CHAPTER 115

CHAPTER 115
POV NOAH

I left the press conference with my heart racing.

Too fast.

Too hard.

As if I were still standing in front of all those cameras, those microphones, those eyes judging every word I said.

But, in reality…

None of that mattered anymore.

Because my mind…

Was already somewhere else.

With her.

With Isabela.

I could only think about her.

If she had watched.

If she had understood everything I meant to say.

If she had felt what I felt.

If… she had liked it.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to ease the tension.

But it didn’t help.

I needed to see her.

Needed to be with her.

Needed to look into her eyes after all of that.

But before I even reached the parking lot…

“Noah.”

The voice.

Familiar.

Unwanted.

Heavy.

I closed my eyes for a second.

Took a deep breath.

My father.

Of course.

Oliver approached, his face serious and posture rigid, as if he were still in a business meeting and not in the middle of a family conflict.

“We need to talk.”

I let the air out slowly.

Tired.

“Not now, Dad.”

“Now.”

The answer came immediately.

He crossed his arms.

“What was that?”

Silence.

“Have you lost your mind?”

My jaw tightened.

“It was the truth.”

He let out a humorless laugh.

“It was irresponsible.”

“No.”

I looked straight at him.

Without backing down.

“You need to forget this madness… leave that woman alone.”

My blood boiled.

Instantly.

“Don’t talk about her like that.”

My voice came out lower.

Firmer.

More dangerous.

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“I don’t need your protection.”

He looked at me like I was a child.

“You scheduled that damn press conference without consulting me… I’m your manager.”

I took a deep breath.

Held back the anger.

But I didn’t step back.

“Not anymore.”

Silence fell.

Heavy.

“What?”

“I already said it…” I continued, firm, “I don’t want you as my manager anymore. I wasn’t joking.”

His eyes darkened.

“You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“I do.”

My voice didn’t waver.

“And I want distance.”

He took a step forward.

“You’re going to regret this.”

I shrugged.

“Maybe.”

I walked past him.

Without looking back.

“But this decision is mine.”

I didn’t wait for an answer.

Didn’t want to hear it.

Didn’t care.

I went straight to the parking lot.

Each step faster than the last.

I got into the car.

Started the engine.

And drove off.

Without thinking.

Without hesitating.

Only one thing on my mind.

Isabela.

I drove faster than I should have.

Ignored signs.

Ignored traffic.

Ignored everything.

My heart was still pounding.

But when I turned onto her street…

Something inside me froze.

Daniel’s car.

Parked carelessly.

Crooked.

As if it had been left there in a rush.

In anger.

In loss of control.

My stomach dropped.

A chill ran down my spine.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

I parked without thinking.

Got out of the car almost running.

Went up the stairs.

My whole body is tense.

My breathing is uneven.

My heart is racing.

I opened the door.

And then…

I saw it.

The scene.

Burned.

Carved.

Forever in my memory.

Daniel is gripping Isabela’s arm.

Hard.

Alex is between them.

Trying to pull him away.

Isis to the side.

Scared.

Crying.

And Isabela…

Pale.

Fragile.

Hurt.

My vision darkened.

“Let her go.”

My voice came out before I could even think.

Low.

Controlled.

But loaded.

Daniel turned slowly.

And looked at me.

And I saw it.

The hatred.

Raw.

Unfiltered.

The argument started.

Words.

Accusations.

Anger.

Everything is exploding at once.

But deep down…

I already felt it.

This was going to go wrong.

Very wrong.

And then…

He moved his hand to his waist.

My heart failed.

One second.

Two.

Three.

And then…

The gun.

Cold.

Real.

Pointed.

At me.

The air left my lungs.

Time slowed down.

Everything became distant.

Like I was watching that scene from the outside.

Isis screamed.

A desperate sound.

Alex froze.

Isabela…

Turned pale.

And me…

I could only look.

At her.

My eyes found hers.

And, in that moment…

Everything made sense.

Every choice.

Every mistake.

Every consequence.

None of it mattered.

Only her.

Only us.

“I love you…”

My voice came out low.

But steady.

Without fear.

Without a doubt.

It was the truth.

The greatest truth of my life.

I had already accepted it.

If I had to die for her…

I would.

“No…” Isabela cried, “Don’t do this… don’t say that… this isn’t a goodbye…”

Isis started crying.

Desperate.

“Dad… please… don’t do this…”

But Daniel didn’t take his aim off me.

His eyes fixed.

Cold.

Decided.

“Dad… please…” Isis begged, “Don't do this…”

He turned his face to her.

For a second.

“So now you’re on your mother’s lover’s side?”

His voice filled with contempt.

Isis shook her head, desperate.

“No… I just… I just don’t want you to do this…”

Silence returned.

Heavy.

Unbearable.

Daniel looked back at me.

Our eyes locked.

And, in that moment…

I knew.

He was going to do it.

There was no turning back.

None.

And then…

His finger moved.

Slow.

Precise.

Cold.

The trigger was pulled.

The sound…

Exploded through the room.

Loud.

Violent.

Deafening.

And, for a second…

The whole world…

Stopped.

In absolute silence.