CHAPTER 111

CHAPTER 111
POV DANIEL

I left the hospital with my jaw locked.

So tense it hurt.

My head was boiling, as if every thought was on fire, consuming whatever little control I was still trying to hold onto.

Noah.

Isabela.

And even my own daughter.

Everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers.

And I hated that.

I hated losing control.

I had always been a man who decided. Who commanded? Who made things happen the way I wanted?

But now…

Nothing was obeying.

I shoved the car door open and got in, slamming it shut with force. The sound echoed through the nearly empty parking lot, but I didn’t care.

I ran my hands over my face, breathing heavily.

Trying to pull myself together.

Trying to think.

But the images kept coming back.

Relentless.

Noah is holding Isabela’s hand.

The way he looked at her.

Like she was… everything.

And worse…

The way she looked back.

That wasn’t pretending.

It wasn’t loneliness.

It wasn’t an impulse.

It was feeling.

She was in love.

I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.

“No…” I murmured, barely audible.

This couldn’t continue.

It couldn’t.

At first, I ignored it.

I thought it was just another phase.

A fling.

Something temporary.

Isabela had always been too emotional… too sensitive… it was easy to confuse need with love.

But now…

Now there was no denying it.

She was really pulling away from me.

And if this continued…

I would lose her.

For good.

My breathing grew heavier.

Slow.

Controlled.

Dangerous.

“I’m not going to let that happen…” I said quietly.

Because Isabela…

Was mine.

Always had been.

Always would be.

I tilted my head back, closing my eyes for a second.

And then…

The thought came.

Cold.

Direct.

Emotionless.

Killing him.

I opened my eyes slowly.

The silence inside the car grew thick.

Heavy.

The idea didn’t scare me.

Not like it should have.

It just… made sense.

If Noah got out of the way…

Everything would fall back into place.

No interference.

No distractions.

No one was taking up space that wasn’t his.

Isabela would come back.

Or at least…

She would stop looking at another man like that.

My breathing steadied.

As if I had found a solution.

Simple.

Final.

I ran a hand over my jaw, thoughtful.

“You shouldn’t have gotten involved in this, kid…” I muttered.

I started the car.

But before anything else…

I had another matter to deal with.

Something that should have been settled a long time ago.

Oliver.

I drove to his company without rushing.

This time, it wasn’t impulse.

It was a strategy.

The imposing building reflected the morning sky, but I barely noticed. I walked straight in, firm steps, not looking to either side.

The receptionist stood immediately.

“Mr. Daniel, good morning.”

I gave a brief nod.

“I want to speak with Oliver.”

She picked up the phone, slightly nervous.

“One moment, please…”

A few seconds.

A glance.

A nod.

“You can go in. He’s expecting you.”

Of course he was.

I walked to his office without hesitation.

Without knocking.

I opened the door.

Oliver looked up immediately.

And the irritation on his face was instant.

“What are you doing here, Daniel?” he said, low but firm. “Noah can’t suspect that we’re in contact.”

I closed the door behind me calmly.

Deliberately.

“I came to collect on a promise.”

He frowned.

“What promise?”

I crossed my arms.

“You said you’d keep your son away from my wife.”

Oliver exhaled through his nose.

“I talked to him.”

“Not enough.”

My voice came out colder than I intended.

“He was at the hospital… holding her hand… sleeping beside her.”

Oliver looked irritated.

But not surprised.

“My son is an adult, Daniel.”

“I don’t care.”

I took a step forward.

Slow.

“You said you’d fix this shit.”

The silence between us grew heavy.

Loaded.

Oliver watched me more closely now.

As if he were trying to measure how far I would go.

“And what exactly do you want me to do?” he asked.

I tilted my head slightly.

“Keep him away from her, damn it.”

“I’ve already tried… more than once.”

“Then try again.”

My patience was gone.

And he knew it.

“You’re different…” Oliver said, narrowing his eyes. “Too angry.”

I let out a dry laugh.

Without a trace of humor.

“Because I am.”

I stepped closer.

“And if this continues… I’ll have to take action.”

His face hardened.

“What kind of action?”

I gave a cold half-smile.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“It does,” he shot back firmly. “You’re not going to do anything crazy involving my son.”

My jaw clenched again.

“It’s not crazy.”

“Then what is it?”

I leaned slightly toward him.

“A warning.”

Silence fell again.

Heavier.

More dangerous.

Oliver slowly stood up from his chair.

“Daniel… listen carefully… I don’t agree with this relationship… but I won’t allow you to threaten my son.”

“I’m not threatening.”

“It sure sounds like it.”

I took a step back.

“My only interest is protecting what’s mine.”

“She’s not yours anymore,” he replied bluntly.

That hit like a snap.

Internal.

Dangerous.

“This isn’t over.”

“Maybe not for you,” he said. “But for her… It’s been over for a long time.”

My blood boiled.

But this time…

I didn’t explode.

I just breathed.

Deep.

Slow.

Because losing control now would be a mistake.

“I’ll talk to Noah again,” Oliver said. “But don’t expect miracles.”

I nodded.

“I’m not expecting miracles.”

My voice came out low.

Cold.

Calculated.

“I’m expecting results.”

I turned toward the door.

But before leaving…

I stopped.

I looked at him over my shoulder.

“Because if this doesn’t get resolved…”

I let the silence finish the threat.

“I’ll handle it my way.”

And this time…

There was no doubt.

No hesitation.

I walked out of the room with firm steps.

Without looking back.

With one certainty burning inside me…

Noah Cooper…

Didn’t have much time left.