken city, she had no one to trust. And it was an unbearable reality.

———

Noémie wasn’t sure what time it was when she heard the doorbell ring twice. Frowning with curiosity, she climbed out of bed and turned on the lights.

The first thing she did was check the time.

The wall clock read 4:18 a.m.

Strange. Who could be at her door so early in the morning? Was there an emergency? The last time someone had disturbed her in the middle of the night, it was a false fire alarm that sent the entire building into chaos. She sincerely hoped this wasn’t another false alarm—she was far too exhausted to deal with it.

But the doorbell kept ringing.

Sighing, Noémie tied her hair into a loose bun, rubbed her tired eyes, and tightened her robe around her. Moving sluggishly, she dragged herself toward the door.

Whoever was outside seemed to grow more impatient with each passing second. Annoyance replaced her initial concern, etching itself clearly on her delicate features.

Ready to unleash her irritation on whoever dared to disturb her, she unlatched the door and swung it open wide.

But as soon as her eyes fell on the man standing before her, the words she had prepared froze in her throat.

Her face drained of color, and a chill of shock ran down her spine, leaving her utterly speechless.

What was he doing here?

Standing before her in a sleek Armani suit was the brother of the man who had destroyed her life. The very man whose actions still haunted her.

Noémie inhaled sharply, her hand tightening on the doorknob. “What... what are you doing here?”

Vincent Halest grinned, his intense gray eyes shimmering with a hint of mockery. “Great to see you too, Noémie,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Her body tensed as a wave of panic surged through her. If Vincent had found her, Ajax must have known where she was too. Was he here as well?

Frantically, she scanned the hallway on either side of the door.

It was empty.

Vincent let out a scoff, drawing her attention back to him. Startled, she met his gaze once more.

“How did you find out where I am?” she asked, her voice unsteady.

“Excellent question,” he replied coolly, shoving his hands into his pockets and leaning against the doorframe. “We’ll talk about that later. For now, grab your things and meet me downstairs in fifteen minutes.” With that, he turned and started to walk away.

Confused and on edge, Noémie called out, “What if I refuse?”

He stopped and turned back, raising an eyebrow. “You think you have a choice?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” she shot back, defiance flashing in her eyes.

Vincent chuckled bitterly, his gaze locking onto hers. “Because you didn’t leave him with many options either. You walked away, Noémie. You never gave him a chance to explain.”

Her stomach twisted at his words. What was there to explain? His brother had assaulted her—how could anyone justify that?

“Let’s go,” Vincent said coldly. “He’s waiting for you.”

The mention of Ajax sent a fresh wave of pain through her chest. Her knees felt weak as anger and despair swirled within her. Spinning on her heel, she prepared to slam the door in Vincent’s face. But before she could even take a step, a sudden dizziness overtook her.

Darkness crept at the edges of her vision, and she stumbled, barely managing to steady herself.

“Noémie!” Vincent’s voice carried a rare note of concern. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she forced out through gritted teeth, leaning heavily against the wall and massaging her temples. Her head throbbed with searing pain, and the world around her blurred. “Don’t... touch me.”

Those were the last words she managed to say before the darkness consumed her completely, and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.