A Billionaire's pledge

Mrs Janice sat on her favorite sofa, her legs crossed with a magazine sitting on them. Despite her seemingly calm appearance, the aggressive tapping of her feet on the floor gave away her anxiety. 

She wasn't the only anxious one in the mansion, the maids were also panicking, the return of the only son and heir to the Cooper family had kept them on their toes. Mrs Janice was a perfectionist, and a strict woman who did not tolerate insolence, she warned them not to let her down.

Despite the magazine before her, she still kept her eyes on them, making sure that they did everything to her taste. Her son was finally returning from Germany after six years, she wasn't going to tolerate even a speck of dust in the mansion.

“Mom! Mom, he's here!” Bianca, who had been standing guard outside yelled out, her voice dripping with excitement. Mrs Janice put her magazine aside and clapped her hands. The maids rushed out, running to stand in line at the entrance to welcome Noah Cooper.

Mrs Janice stepped out as well, a huge smile on her face as she watched Noah alight from his stunning Maybach, looking dashing in his suit. 

“My son!” Mrs Janice sighed happily. 

Noah ignored all the maids who recited their memorized greeting to him and walked up to his mother, hugging her briefly. 

“Hi mom.” 

“Noah, I can't believe you're back!” Mrs Janice exclaimed. “God, I can't even recognize you. And you haven't changed, you still wear this silly mask and..”

“Mom, please.” Noah cut her off immediately and turned his gaze to his baby sister who jumped into his arms.

“Big brother!” 

“How are you, Bianca? You're big now!” He pointed out and she rolled her eyes

“Of course I'm big, I graduated college last year.” She replied and they all headed into the mansion, still chatting happily.

“Noah,” Mrs Janice called as soon as they all settled in the living room. Noah was already on his phone, working like the workaholic that he was. “Why did we hear about your return through the news?” She questioned, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. 

“You came back to the country and you didn't even call to inform your family. You only agreed to come home after I called you last night.” She continued, displeased that her son would treat her like an outsider.

“Yes bro, that was unfair.” Bianca added but Noah barely lifted his head from his phone. He was scrolling away, his forehead furrowed as he appeared tensed. 

“Noah!” 

“I heard you mom, I'm not deaf.” He finally looked up, tucking the phone into his pocket. “What exactly do you want me to do in this godforsaken house? You know quite well that this house brings me nothing but painful memories.” 

Noah's forehead started to sweat as the memories that he had tried so hard to forget started to flood his head again. He hated being in that mansion, it may be his home but it felt like hell to him. 

For the past six years, he lived in Germany, completing his degree in business administration and also trying to let go of what happened barely six months before his departure to Germany. Everything in that mansion was a constant reminder of the pain that he had to go through, and he had already decided that he would not stay there for long.

“Come on Noah, that was a long time ago. Bianca and I have been living here, nothing bad has happened.” Mrs Janice's words lingered, her tone dripping with concern.

“Exactly, my absence is the reason why nothing has happened yet.” He scoffed, scratching the top of his mask. 

Bianca frowned, “What are you so afraid of? Everything is fine now, you don't need to worry, and you definitely don't need to wear a mask.” 

“I'm going to freshen up.” Noah got to his feet, completely ignoring them and their attempts to get him to forget what happened. 

“Well, that's fine. Be down for dinner, all your favorites will be served.” Mrs Janice said with a smile, watching Noah climb up the long array of stairs. 

“Mom,” Bianca called after Noah went out of sight. “Do you think he remembers the girl?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“I don't think he does, but we will remind him tonight. That slut cannot take my grandson away from me.” Mrs Janice gritted her teeth, her eyes sparkling with hatred. Bianca leaned back and nodded.

“Now that he's back, he's going to take over.” She grinned. 

Noah was in his room, trying to pick out something casual to wear as he had been in a suit all day. His room was still in the same condition as he left it, but he couldn't help the feeling that something was completely off. He thought that there was something that he was forgetting, but he couldn't quite place a finger on it. 

He finally picked out a light green shirt and a pair of black pants which he put on immediately before going to pick up his phone. He was going through some messages when he remembered Harry, the little boy that brought him happiness.

For a long time, Noah had absolutely no reason to smile, but the little boy always managed to fill his heart with joy whenever he saw him. He didn't know why, but he felt a strong pull towards Harry, one that was making him miss him at that moment.

His mother, Charlene, might be a whore, but he still couldn't get her off his mind. He thought that he might have been a little too hard on her at the coffee shop, which was something he rarely ever felt— empathy. 

He sighed deeply, waving off the thought and leaving his room to have dinner with his family.

They were already waiting for him, all his favorites served as promised. He smile tugged at the corner of his lips, although no one could see it. 

“Take off the mask and eat something.” His mother ordered and his heart sank. He remembered vividly what happened the last time he took his mask off— terrible things.

“I can't.. I'll eat in my room alone.” He answered, his voice flat. 

“What?” Mrs Janice frowned. “So what are you going to do? Just watch us eat?” She scoffed and turned to the maids, dismissing them all. 

Bianca got up and drew the window blinds, leaving everywhere dark. She turned the lights on, and Noah finally agreed to take his mask off. 

His handsome face, almost blinding, came into full view, and his mother smiled warmly.

“That's better. Now, let's eat.” 

“By the way Noah, do you remember the girl that got pregnant with your child?” Mrs Janice asked out of the blue and Noah's eyes widened. 

It struck him all of a sudden, and he realized why he was having those feelings earlier. He finally remembered!

“Where is she? Where is my child!?” He demanded, his head banging from the new information.

“Bro, that woman is a witch, a slut! She ran away with your son after stealing from us.” Bianca lied.

“What!?” 

Noah remembered the night that he met the lady, but he had no idea what she looked like. They were both drunk and the room was dark. He had given her his card, and she called him three weeks later to tell him that she was pregnant. He was already at the airport, on his way to Germany, but he assured her that his family would take care of her. 

“Yes son, she's a snake. She left with my grandson after fighting your sister and I. She stole almost all the money in the house, that was her plan all along.” Mrs Janice added, scoffing loudly. 

Noah could not believe his ears. His blood boiled as hate surged through his veins. Who did that lady think she was to run away with his son!? He was going to make her pay, he was going to take her son away and make sure she dies a painful death. 

“Don't worry mom, I'm going to get my son back, that woman must pay.” He said in pure disdain.