Chapter 2130


    "I don''t need it. I don''t need anyone''s approval."


    He was well aware that everyone was more sensible than he was now.


    Ask E? If she were likely to agree, would he have felt the need to keep her confined to her room?


    Right now, she was probably the most sensible person of all. She had made a promise to her grandfather once, and now she was burdened by his feelings. She fretted over Paul, agonized over where Noah ced Reba in his life, and even worried about the entire Tretton, Reeves, and Minton families.


    She had thought of nearly everything. Was there any point in asking her? So no, Noah didn''t need anyone''s approval.


    Noah had always been after one thing: a satisfying oue. And that hadn''t changed.d2


    He couldn''t bear the thought of watching the flower he had nurtured from a seedling being plucked away by someone else. No one knew how much Noah had invested in E. Why should he just hand her over to someone else?


    Aside from a deep chill and rage, Jon felt nothing else. Ever since four years ago, every conversation with his son had been fruitless.


    Still, even until the night before, Jon had held onto the hope that his son would eventually get it right. Now, all that remained was a deeper disappointment.


    After the anger subsided, Jon was left with an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Had he been too trusting in the past? Had he given Noah too much control too soon? The Tretton family had been ced entirely in his hands.


    Noah was his only son. Without Noah, to whom would he pass the vast Tretton estate? Noah had sessfully struck at his most vulnerable point.


    E, witnessing Jon''s sudden calm and utter disappointment, felt a dull pain in her heart. "Uncle Noah, can you try to calm down?"


    Noah didn''t move, or turn to look at her, his voice sounding eerily calm. "If I calm down, will you agree to be with me?"


    E paused, then continued, "If you regain yourposure, and find your reason, I believe you won''t be fixated on this issue anymore."


    Everyone thought what Noah was doing was wrong. He was smart enough to realize it himself.


    Noah let out a bitterugh, "Calm down? It was because I was too calm and rational before, that things have gotten to this point. If you''re not willing to stay by my side of your own free will, then don''t bother speaking. I only want the oue I desire. I don''t want to hear the rest."


    E began to understand why Jon had grown increasingly intolerant of discussing matters with Noah. There was no reasoning with him.


    Noah''s phone had vibrated countless times, the sound especially clear to E standing nearby. Jon''s phone also rang intermittently. Perhaps the events ofst night''s g had already reached the Minton family. Now they were likely demanding an exnation or were disrupted in their regr lives.


    The media, once they sniffed out any scandal, clung to it relentlessly. And what happenedst night was far from a mere trifle. She wondered what sort of chaos was unfolding outside.


    "Uncle Noah, maybe you should take the call."


    It was him who should be calming Reba at this moment.


    As soon as E finished her sentence, Reba appeared at the door. She practically stormed in, her gaze immediatelynding on the few people in the living room.


    Reba paused, then strode towards them, stopping in front of Noah. She looked up at him for a long while before letting out a coldugh. "Noah, now that I''m right here in front of you, can''t you offer me an exnation?"


    "I''m sorry about this morning," he said, his indifference stinging Reba.


    "An exnation?"


    "There''s nothing to exin."


    Reba had no visible response to Noah''s words; instead, her eyes shifted to E. "So, you agreed to the arranged marriage because of her. And now, after all the twists and turns, you want to break off our engagement also because of her? Even in the end, you''d protect her at the cost of leaving me without a shred of dignity?"


    E, caught by surprise, blurted out, "Break off the engagement?"


    Seeing E''s reaction, Reba couldn''t help but let out a bitterugh. She rubbed her forehead, paced for a moment, then turned back to Noah. "She doesn''t even know? Are you nning to keep this a secret forever?"


    E suddenly remembered his words from the night before about "handling it." So this was his way of handling it.


    Breaking off the engagement... He was just going to break it off, just like that?


    "Uncle Noah, you..."


    "It''s none of your business."


    "How is it none of her business?" Reba interjected sharply. "My life has been overshadowed by her. She leaves for four years, and I can hardly get a moment with you. If I hadn''t deliberately mentioned she was in the hospitalst time, would you have even shown up?"


    "I told you before that our marriage was just a contract, with no feelings involved. If you wanted out, I wouldn''t oppose it. I would ept it at any time. You''ve always had an option." "Then why was it you who suddenly announced our break-up?"


    Noah''s brow furrowed, his expression barely concealing his impatience. "I made it clear before. Taking away the choice I always left you by initiating the break-up was wrong, and I apologize. You can be upset, and you can reject it, but don''t use your feelings to tie me down. You should understand, no matter how wronged, innocent, or intolerable you feel, I can''t empathize with you, I won''t understand, and I won''t fee guilty. Don''t put your feelings in front of me to be wasted."


    Reba''s realization hit her like a p-she was only humiliating herself. Her feelings only made him feel disdainful, even disgusted. That was why he always felt trapped.


    Some things were clear to her, even from the beginning-they had agreed not to covet each other''s affections.


    Still, Reba felt an unwillingness to ept it. Why had the man who once loved no one suddenly be so madly devoted to another woman? She had been by his side for so many years. Where did things go wrong?


    "You always prided yourself on being a self-centered pragmatist, with interests above all else, right? Noah, are you truly mad enough not to consider the consequences of your actions today, or are you just too conceited?"


    Noah''s dark eyes flickered imperceptibly. "Reba, you really don''t need to get all worked up with me right now. Just say what you want, no need to y the victim card so hard," Noah said, trying to keep his voice level.


    Reba paused for a moment, then let out a light, unexpected chuckle. "Fine, you''ve yed with my emotions enough. But listen here, Noah, I won''t be your disposable ything anymore, someone you can just pick up and drop whenever it suits you. These past four years haven''t been without their gains for me, but to have it all end like this, I won''t just stand by. Even if it''s just to salvage some dignity for myself, this won''t be so easily forgotten."


    With that, Reba swept her gaze coolly over E, curtsied silently to Jon, and strode out of the mansion.


    The exchange left everyone else in the room half in the dark. It seemed the arranged marriage between Reba and Noah had more going on beneath the surface than they knew.


    Jon''s face was a storm cloud, but he couldn''t muster the energy to grill Noah about what had transpired. What was the point? It would be like talking to a wall.


    Jon let out a heavy sigh and turned to E, "E,e on. You''re going home with me."


    "No way," Noah dug his heels in like a stubborn mule. He turned to the butler andmanded, "Tony, take my father home. I''ve got things to sort out here. When all this is over, I''ll bring her back myself, soone orter."


    Tony nodded vigorously, adding his own reassurance, "Mr. Tretton, Mr. Noah''s right. It''s a mess out there. Give him some time to handle things before we worry about Miss E."


    Tony put special emphasis on "give him time," a subtle reminder to Jon that if E was taken by force, Noah was liable to do something drastic. Better to appease Noah for now, especially since he still needed to salvage the family''s reputation.


    Jon pursed his lips, understanding the unspoken message. Continuing this standoff with Noah wouldn''t change a thing.


    "Mr. Tretton, Mr. Noah needs to get to a hospital for his injuries," Tony added softly.


    Jon''s eyes flickered, and with a grunt, he strode out without another word.


    E''s heart skipped when she heard the butler''sstment. Injured? Was that why Noah looked so pale when she hade down the stairs?


    Once the door to the mansion closed behind the leaving figures, Noah''s tense frame finally rxed, and he stumbled.


    "Uncle Noah!" E gasped, rushing to support him but nearly copsing under his weight. He leaned against the stair railing and sank onto the steps, his face ghostly pale and sweat beading on his forehead. E scrambled to his side, unsure of what to do, her voice trembling, "Uncle Noah, are you alright?"


    The servants frantically dialed the hospital.


    "We need a doctor-"


    "No hospital!" Noah cut them off with a voice so heavy it nearly made the phone jump out of the servant''s hand.


    Then E saw it-the raw, angry mark on Noah''s neck, and her eyes narrowed in shock. She reached for his tie, loosening it, and saw more bruises on his shoulders. Before she could inspect further, Noah caught her hand. She tilted her head, gazing into his deep and profound gazes. "Did Grandpa do this to you?"


    A faint smile tugged at Noah''s lips as he leaned in and touched his forehead to hers. "Yeah, he wanted to take you away. I wouldn''t let him."


    His breath was warm on her skin, the pain in his voice softened by a hint of pride and a touch of hurt.


    E''sshes fluttered, her heart filling with a sour ache. "Let''s go to the hospital," she suggested, turning her head away from their intimate proximity to address the servants, "Call the hospital." "No," Noah refused again, but seeing E''s worried face, hepromised, "Have the doctore here."


    The servants nodded and E


    breathed a sigh of relief. She had


    thought his injuries were only the visible ones but when the doctor arrived and announced with grim seriousness that Noah''s left knee was fractured, his right leg was severely bruised, and both shoulders were injured to varying degrees, E felt a rush of dread and disbelief. How could Grandpa inflict such harm on Noah? And Noah had endured it all just to keep her from being taken away?


    Despair washed over her as her eyes closed. Why did things have toe to this point?


    E stood by Noah''s bedside, holding his hand, feeling the pressure on her fingers turn her knuckles white. He was clearly in pain but refused to let go. It wasn''t until the doctor finished and left the room that Noah''s grip eased.


    Lost in thought, E watched him. He must not have slept well the night before. Now, in the quiet, his fatigue was evident.


    "Come up here," Noah said after a while, breaking the silence.


    She looked at him, confused. Noah scooted over, making room for her on the bed.


    When E didn''t move, Noah prompted, "Do I need to get down and lift you up?"


    She pressed her lips together tightly, "Uncle Noah, this isn''t appropriate."


    Noah sat up in silence without uttering a word.


    E panicked, "What are you doing?!"


    "Juste up."


    After a tense moment, E finallyy down beside him, her body perched on the edge of the bed, keeping a deliberate distance. Noah frowned at her retreating back and said, "Move closer." After a pause, E inched closer.


    Then there was silence. Just when E thought he wouldn''t do anything more, he pressed against her. His warm chest touched her back, and his arm circled her waist, slowly tightening until she was almost embedded in him. His breath was on her neck, his voice soft in her ear. "I need to sleep for a bit. Stay put, okay?"


    E clutched the bedsheets, murmuring an agreement.


    The room went quiet, his breathing deepened. E''s gaze swept across the room, taking in the furnishings with a sense of unfamiliarity that far outweighed any sense of familiarity. Even four years ago, she seldom entered this room. This was his domain, his sanctuary. E remembered how, during their younger years, he rarely allowed her into his room. Only asionally, when she resorted to pouting and


    XV P


    whining, did she breach his private quarters. Even then, instances were few and far between over the course


    of a decade and a half.


    Numerous times she had daydreamed about such moments, until they became too painful to even contemte.


    And yet, here she was, living out a dream she thought she had long since abandoned. But things had be tooplex, far beyond the point of being resolved by a mere decision on her part.


    She had not anticipated his sudden announcement to call off the engagement. Even if she and Paul went ahead with their own engagement announcement, would it really quell the rampant rumors? Perhaps Noah was right. She shouldn''t havee back. So could she just pretend she never did? Was that possible?


    A sudden, overwhelming sense of suffocation gripped her chest. After a moment, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.


    With just a breath, the arm resting on her waist suddenly tightened, and a low, husky voice whispered in her ear. "What are you doing?"


    E''s heart ached for Noah''s constant vignce. She bit her lip hard, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep as she turned and buried her head in his embrace. Noah''s arm hesitated, then seeing E seemingly sleeping peacefully in his arms, the look in his eyes softened before he wrapped his arm around her once again. ying a charade under Noah''s watchful eye made E nervous. Unwittingly, she fell into a genuine slumber in Noah''s embrace.


    By the time she awoke, Noah''s presence had vanished from the bed. She sat up abruptly, searching the ensuite and the dressing room, but found them empty.


    Rushing downstairs, the maid hurried to meet her. "Miss, is everything okay?"


    "Where''s Uncle Noah?"


    "Mr. Noah left the house. Would you like to have lunch now?" the maid replied.


    E shook her head, "But he''s injured."


    "It must be urgent business matters."


    E paused, realization dawning. Of course. The world outside must be chaotic, all awaiting his intervention. But with injuries so severe, how much could he endure?


    What would Grandfather do? And the Mintons, the Reeves...Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Her gaze drifted involuntarily towards the front door, and the maid almost reflexively blocked her line of sight. "Miss, Mr. Noah insisted that you eat and rest well at home."


    E knew he wouldn''t let her leave. She lowered her gaze, silent for a beat, before turning towards the dining room. "Just prepare lunch for me, please."


    The maid breathed a sigh of relief.


    The Visionary Productions building had been surrounded by journalists since early morning. Finally, near eleven o''clock, Noah arrived. Security immediately surrounded him, escorting him toward the entrance


    of the TV building.


    "Mr. Noah, was the decision to call off the engagement made unterally by you?"


    "The Minton family seems to be in the dark about this. Why did you postpone the wedding with Ms. Reba for four years, and why announce the break-up now?"


    "Mr. Noah, is it true that you''re calling off the engagement because of your niece? Did you dy the wedding with Ms. Reba because of her as well?"


    Noah stopped in his tracks, turning to face the reporter who had asked thest question with an intense gaze. The reporters fell silent, microphones poised, waiting for Noah to speak.


    "The engagement and the break-up were personal decisions. Hold on to your pens tightly, or you might not need them anymore."


    His words were a clear threat.


    The reporters were reluctant to let go of such a juicy story, but they had to proceed with caution.


    "So, Mr. Noah, could you rify the nature of your current rtionship with this young woman?"


    Noah''s gaze was heavy as he paused before slowly saying, under the intense focus of the crowd:


    "She''s not my niece."


    The revtion sent a shockwave through the crowd. This was as good as a public admission of his true feelings. E was not his niece, which meant their rtionship could be something more.