Noah’s POV

“Babe, come—” As soon as I saw Ara coming down for dinner, I tried to call her, only to be interrupted by Isabella. She held my arm and led me to the table. I wanted to strangle her right there, but I knew that it wasn't the right thing to do. 

My fists tightened as I watched everyone sit down happily around the table except Ara. Her eyes were slightly swollen, and my heart hurt knowing that she had cried. 

I stared at her, but she avoided my gaze and sat far away from me, 

“Ara, why do you look like you have been crying?” Maya asked. 

I saw Ara open her mouth slightly. “Mind your business, will you?” 

My chest puffed with pride, “Maya, shut your mouth”, I scolded. “Noah, baby. Don't be like that”, Isabella responded and rubbed my hair. 

My hands tightened against the fork as I removed her hand that lingered in my hair. “Eat your food, Isabella.” My voice was gentle, but I knew Ara had caught the slight harshness to it because her eyes glanced at mine for a quick moment before she looked away again.

She was trying hard to ignore me, stabbing at her food without taking a single bite. My heart gripped. I wanted to cross the table, hold her hand, and tell her that everything Isabella was doing was pointless to me. But I couldn’t. Not yet.

“You’re so nervous, Noah,” Isabella spoke, leaning closer than necessary. Her red-painted nails trailed down my arm, making my stomach churn. “You used to be so comfortable when it was just the two of us.”

Ara’s fork clattered loudly against her plate, and everyone at the table turned their heads to her. She didn’t flinch, her expression unreadable, but the slight tremble in her hand betrayed her emotions.

“Isabella,” I said through gritted teeth, “please don’t forget you’re a guest here.”

“Ara, is something wrong?” Shirley chimed in a sarcastic tone.

Ara plastered on a cold smile, her voice dripping with malice. “Why would anything be wrong? After all, it’s such a pleasure to watch an ex parade herself around someone else’s husband.”

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Isabella’s laughter broke through, light and mocking. “Oh, darling, don’t take things so personally. Noah and I have a great history. It’s natural for us to be close.”

Ara’s eyes burned into mine, her unshed tears flickering under the soft chandelier light. I wanted to reach out to her, but her walls were up. Instead, she picked up her glass of water and gulped it in one go, as if it could quench her anger.

“Excuse me,” she said, her tone sharp as she stood up from the table. 

Before I could stop her, Isabella caught my hand again, squeezing it as if staking her claim. “Let her go. You can talk to her later.”

I pulled my hand back, resisting the urge to snap at her. But Ara was already out of sight, and I felt the crumbling weight of the distance between us.

“Maya, Shirley. Come with me”, I said coldly, and walked away from the table. I could hear their whispers behind me and I felt my anger fueled, they were playing with fire. “Now!!!” I roared, causing them to follow me. I didn't care that Shirley was my uncle’s wife because she was young and always acted like one. My eyes were dark, and I felt so much anger in me. Isabella was passing her boundaries, and I could not wait to put her in her place, but for now, I needed to play according to her tune. 

As I walked into my office, I sat and gestured for the ladies behind me to sit also. And without wasting time, I threw my question at them, 

“Who invited Isabella?” 

They stared at each other like they were innocent, but I patiently waited. Today was the last time they would try to do anything funny,

“Isabella has issues with her home, so—she asked to come stay here for some time” Shirley answered, keeping her voice steady and calm. I took out a cigarette and calmly lit it up, “So you told her to come without asking me about it? 

Maya responded this time, her lips quite trembling. “Noah—it shouldn't be a big deal.” 

“Why?” I asked calmly, knowing the anger in me was about to erupt. Ara’s painful expression was hurting me and I felt like I was a bastard for hurting her after all that happened in Italy, but I was sorry. 

Maya pressed her lips into a thin line, “We know how much you love her so—” 

“Isabella is my PAST, and she will remain my PAST. I know exactly what games you both are playing but…..” I stopped for a while and studied their expression, “I'm smarter than you and, very soon, you will learn your lessons.” 

Shirley scoffed hard “You can't do anything, okay? You couldn't even defend your so-called fiancée.”

Maya’s eyes widened, and she tried to caution Shirley a bit, but it looked like she had a lot to say. 

“Maya, let her speak” I growled at her, and she cowered her head in fear. Shirley stood up and pointed at me. “You need to open your eyes and see that Ara doesn't like you one bit.” 

I puffed my smoke out and chuckled slightly “When did you start to care about me?” 

“I don't care about you, I only care about Ma—” 

“Shirley!!!” Maya shouted and stood up defensively. I squinted my eyes and wondered what all the show was about. I was in Italy when Sky reported to me that these two ladies had brought Isabella to the house, and now they were denying the allegation. I knew they were up to something and the only way to find out was to play their game according to their rules. 

“Fine, you both listen to me now, and I won't repeat myself” I puffed out a huge smoke before I continued, “You both need to put an end to trying to come in between me and my wife. I'm aware of everything you said to her and this is a warning”. I gestured my hands at them and told them to leave. My lips curled up in a wicked smile after they left, and I picked up my phone, 

“Prepare Maya’s documents to the U.S.A. and as for Shirley…….” I twisted my cigarette in my fingers. “Report every one of her companies for fraud with evidence “ 

“Boss—are you sure?” Sky asked me skeptically, and I responded coldly “Deduct three months of your salary” Without waiting for his response, I hung up the call. I sat back on my chair with my cigarettes in my mouth and kept staring at the pictures I had taken in Italy of Ara. Italy was where I had witnessed her beautiful smile. That was for me, it felt so peaceful with her. It's been more than four months since I brought her with me to Althan, and it's been such a roller coaster of emotions. I had made up my mind to propose to her the right way once we got to Althan, but I didn't know anything else was waiting for us. 

It felt like Isabella was never part of my life. I hated her presence and her voice disgusted me so much. I had no idea why she decided to be back, despite how she betrayed me. I felt nothing for her anymore and all I wanted was Araminta. I wanted to feel her in my arms like I did days ago, I wanted to kiss every inch of her body. 

“I need to end this fast,” I thought to myself as I puffed out smoke. 

I closed my eyes, Father Kim was still disturbed about the damn necklace, but I knew within me that I wasn't going after it anymore. I wanted to love Ara without any conditions attached to it. I knew there was no way to erase the past, but I could change the present.