ARAMINTA’s POV

My heart was pounding, and I could hear it as I gently sneaked into Noah’s office. It was late at night and everyone had gone to bed, but I needed to carry out my Father’s assignment. I tiptoed and found the switch. My eyes narrowed as the light went on. There were wine bottles and cigarettes all over the office and papers were scattered everywhere. I held the hem of my nightwear tightly as I thought that Noah did all of that, but this wasn't the time to think about that. I wasn't going to allow myself to be deceived and fall for his pity tricks anymore.

“Shhh” I hissed with pain as I hit my leg on his table. I caressed it a bit before I went ahead to his drawers. My heart was racing, and my hands were trembling, “Maybe I should leave”, I thought to myself, but then I shook my head. I had fun enough. 

I ruffled my hands around the different files in the drawer when I finally saw it, “Althan”. I read out lowly. How did my father know about a document like this? I picked it up slowly and took it with me. My eyes glittered with sadness and guilt for a moment as I looked at the office, but this was what I should have done the minute I stepped into Althan, and now I let myself fall for Noah, only for him to betray me. 

I breathed out a sigh of relief as I got into my room and lay on my bed. I could not stop thinking of what I had just done and how risky it was. I opened the file, took a picture of each paper without checking its contents and forwarded it to my father. 

“Done” 

He responded, “Well done” 

I smirked bitterly at his response. I knew from the start that this marriage was for his gain and he would never do anything without personal benefit. I can remember his harsh tone when I refused to carry out his dirty work for him and how he cursed me. My life was so unfair, and I was always entangled in some bad omen. I wanted to close my eyes and forget about everything, but I could not. My mind kept wandering to Noah. I missed him so much that it hurt, and I missed our vacation days. How could he switch just after he saw Isabella? Was everything that happened between us a joke to him? 

I felt tears streaming down my face. I was miserable because I had fallen so deep for him that I was willing to forget about everything and start all over again. I was willing to forgive him for killing Kai and talk things out with him. It was confusing how the same Noah that killed Kai followed me to an orphanage home in Italy and showed them love. How could he turn into a criminal? 

My throat burned at the thought of everything and I stretched my hand to pick up water when I realized that I had run out of it. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and opened the door of my room. I was about to step out fully when my eyes caught Isabella walking down the hall in her revealing black nightwear, her legs were walking so fast as if avoiding being caught. My jaw clenched, and I prayed secretly to not be what I was thinking. My heart twisted with pain as she knocked lightly on Noah’s door and after some seconds, he opened and she entered immediately. I closed my door and fell on the floor. I was not okay. I felt like I was drowning deep in the ocean and I had no breath left. 

“Ah” My face twisted with pain as I held my chest. I could not breathe all of a sudden. I sat on the floor in silence after some minutes of a panic attack. I could not believe my life, this was not the plan. I should have listened to Ama and Imogen, even Maya and Shirley, because they tried to warn me. Those witches told me Noah would never get over his ex, but I turned deaf ears. 

I giggled with pain at the sudden memory that flashed through my head, 

“I want to take my time with you” 

His voice echoed in my head. Maybe I was not good enough for him, and I wasn't his type of girl like Isabella said and that was the reason he never wanted to sleep with me. Come to think of it, Isabella was a beauty. I felt insecure in her presence. She was a beautiful blond-haired lady who had perfect curves. I was nothing compared to her and I could understand why Noah would be so obsessed with her. 

It felt like I was mourning, Noah wasn't worth my tears, and with that thought, I stood up from the floor and washed my face in the restroom. I stared at my reflection,

“You did the right thing.” I shouldn't feel guilty about someone like Noah. I did what I did, and I would do it a thousand times. I wondered if I had hurt him in his past life for him to be so hellbent on ruining my happiness. There was no going back anymore and this time, I promised to take him down and flee.