NoahA sudden scream pierced the air, “Help! Somebody, help!”My heart jumped into my throat as I turned towards the noise. A crowd had formed. I could hear people shouting, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Raymond’s grip on my hand tightened. His protective instincts flared up instantly. “Stay here, Noah,” he ordered, already moving towards the commotion.But I couldn’t stay put. Something inside me stirred. A deep instinct told me I needed to see what was happening. I followed him. My steps quickened as the chaos grew louder.When we reached the crowd, my blood ran cold. Bob—my father—was in the center of it all, wild-eyed and frantic. He was lashing out. He swung his arms at anyone coming near. His clothes were dirty and disheveled, his face pale and drawn, like he hadn’t slept in days. The stench of alcohol and sweat clung to him. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with a crazed desperation.“Get away from me!” he screamed, his voice slurred and manic. “You think you ca
NoahThe scene before me was a blur of panic and fear. Bob had gone completely mad. His eyes were wild and unrecognizable. The police were struggling to contain him. Their shouts and commands barely penetrated the dread that clouded my mind. My body trembled with terror – a deep, primal fear that rooted me to the spot.Raymond was beside me, his hand gripping mine so tightly that it hurt. His touch was the only thing keeping me from collapsing to the ground. But that was when everything shifted. Bob’s crazed gaze locked onto me. In that moment, I knew he wasn't just lost in his madness—he was coming for me.“Noah!” Raymond shouted. His voice cut through the haze of my fear. But it was too late. Bob charged, breaking free from the officers who tried to hold him back. He moved with the reckless speed of someone who had nothing left to lose. His eyes were fixed on me with a terrifying intensity.“Run, Noah!” Raymond pushed me aside, placing himself between Bob and me. But I couldn’t run.
NoahEveryone was shocked and paralyzed by the horrifying turn of events. The air was thick with disbelief. For a moment, it seemed like time itself had stopped. I watched in horror as Raymond stumbled backward, teetering on the edge of the cliff. I could feel a scream rising in my throat. But the sound caught, strangled by the terror that gripped me."Raymond! No!" I finally screamed, my voice raw with panic. I lunged forward, my hand outstretched, desperate to reach him. My fingers brushed against the smooth fabric of his sleeve. But it was too late. I didn't even have the chance to grab hold of him before he disappeared over the edge.The last thing I saw were the hazel eyes of the man I loved. Their warmth flickered like a dying ember. Those eyes, once so full of life and love, were clouded with a sorrowful acceptance. As if he knew his fate. They held mine in a silent plea. A final, desperate connection that would haunt me forever.A heart-wrenching cry tore from my chest as I wa
NoahRaymond’s mansion loomed before me, large and silent. It was strange returning to this place, knowing that Raymond’s presence was gone. The once comforting walls now felt cold. As if they too mourned the man who had made this house a home. My steps echoed through the grand hallway.Cassandra walked beside me. Her hand rested gently on my arm. Her worry was evident in every glance she cast my way. She insisted on staying with me. I didn’t have the strength to argue. The truth was, I didn’t care about anything anymore—not the danger from the Blackwoods, not even my own safety. I just needed to be here, surrounded by the remnants of Raymond’s life.We settled into the living room. Cassandra moved with a quiet efficiency, making sure everything was in order. She bustled about, straightening cushions, lighting a fire, and then heading to the kitchen. The scent of something warm and comforting soon drifted through the air. But it barely registered within me.I stared at the fireplace,
NoahThe moment Malcolm’s call ended, a chilling silence filled the room. My heart pounded in my chest. The sound of an incoming SMS startled us.I stared at Cassandra’s phone as she opened the message. On the screen was the address to an underground casino—the place where Malcolm wanted to meet. The place where everything might finally come to an end.Cassandra’s face was filled with fury. Her green eyes blazed with a fierce determination. One that I hadn’t seen in her before. “I’m going there alone,” she declared. “This needs to end, once and for all. Now that Raymond is gone, Malcolm’s target is me. I can’t let you get involved any further, Noah.”Her words hit me like a slap to the face. The thought of losing someone else was unbearable. I had lost too much already. “Cassandra, no,” I whispered, barely able to get the words out. “You can’t do this alone. It’s too dangerous.”She turned to me. Her expression softened slightly. But the resolve in her eyes didn’t waver. “Noah, I ha
NoahThe casino stood like an oasis of opulence amidst a desolate landscape. As we drove up to its entrance, I was struck by the sheer extravagance of the place. Neon lights bathed the building in a rainbow of colors. The sound of clinking chips and raucous laughter spilled into the night air. The casino promised a world of decadence and excess. The sins of the world were played out behind its glitzy doors.As we approached the entrance, a team of imposing bodyguards eyed us with suspicion. Simon, who had come along as our supposed driver and chaperone, was stopped outside. Cassandra and I exchanged a worried glance, knowing that the danger ahead was almost palpable. Simon tried to assert his right to enter, his face set in a serious expression.“I’m their chaperone,” Simon said firmly, stepping forward. “I need to be inside.”One of the guards, a huge man with a tattooed arm, shook his head dismissively. “Sorry, buddy. We’re not letting anyone in who doesn’t have a proper invite.”S
NoahThe VIP room seemed like it was closing in around us. The opulence of the space was suffocating. The walls were lined with dark, polished wood. The floor was covered in a thick, plush carpet that muffled our footsteps. Every detail of the room was carefully curated to exude power and wealth. I could feel a cold dread settling in my bones.Malcolm, lounging casually on a velvet sofa, looked up at us with a triumphant grin. He was in his element. A snake in his den. The charm he exuded was tainted by an underlying menace. This man was as dangerous as he was alluring."It’s been a long time coming, Cassandra. You know I’ve waited years for this moment," he drawled, patting the space next to him on the sofa.
NoahI could barely hear Cassandra calling my name through the haze of pain and panic. My mind was racing, trying to process the danger surrounding me. I had acted on impulse. But I didn’t regret my decision.At least Malcolm’s focus wasn’t on Cassandra anymore, giving her a chance to escape his advances. My own situation, however, was rapidly deteriorating.The two guards had me pinned down, their grips unyielding and merciless. Josie’s cold voice cut through the tension. “Follow me, boys. And bring that bitch along with you. You guys can have some fun with her,” she ordered. Her laugh was sharp and mocking. A chill ran down my spine.I struggled to escape. But my efforts were futi