Episode 16

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Noah saw Angel's flushed face and couldn't help but laugh out loud as he realized the boy's intentions. The sound of his laughter was somewhat charming, though it was difficult to appreciate its beauty in that context. Several looked at him in understanding, but no one joined in. Only Jerome watched his amused expression with delight.

After a few seconds, the boy stopped laughing and straightened up, his stomach already hurting a little.

"I'm really curious, can't you get enough? Or do you really need to throw yourself at every capable man just to feel fulfilled?" he asked, wiping away his physiological tears. "I never knew you were so funny, Angel!"

"What's so funny?" asked the alpha, without taking his eyes off the raven-haired boy. "I think I'm missing the joke."

"Noah, dear, it's time to finish the banquet," Aleida interrupted, afraid that the boy would say things he shouldn't in front of the leader of the Barloventos. She nervously wiped the sweat from her forehead and tried to smile.

"Come on! How can we do that to Jerome, Mother?" he said sarcastically, and continued to look at him. "Your fiance, of course," he boasted, not afraid to bother the man, an unconscious habit from the past.

"Noah!" Angel shrieked as if he were a cruelly mocked victim. The indignation was evident on his white face. However, this time no one wished to step forward to defend him. Something he noticed and made him feel uncomfortable, as well as annoyed. The lost credibility points were already beginning to show. "You don't need to make fun of me like that! I just came to greet Jerome, or won't you even allow me that?"

"I'm not making fun of you, Angel," commented the black-haired boy, bored with the predictable attitude of the blond. Didn't he know any other tactics? How could he have fooled him in his past life? Did that mean he was too stupid before? "I'm just surprised at how funny you are."

"Of course, you sweep the dirt under the rug, and you come here to show off your status as 'fiance of the Barlovento leader'. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

"What?" A single word that chilled everyone's blood, and made Angel swell with pride. The alpha sounded annoyed! That meant he was defending him, even after their last embarrassing encounter, didn't it?

This thought almost made the omega euphoric, who had to control himself so as not to jump for joy on the spot. After all, Jerome was defending him! Who wouldn't be thrilled?

Only young Noah was not frightened, contrary to what an excited Angel expected.

After all, one detail that no one knew was that the black-haired boy had spent four years of his life married to the man in the wheelchair, and although he couldn't say much about mutual feelings, if he could presume one thing, it was knowing when the alpha was really angry; and now, although the atmosphere was tense, it was not because of the alpha, but rather because of all the eyes fixed on them. So the boy relaxed and, without a hint of fear, replied:

"It's not wise to talk about that here," he stated. Just because he wasn't afraid of the man didn't mean he wanted to humiliate Jerome and make an enemy of him. He knew the limits of how far he could push him.

"Don't worry, I don't think there's anything so serious that those present can't hear," replied the alpha, as if nothing he could say would affect him.

"Are you sure? It could be embarrassing for you." He knew beforehand that even though the man had praised him before and was friendly, he was an enemy to be reckoned with, so he wanted to be sure before speaking.

"Always."

"Then don't blame me for not warning you."

"Of course."

"Noah, son, you shouldn't..." Aleida tried to interrupt, but the boy was one step ahead and spoke.

"He's been sleeping with my boyfriend for six months, but he comes here with a ridiculous smile on his face to climb on your lap, pretending to be as pure and clean as ever," he said in a clear voice, making every word perfectly understandable. This caused everyone around him to go into a panic and return to their own places the next second, almost as if they had been stepped on their tails.

For although they liked to see a good show from the front row, especially if it involved the big fish in the pond, they also had the prudence to determine the limits of how close they could get to see.

They knew they wouldn't be able to withstand the alpha's anger after he heard this truth, which made the matter more unbearable.

With fear running through their hearts, they finally walked away, leaving Noah, Angel, Aleida, Jerome, and his bodyguards alone.

Erminia, who had been forgotten by those present, had a terribly pale face. She wanted to throw herself on the floor again to get attention, but remembering that it was Jerome Barlovento and that the man was unmoved by anything, it was likely that if she carried out her act, it would further enrage the other and only make things worse for her son. So she stayed still in her place.

At that moment, she deeply regretted it, she shouldn't have come to this party and revealed what she knew. It's just that she had been persuaded by Angel! Her son had suddenly insisted that it was the perfect opportunity to reveal the matter, and she had allowed herself to be convinced. How foolish they had been! The worst thing was that she could already feel Aleida's angry gaze.

"You've misunderstood me," Jerome said after a while. It was then that Hugo returned with the glass of water.

The beta saw that the former onlookers had moved away and some were even already on their way out with the utmost discretion. They almost seemed to exclude the small group, even afraid to look in their direction. He was not surprised, he knew his boss and he used to provoke that effect on people when something was not going his way.

The alpha noticed Hugo's presence. He extended his arm without saying a word, but the beta understood. He placed the crystal glass in his boss' hand and stepped back a pace, seeming to be the third statue behind him.

Jerome held out the glass to Noah and said, "I wasn't asking for an explanation for your charming smile, but rather how you referred to young Craso."

"Huh!" Noah choked when he heard the words "charming smile," but he stifled his surprise as best he could and blatantly ignored the compliment. He approached Jerome fleetingly and took the glass of water he held out to him. "Your fiance?" he stammered in confusion. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Angel's originally flushed face turning white. This caught his attention.

He took a couple of sips of the cold water and it helped to lessen the heat in his cheeks.

"Yes, that. As you suggested earlier, I should return the advice," said the alpha, resting both arms comfortably on the sides of the chair. "I think you should update your information."

"What?"

"I didn't make a public announcement at the time because of the workload, and I also didn't want to affect young Craso's reputation as his father is a good friend of my grandfather's, but I must clarify today without fail."

"What is it?"

"The two of us broke off the engagement over two months ago."

Noah felt his mouth drop open in a big O and couldn't retract his expression in time, almost dropping the crystal glass. And not only was he stunned, but those around him who were listening intently were as well.

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