Escaped My Ex, Got Snatched by His Rival - Chapter 409

Chapter 409: A Bitter Exchange(2)
Noah pushed open the door and entered the study where his father was waiting for him, while Mrs Mia waited for the door to close. Once it shut close with a click, she stomped on the spot, annoyed and angry.

‘What do you even know, Noah? It had everything to do with us,’ thought Mrs Mia with a worried and nervous expression. If Ari really got together with Nicolai, then she was certain that Roman wouldn’t leave her family alone.

The happiness and peace of her family were in the hands of that man, if she didn’t come up with a way to stop Ari from getting together with Nicolai —Mrs Mia was certain that she would lose more than just money.

After all, her very existence and identity depended on Roman’s silence.

But how, how was she supposed to stop the two of them getting together? Mrs Mia thought while nibbling on her thumbnail.

“Dad,” inside the study, Noah stepped inside and looked at his father who was sitting on the large swivelling chair. Upon hearing his words, Killian raised his head and looked at him with slight distaste.

“You are back, Noah?” Killian asked the very obvious as he nodded to himself and then tipped his chin at the chair in front of him. He said to Noah, “Sit down. I have something to discuss with you—ouch.” He winced in pain.

Killian had used his left hand which had once broken to bits because of an accident.

“Is your hand giving you a hard time again?” Noah asked as he sat down on the chair in front of his father.

“Yes, unfortunately, this is something that happens every winter and there is nothing we can do about it,” Killian said with a frown on his face. “Anyway, it’s not something serious. What’s serious is what I have to say to you.”

His father’s expression was exceptionally sombre. Sombrer than usual which made Noah nervous. He waited for his father to speak as, as much as he despised the fact that his hands and legs had been tied by his family, he truly respected his father.

He was a stern man, but he had never made any unreasonable requests from him.

That was what Noah believed, but then a second later, he heard the older man say, “The de Luca family has reached out to ours. In fact, I can say that it’s all due to your grandfather’s effort, as you are not that exceptional.”

“The De Luca family? You mean to say the family of Nicolai de Luca?” Noah asked with a frown on his face. “What do they want? Is it a temporary alliance or a deal that they want us to back off from?”

“Neither. Ms Inez has very generously reached out to our family,” said his father, he interlocked his fingers before dropping the bomb on his head, “She wants you to get married to her adoptive daughter, Zena. You know her right?”

A look of sheer shock stretched on Noah’s face, when he stepped inside the study, he had a lot of things on his mind. But neither of them was even close to what his father had said to him.

He refused, “How can this be possible? Why would she suddenly suggest a marriage between our family? Dad, don’t you think that we should think carefully? What if there is a trap behind this offer of hers?”

“Noah, you know very well that you have failed exceptionally in keeping and fulfilling the terms that your grandfather put forth in front of you three years ago.”

“Ms Inez has promised ten per cent shares as a betrothal gift for you and Zena, this will help you to solidify your position in the company. The last thing I want is for you to be kicked out of the board of directors with how you are going. I cannot have you go into pieces over a woman you lost because of your own mistake,” informed his father before adding, “The De Luca family is on par with ours, I think that your mother will have nothing against this match either. Since Inez is being so generous, we should show the same generosity.”

Noah clenched his fists on his lap, with a subtle smile. He said, “Does my opinion count at all?”

His father smiled back at him, “Only those who are worth something have the right to put forth their opinion. Do you think with the performance you have given you have the right to do so?”

“Dad, this is my life–”

“And you have made a mess out of it wonderfully,” Killian spoke harshly. “More than fourteen years, Noah. That woman named Ariel made a fool out of you for more than a decade. You have no vision! You cannot even decipher who is speaking the truth and who is lying.”

Killian breathed in and continued, “When I was your age, I was schemed against and made to marry a woman against my will. Do you think that if I had remained willful, would you be here?”

“No matter how unfair you believe it is, you have to take responsibility for your actions, Noah. Or are you going to live in that made-up fairy tale in your head? That one day you will get back what you have lost? I will tell you—it will never happen.”

After speaking his piece, Killian drew in a long inhale. He then relayed, “Ms Inez asked me to tell you, that this is the only thing you can do for what you have lost. Get stronger to protect yourself and her.”

** *** **

Noah closed the door behind him and dragged his feet inside his room. He slumped down on his bed upon reaching it and threw his arm over his eyes.

So this was what it felt like to be protected by parents? Inez knew that Nicolai was chasing after Ari and for the sake of getting him out of the entire equation, she didn’t hesitate to take a risk.

“Hahaha!” A burst of laughter echoed in the room before it slowly turned into whimpering, soft sobs. A tear trickled down Noah’s cheek as he muttered, “Could you be any more useless, Noah?”

His mind went back to the young woman with charming pink locks, and he sucked in a breath. He still didn’t forget how she felt in his arms, and Noah wished he had been clear-headed a bit more. If he had then the only man who would have hugged Ariana would have been him.

And now the resolve that he had taken to protect Ari —was the greatest obstacle that stood in front of him. For if he was to be removed from his position as the CEO of the Nelson corporation by the board of directors, how could he even protect her?

But if he wanted to stay as the CEO— he would have to marry Zena.

** *** **

Weeks passed by, and soon Ari was standing in the lobby of the hospital. She signed the discharge documents and peered at the entrance of the hospital for a certain mountain of a man —and yet, she did not see him.

Three weeks, it had been three weeks since Nicolai kissed her in her ward and then left to do God knows what and from then on, he never returned.

Not to mention, he was neither replying nor returning her messages.

“Doctor Harlow, is everything alright?” Aiden asked as he walked up to her and looked at Ari.

‘Yeah, your cousin is driving me crazy,’ thought Ari. However, she did not make her thoughts known, instead, she asked, “Is Mister De Luca, alright?” She was worried that something happened to him.

Aiden frowned and nodded, “He is alright.” Except for the fact that he was much more violent these days. Last he heard from Zayden, Nicolai actually set an entire club of Serpents on fire.

Something he had never done.

‘So he was alright? Then why is he avoiding me?’

*******

Can fairy receive some golden tickets and gifts, pleaseeeee~