Raymond
I couldn’t believe what I saw. Noah was lying on the ground. Her face was pale and lifeless. A puddle of blood surrounded her. She had a huge wound at the back of her head.
Desperation gripped me as I knelt beside her. My heart ached with the realization of how helpless she must have felt facing this danger alone.
How could I have found her so late? At that moment, I hated myself with an intensity I had never felt before. I had failed to protect her.
Carefully, I lifted her into my arms, afraid that even the slightest touch might aggravate her pain. She felt so fragile. Her body was limp and unresponsive. I carried her to the car. Every step felt like an eternity.
"Owen, drive!" I shouted, m
OwenWhen I finally found out the truth, I couldn't help but feel heavy guilt weighing on my shoulders. It was Noah who saved me all along. The more I found out about her, the more I realized how blind I had been.I lost an incredible woman. I had been too easily fooled by Josie's manipulations. It was a bitter pill to swallow.I tried to contact Noah endlessly, to no avail. She had a new life now. Far away from her old one. I was desperate to feel close to her. But I couldn’t do it in the present. Perhaps, I’d find some answers in the past.I spent countless hours retracing Noah’s steps. I visited the orphanage where she grew up - the building and children looked just as neglected as 30 years ago. I spoke to people who knew her. Slowly,
RaymondIf it wasn’t for the medical emergency, I would never want to see Bob Miller again. He had hurt Noah more than anyone could imagine.The first interaction I had with him was a karate kick to his gut. I protected Noah from his attack. The second interaction was him swinging a steel rod to my back, knocking me out. Thankfully, he got what he deserved and was sent to prison. And my back injury ended up bringing Noah closer to me.But now, Noah was in grave danger. She had lost too much blood from her head wound. Her good-for-nothing father was the only one who could save her.I called all my most powerful contacts in the city. We had to find him as soon as possible. I offered a big price for whoever found Bob Miller first.
Raymond“No, Raymond. Don’t listen to him. I’ll teach him a lesson,” Owen said, his fists clenched.I felt the same urge to beat Bob into submission. But I knew better. Bob might be the last hope to save Noah’s life. I couldn’t risk it.“Stop it, Owen,” I said, my voice heavy with resignation. I turned to Bob. “If I kneel down and beg, can you promise to keep your word?”“Who knows,” Bob replied cunningly. An evil grin spread across his face. "Do you have a better option?"His laugh echoed through the hallway. Each cackle twisted the knife of helplessness deeper into my heart. Everyone around us was seething with anger. But they remained silent, waiting for my decision. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, judging, pleading, empathizing.Bob knew he was our only hope. And he was shamelessly using it against me. He wanted to humiliate me in front of the crowded waiting room. For his own petty amusement. But right now, nothing mattered to me more than Noah’s life. In fact, I would give m
RaymondThe nurse’s words hit like a sledgehammer. “Oh no, his blood cannot be transfused. He has a history of drug abuse!” A gasp echoed around the waiting room. Everyone there had been invested in our tragedy. The room fell into a stunned silence. The last thread of hope we had held onto was abruptly severed.“Damn it! Where is he? Where’s Bob? I must beat him up! Right now!” Owen’s enraged shouting broke the silence. His voice roared through the waiting room.“Please be quiet, sir. You’re in the hospital! Have some respect,” An angry nurse reprimanded him, her eyes flashing with irritation.“I knew it. I always knew he was a complete jerk! How could I ever think he would save Noah?” Owen’s voice was lower now. But it was still laced with seething anger. He paced back and forth, fists clenching and unclenching. He was obviously struggling to contain his frustration.While Owen was mumbling curse words, everything around me seemed to blur. It was as if I had been transported into a s
RaymondI looked up, blinking in disbelief. An old lady stood in the doorway. Her kind blue eyes were filled with determination.“Mrs. Evelyn! Thank God. It’s you!” Owen shouted, his face lighting up with hope.Evelyn… The name rang a bell. Where did I hear it before? My mind was still blurry. Then, the sudden realization hit me…Of course! She’s Noah’s mother!This was the first time I met Noah’s mother. She looked very gentle. Age hadn’t taken away her beauty and grace. I could even see Noah's shadow in her face. She had the same soft eyes. The same kind smile that had first captivated me when I met Noah. Her presence radiated a quiet strength that instantly put me at ease, despite the turmoil swirling inside me.She was being held by another gentleman. I guessed he was her husband. Noah had told me that her mother had a happy family. He stood by her side with an air of protectiveness, his arm gently supporting her. They looked like a picture of enduring love. A stark contrast to th
NoahI had a long, strange dream. At first, the world in my dream was white and empty. I stood alone. I searched for an exit. But there was no direction, no path. Only a bright, blinding white all around me.“Hello?” I called out. No answer. I heard only my own voice echoing through the void. I felt an overwhelming sense of confusion and loneliness. “Where am I?” I whispered. “What happened?” My heart pounded as I wandered aimlessly through the blank void. My thoughts were spiraling into an abyss of fear and uncertainty.Suddenly, out of the whiteness, several men appeared with wicked smiles on their faces. Their eyes gleamed with malice. I recognized them instantly—they were the ones who tried to rape me. Terror surged through me as they started to chase me. Their laughter echoed in my ears. "No!" I screamed, my voice sounding hollow in the vastness. I ran as fast as I could, my feet barely touching the ground. But no matter how fast I ran, their laughter seemed to grow louder.Then,
OwenI rushed into the room where the nurse and Bob had been staying. My heart pounded as I took in the scene. The nurse lay motionless on the ground, her face pale. I dropped to my knees and tried to wake her up.I shook her gently. She didn’t react. Panic surged through me. I felt something wet on my hand. When I moved it to the back of her head, I found blood. She must have been attacked by Bob. That’s why we found out he escaped too late.I stumbled out of the room, shouting for a doctor. My mind was a chaotic swirl of fear and anger. As I ran back to the operation room, I heard medical staff discuss Noah’s situation. “She had eye movements. That’s a good sign.” The words barely registered, but they sparked a flicker of hope.Raymond was still waiting outside the operating room. His face was a mixture of worry and anticipation. “How is Noah?” I asked, my voice trembling. “What did the doctor say?”“The doctor is checking her condition now,” Raymond replied. His tone was strained b
RaymondThe doctor's words made my heart sink. My poor Noah had been through so much. It felt like the doom was never-ending. How could life punish this innocent, loving, kind woman so much?Owen got a phone call and left the room. I was alone with the love of my life. But she wasn’t fully here with me. “Oh, my Noah... Please, come back to me…”I sat at the edge of her hospital bed, gently touching her face. It was pale and haggard, a stark contrast to the vibrant woman she once was. She had lost a lot of weight during her coma. Her long, dark hair was usually thick, vibrant and wavy. Now, it hung lifelessly around her face. I hoped and prayed my darling would recover without long-term damage.Guilt washed over me. If only I had discovered the kidnapping earlier. If only I had found her sooner. If only I had protected her better, she wouldn’t have suffered so much. I failed her. And I failed Neil. He missed his mother so much.“I’m so sorry, Noah,” I murmured with tears in my eyes. Ev