NOAH’s POV

“Argh” My body hurt as I became conscious, my lips curled up at the thought that I was still alive. The last memory I had was witnessing that fucker’s death and Lucas’s horrible face. The room was dark as I opened my eyes, but I could hear the sound of shallow breaths. My eyes turned in alert and that familiar scent hit my nose so hard that I rubbed my eyes again. 

“How is she here? I stood up in shock, and it woke her up. I didn't think that I had been transferred back to Althan because the room looked nothing like Althan but one of my houses in Italy. 

“Hmmmmm…” I heard her moans as she rolled over the bed with her forehead furrowed together. My eyes narrowly went to her clothes, they looked torn and tattered. “Ara? Ara? I called out gently as I tapped her, I needed to ask her some questions and a part of me secretly wished she didn't get to know anything about my activities. Her eyes flew open at the sound of my voice, and she jumped on me as soon as she saw me standing in front of her. 

“Noah…… Noah” She was now hugging me tightly and sobbing, but even though I didn't understand why, I was mentally relieved that she probably didn't know about my activities. 

I roamed my hands around her back to calm her down. Her sobs were aching my chest. 

“Princesa…..I’m still alive” I said to her calmly, but she hit me on my back and shouted,

“Oh, you shut up there! Waking up after a week is brutal!!” She sobbed. My eyes squinted, I didn't know I had passed out that long. 

After a short while, she stopped sobbing, and I pulled her away from me to see her face. I had missed her greatly, but it was time to talk, 

“Why are you here? I asked as I pulled the strands of her hair away from her wet face. She sniffed and tried to hide her face from me, 

“Lucas brought me here” Her voice was calm and pitiful. I wanted to get mad right there that she came to Italy. Anyone could be lurking around just to hurt her but I didn't want to ruin the little reunion. I just patted her and smiled at her, but I stiffed when I saw something, her neck was red and filled with bruises, and her hands were purplish. I felt my breath hitched, my hands were trembling as I raised my hand to touch her neck. She raised her eyebrows at my sudden change of mood, but with the twinkle of an eye, her hands flew to her mouth in shock, and she stepped away from me. My eyes narrowed dangerously, and I felt the anger that had been building up resurfacing. 

“What are you doing? Come here”. I gritted my teeth. I was too worked up to be going back and forth. Ara kept her mouth shut but refused to move closer to me, her hands were covering her body so much that my heart began to race. 

“Ara, I swear if you don't come here this minute”, I closed my eyes and ran my hands through my hair. It was hard trying to keep my anger in check. “Just come here” 

She shook her head, biting her lips hard, and her hands were trembling, 

“No, I'm dirty.” 

I felt a huge pit in my stomach, “What are you talking about?? My voice is slightly high now and dripping with impatience. 

“Go away,” She said again, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. I was confused, and I didn't know what was going on, 

“Who hurt you? Is—it me?” 

She shook her head and stepped closer to the restroom, “No….go away” 

“Shut up!!!!!!!” I roared, my hands trembling with so much anger. Her constant pushing me away was hitting me badly and was hurting my soul. I moved closer to her, but she pointed her fingers at me, tears streaming from her eyes. 

“Don’t come close to me!!!!!” She screamed. I had never seen her that worked up and pissed before. I felt for a moment that I was the one that hurt her and that would be the greatest mistake of my life. 

“Ara, can you fucking tell me who did this to you?!!!” I asked her again, but she shook her head and constantly muttered, 

“I'm dirty…..my body—dirty” And with that she ran into the restroom and locked the door. I stood there frustratedly staring at the door, the bruises on her body were hurting me, and her torn clothes. I walked out of the room and shut the door very hard, then went into my study room where I took out a phone. 

“Bro, is that you?!!” I heard Lucas’s excited voice as soon as he picked up. But I was in no mood for that, 

“What happened to Ara?? I demanded coldly, my voice depicted anger and coldness. There was silence on the other end that made me anxious and fueled my anger further.

“Lucas”, I called out with a warning and he responded a bit skeptical. “She didn't tell you anything? 

I hissed through my teeth, “I wouldn’t be wasting my time on you if she told me anything.” 

“She was—fuck” I heard him curse under his breath and I felt like punching Lucas for the delay. 

“She was assaulted by your doctor” 

My world stood still as Lucas told me everything that had happened since I passed out and my phone dropped on the floor. I didn't know what I was feeling. My body was shaking with anger. How could my wife be assaulted under my watch? 

I closed my eyes so many times and took a deep breath to steady myself, but it wasn't working. Her words echoed in my head, how she said she was dirty and I shouldn't touch her. I felt my heart prickle with pins, it hurt so much that I was not able to protect the only one I love. I stood up and went back into the room with a spare key. I unlocked the door, but she was so immersed in what she was doing. 

I watched her with pain as she scrubbed her body harshly, tears were streaming down her eyes and she was cursing herself. 

“Ara” I called out as calmly as I could, but my body was betraying me, I was not calm. 

Her eyes flew to me, “You know. I'm sorry Noah—-it was my fault—I’m sorry….I will clean myself” 

“Fuck” I cursed under my breath and dashed toward her. I pulled her body into mine and hugged her tightly against me. She sobbed as she struggled to leave my arms, but I didn't allow her. My chest was soaked in tears, but I let her do it, I wanted everything out. 

“Ara” I called out. I was more calm now, but she shook her head. “I'm sorry, please don’t leave me.” 

“Stop it!” I snapped at her and pulled her away from me to look at her face. I raised her chin to look into her eyes. 

“Listen to me, if you want to be sad about what happened, then do that. But don't ever hurt yourself thinking I will leave you……it will never happen, see I'm calm, okay? 

It was a fucking lie. I was not calm, but I had to comfort her first. 

I stared at her shocked face, and it hurt me to think that she ever thought I would leave her because of what happened. “And please stop saying you are dirty, stop pushing me away, I can't survive the pain” 

“Noah……” her lips trembled, and I pulled her against me again. I kissed her hair profusely, I wanted to show her in so many ways that I was not pissed at her. 

“You are not mad at me?” she asked, her voice hoarse. I kissed her hair, “How could I be? Thank you for being brave and waiting for me” 

I washed her body and reassured her so many times that I was not going to leave her. She looked so exhausted, and it showed how much she had been greatly affected. I took her to bed after I dried her hair and dressed her in her pajamas, then covered her body with a duvet. 

“Baby, I need to meet Lucas,” I said and kissed her lips. She subconsciously removed her lips from mine and I narrowed my eyes at her. 

“Sorry” she mouthed, and I nodded at her, it would probably take her time to adjust back. 

“When will you be—back? She asked me with her puppy eyes and I chuckled. 

“Just sleep, and I will be beside you in the morning” I responded to her, secretly pleading for my anger to stay in and not burst after everything. 

I stood up and was about to leave when she touched my palms. My eyes slightly widened. 

“Why are your hands trembling, Noah? 

I smiled at her, “It's nothing, go to sleep now” and without waiting for her response, I walked out immediately. I could no longer keep it in me, my trembling hands were tasty for someone’s blood. 

My eyes dangerously darkened as I took my jacket and left the mansion.