CHAPTER 103

CHAPTER 103
POV NOAH

Time didn’t seem to pass.

I was sitting in that hard, uncomfortable chair in the waiting room… but my whole body stayed on alert, rigid, as if I were ready to react at any moment.

But react to what?

I didn’t even know.

My eyes were fixed on Daniel.

No disguise.

No shame.

I stared at him as if I could pierce through him with my gaze.

What I wanted…

Was to stand up.

Walk over to him.

And end it right there.

One punch.

Then another.

And another.

Until I let out all the anger trapped inside me.

My jaw was clenched.

So tight it hurt.

My hands were balled into fists, fingers pressing into my palms so hard my nails nearly marked the skin.

I could feel the blood running hot through my veins.

Pure rage.

Raw.

Alex noticed.

Of course he did.

He always noticed.

He leaned slightly toward me, speaking low, almost in a whisper:

“Man… the way you’re looking at him… it looks like you’re about to get up and kill the guy.”

I exhaled sharply through my nose.

“Maybe I should.”

My voice came out low.

Cold.

Too honest.

Alex ran a hand over his face, clearly worried.

“Noah… don’t make things worse.”

I shook my head, not taking my eyes off Daniel.

“He destroyed her life…” I murmured, “And he’s still sitting there… acting like the concerned husband.”

Every word came out laced with contempt.

Alex didn’t respond.

But his silence said everything.

He knew.

He agreed.

My phone started vibrating again.

And it was already getting on my nerves.

I grabbed it tightly.

Another call.

My father.

I rejected it immediately.

Without thinking.

Right after that, another one.

Coach.

Rejected.

Another.

Team president.

Rejected.

Then…

Unknown number.

Press.

Definitely.

Rejected.

It wouldn’t stop.

It was like an attack.

Vibration after vibration.

Call after call.

As if the entire world had decided to invade my life all at once.

“What the hell…” I muttered, running a hand over my face.

I was about to turn the phone off completely when a name appeared.

Mom.

My chest tightened instantly.

I let out a heavy sigh.

I stood up.

“I’ll be back,” I told Alex quietly.

I stepped away from the waiting room, looking for a more secluded spot.

I answered.

“Mom…”

“Noah!” Her voice came out anxious, rushed. “My God, I saw the news… is that true?”

I closed my eyes.

At that moment…

I didn’t have the strength for that.

“Mom… I don’t want to talk about that right now…”

“Noah, answer me!” she insisted. “Is it true? Are you involved with a married woman? And… she’s Mel’s best friend’s mother?”

I ran a hand over my face.

Tired.

Exhausted.

Inside and out.

“Mom… not now…”

“I’m worried!” she said, her voice trembling. “This is everywhere!”

I took a deep breath.

Tried to stay in control.

“I’m at the hospital.”

Silence.

Heavy.

“Hospital?” she asked, her voice changing instantly. “What happened?”

I swallowed hard.

My voice came out lower.

More broken.

“Isabela had an accident… she’s admitted… she just came out of surgery…”

“My God…” she whispered.

“I don’t know anything else…” I continued. “I’m waiting for news.”

There was a pause.

“Are you okay?”

I looked at the floor.

Fixed.

Seeing nothing.

“No.”

It came out automatically.

Honest.

Raw.

She stayed silent for a few seconds.

And this time…

She didn’t push.

“Let me know anything… please.”

“I will.”

I hung up.

Stood there for a few seconds.

Phone still in my hand.

Breathing heavy.

Then I went back.

Back to that hell of waiting.

But as I walked into the room…

Something was different.

I looked around.

Daniel wasn’t there anymore.

Isis wasn’t either.

I frowned.

“Where are they?”

Alex looked up.

“They left.”

“They left?”

“Daniel said the girl needed a shower… to rest…” He shrugged. “They’ll probably come back later.”

I nodded slowly.

But that bothered me.

Not because of Daniel.

But because of her.

Isis.

She had seen everything.

Knew everything.

And now…

All of this was on her too.

I ran a hand over my face.

Sat down again.

And went back to waiting.

I looked at the floor.

Then at the clock.

Then at the door.

Any movement made my body react.

But nothing happened.

Nothing changed.

Time kept dragging.

My mind…

Wouldn’t stop.

Isabela.

Alone.

Hurt.

Unconscious.

Hooked to machines.

In that cold ICU.

The image suffocated me.

I rubbed my face hard.

Took a deep breath.

But the air felt insufficient.

More time passed.

I didn’t even know how much.

Minutes.

Hours.

It all blurred together.

Until…

The door opened.

My body reacted before my mind did.

I stood up immediately.

The doctor appeared.

And this time…

He looked straight at me.

“Mr. Noah?”

My heart raced.

“Yes.”

My voice came out faster than I expected.

“She’s waking up.”

The world seemed to stop for a second.

And then come rushing back all at once.

Strong.

Intense.

She was waking up.

She was there.

She had come back.

My chest tightened.

Relief so overwhelming it almost hurt.

“Do you want to see her?”

I didn’t even have to think.

“Yes… of course…”

My voice came out hoarse.

Heavy.

He nodded.

“Come with me.”

I started walking.

But every step felt heavy.

Carrying everything I was feeling.

Fear.

Relief.

Anxiety.

Hope.

My heart was racing uncontrollably.

My hands were still shaking.

But this time…

It was different.

Because finally…

Finally…

I was going to see her.

And that alone made everything worth it.