CHAPTER 118
CHAPTER 118
POV NOAH
A few months had passed.
Intense months.
Heavy.
Difficult at many moments… but, at the same time, the best of my life.
It was strange how two opposite truths could coexist.
But they could.
Because, despite everything that had happened…
Despite the shooting.
The hospital.
The almost loss.
Despite the pain…
I had never felt so alive.
So sure of something.
Isabela and I were solid.
More than ever.
Stronger than any judgment, any opinion, any obstacle.
After everything…
It felt like nothing could separate us anymore.
Nothing.
Isis had changed too.
A lot.
The transformation in her was visible.
Before, her gaze was heavy.
Suspicious.
Resistant.
Now…
There was lightness.
There was openness.
There was something new.
She no longer avoided me.
She no longer treated me like a mistake.
On the contrary.
She talked to me.
Got closer.
Sometimes, she even sought me out.
She told me about school.
About her friends.
About the insecurities, she still tried to hide behind a smile.
And I listened.
For real.
With attention.
With care.
And that…
That meant more than any formal acceptance.
It was trust.
It was space.
It was a connection.
And I felt something for her.
A genuine affection.
Strong.
Protective.
Even more after that day.
After what she did.
She had taken a bullet for me.
For me.
That would never leave my mind.
Never.
It was a silent debt.
A responsibility.
A promise I carried in my chest every single day.
To take care of them.
Both of them.
Today was Sunday.
And we were on our way to lunch at my parents’ house.
Just thinking about it made my stomach feel heavy.
When my mother invited us…
My first answer was no.
Immediate.
Instinctive.
I knew exactly how it would end.
My father.
A cutting remark.
A venomous comment.
The heavy atmosphere.
And everything is going downhill.
Like always.
But Isabela…
Isabela insisted.
She wanted to try.
She wanted to be accepted.
She wanted to belong.
She wanted to build something with my family too.
And for her…
I agreed.
Even knowing it was a terrible idea.
Now we were in the car.
I was driving.
Isabela is beside me.
Isis is in the back seat.
And, in that moment…
Despite everything…
I felt complete.
A strange feeling.
New.
Good.
Isis turned up the music.
“THIS ONE IS MINE!” she shouted, excited.
“Ours!” I corrected, playing along.
We both started singing.
Loud.
Off-key.
Without any shame.
“Are you two deaf?” Isabela complained, partially covering her ear.
“This song is amazing!” Isis shot back, laughing.
“It’s horrible!” Isabela argued, offended.
I smiled.
Mischievous.
“You only think that because you're old.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Slow.
I slowly turned my head.
She was looking at me.
Completely outraged.
“Old?”
Isis burst out laughing.
“Oh… now you’re done…”
“He’s dead,” she added, laughing even harder.
I laughed.
But I didn’t back down.
I kept singing.
Louder.
Provoking.
Just to annoy her even more.
Isabela crossed her arms.
But even so…
She smiled.
Softly.
And that…
That was already worth everything.
A few minutes later, we arrived.
I parked the car.
Got out.
The air was warm.
But my body…
Tense.
I rang the doorbell.
The door opened.
My mother.
Smiling.
But there was nervousness in her eyes.
Mel appeared right behind her.
As soon as she saw Isis…
Her eyes lit up.
“Isis!”
“Mel!”
The two of them practically ran to each other.
“Let’s go to my room!” Mel said, pulling her along.
“Let’s go!” Isis replied, excited.
I watched.
And smiled.
That was good.
Light.
Simple.
Normal.
Something we hadn’t had much of lately.
I took Isabela’s hand.
Interlacing our fingers.
“Ready?” I asked softly.
She took a deep breath.
And nodded.
We walked in.
Headed toward the pool area.
The table was set.
Carefully arranged.
Food in excess.
As always.
My mother came right behind us.
She went straight to Isabela.
Hugged her.
Kissed her cheek.
“I’m so happy you came.”
And this time…
The smile seemed genuine.
Isabela returned it.
And that surprised me.
Maybe…
Maybe there was a chance.
We sat down.
And then…
My father appeared.
And everything changed.
Immediately.
The air grew heavy.
Dense.
As if someone had closed the surrounding space.
He sat down.
Without greeting.
Without smiling.
His eyes went straight to Isabela.
My entire body tensed.
But under the table…
Isabela held my hand.
Caressed it.
Slowly.
As if saying:
“Calm down.”
I took a deep breath.
But it was already too late.
I was already ready for war.
Lunch began.
Cutlery.
Plates.
Mechanical movements.
But no one was really eating.
It was an uncomfortable silence.
Full of tension.
Waiting.
Just waiting for the explosion.
And it came.
“So…” my father began. “How long is this relationship going to last?”
My gaze lifted immediately.
Cold.
Direct.
“What do you mean by that?”
He shrugged.
“Relax… why are you so nervous, son? I’m just being honest… with that age difference… it won’t last long.”
My jaw tightened.
For a second…
I almost laughed.
If he only knew…
If he had the slightest idea what I had planned for today…
But he didn’t.
And he didn’t deserve to know.
“And even if it doesn’t… what does that have to do with you?” I shot back.
He smiled.
That irritating smile.
“I’m just being realistic.”
I took a deep breath.
But it didn’t help.
“You’ve never been realistic…” I said, dryly. “You’ve always been an idiot.”
“Noah…” my mother called, startled.
But I didn’t stop.
Not this time.
“You were never a real father. Never my friend. You were never present.”
My father’s expression hardened.
“Watch what you say.”
I laughed.
Without humor.
“Watch it?”
I leaned forward slightly.
“You cheated on my mother. Destroyed our family. Brought your mistress into our lives… and you want to talk about watching it?”
Silence.
Heavy.
My mother lowered her head.
And that…
That hurt me too.
But not enough to stop.
“You think I forgot?” I continued. “Because I didn’t.”
I stood up.
Fully.
“I will never forget.”
Isabela stood up too.
Isis, who had come back and witnessed everything…
Also stood.
I grabbed Isabela’s hand.
Firm.
“Let’s go.”
And this time…
I didn’t look back.
We left.
Fast.
Direct.
No goodbye.
No politeness.
No pretending.
I walked to the car.
But before getting in…
I heard footsteps.
“Noah… wait…”
My mother.
Breathless.
Distressed.
I stopped.
But I didn’t fully turn around.
“I’m sorry…” she said. “I didn’t know he was going to start that…”
I sighed.
Tired.
“I only came because of Isabela.”
My voice came out lower.
“Because if it were up to me… I wouldn’t have come.”
She lowered her gaze.
“I just wanted… for you to get along…”
I shook my head.
“He destroyed our family.”
Pause.
“And now he’s destroying my relationship with you.”
She didn’t answer.
“How long?” I asked. “How long are you going to keep this up?”
Silence.
Her eyes filled with tears.
But no answer.
“How long are you going to accept this?”
Nothing.
And that…
That was already an answer.
I slowly shook my head.
“I love you…” I said. “But I can’t do this anymore.”
This time, I turned.
Got into the car.
Slammed the door.
Isabela and Isis got in too.
I started the engine.
And drove away.
With one certainty burning in my chest.
Some things…
Simply can’t be fixed anymore.