Chapter 3

Toward the end of the banquet, I started feeling unwell and decided to leave early. Noah immediately said he'd take me home, but Heidi blocked our path.

She seemed drunk, falling into Noah's arms and whining, "Noah, can you take me home instead?"

"That's enough!" Mom yanked Heidi back.

"Your sister is sick. As her fiance, of course he needs to take her to the hospital."

Noah nodded and pulled me toward the exit. But while driving, he was clearly distracted, running several red lights.

I leaned wearily against the window, feeling nothing anymore. Suddenly, his phone screen lit up. He glanced at it, and the car screeched to an abrupt stop.

I lurched forward without warning, crying out in pain. But Noah didn't even look at me. He tossed the car keys into my lap.

"Erin, go to the hospital yourself today. Something urgent came up at the company. I have to go."

Before I could say anything, he'd already flagged down a cab and left. I had a pretty good guess what was happening. Fighting the dizziness, I forced myself into the driver’s seat and followed him.

The car eventually stopped in front of a bar. Noah rushed inside like a madman.

"Sir, this lady had too much to drink at the bar and this man was harassing her..."

Before the employee could finish, Noah's fist connected with the drunk's face. His movements were brutal, each punch landing with sickening force. He was usually so composed and aloof, but now his face twisted with a rare, violent fury.

Several bouncers rushed forward to stop him, but he shoved them aside effortlessly. He grabbed the man by the collar.

"Tell me. Where did you touch her?"

"I didn't touch her! She was the one coming onto me!"

Another vicious punch sent blood flying from the man's mouth.

The crowd immediately started whispering. "Isn't that the CEO of Starlight Group? He's actually brawling in public!"

"But his fiancee isn't this woman, is she? Isn't he worried his fiancee will see this and get jealous?"

"Please. This is Noah Levine we're talking about. Plenty of women would kill to marry him. Having a few mistresses is normal for someone like him."

I watched the scene unfold through the car window. My numb heart still managed to ache.

Just then, Heidi rushed forward to stop him. "Please, stop! You're scaring me..."

Noah's hand froze mid-air. The violence drained from his face, replaced by a tenderness and adoration I'd never seen before.

He pulled Heidi tightly into his arms. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

I buried my face against the steering wheel and let the tears fall, one by one.

On the drive home, the fever made me sluggish. I drove straight into an oncoming truck.

The car flipped through the air. I was pinned beneath the wreckage as flames slowly consumed everything around me.

If there was a next life, I hoped I'd never see Noah again.