...
Noah ran towards the exit amidst the crowd, as if fleeing from a fearsome beast, because in a way, it was like that. After all, he didn't think he was capable of facing Jerome directly, not when his body felt so… strange.
The few guests who still remained moved out of his way as soon as they saw him approaching in a hurry. Shouts could be heard here, expressions of surprise there.
But the only thing that remained constant was that wherever the boy passed, a light and almost imperceptible essence of roses could be smelled. Although no one seemed to notice it, only a certain alpha followed him with his gaze until he disappeared behind the door.
Upon leaving, the black-haired man looked around and was able to easily find his old car in the parking lot, a black Honda CR-V. Without wasting a second, he went straight to it and as he walked, he looked for the keys in his pockets. Luckily he found them in the back pocket of his pants.
With a smile on his face, he saw the key and opened the door, also taking the opportunity to wipe the sweat that was running down his cheek and stinging his lip wound. It's just that his expression turned nervous when he felt the passing heat of his body slowly spread to each of his limbs, making him feel slightly numb.
Wiping the sweat that wouldn't stop pouring off his face again, he started the car and drove away from that banquet and what it represented.
–––
Forty minutes later, Noah was standing in front of the main door of the Ballestero mansion, the place where he had grown up and which, until his nineteenth birthday, he considered his home.
In his own perception, it had been years since he had visited the place and it was inevitable for him not to feel out of place, standing static without being able to pass. In a way, the small bushes, also the flowerpots on each step, and the white curtains were familiar, but at the same time, everything was unrecognizable.
He no longer had the feeling he grew up with, of "coming home" when he was at the door. Now he felt like a stranger visiting someone he didn't know.
And if so, why had he come back?
Of course, his first thought had not been to return to the Ballestero fold, but here were some things he had to pick up and others to clarify, all before breaking off relations with said family. Since his style certainly was not to shy away from problematic situations, but to face them even if he didn't like them.
While he was thinking about what to do next, the white door opened and he came face to face with Lila. Noah stood frozen, stunned to see her again after so many years. The woman who raised him, his nanny.
His heart pounding, he looked her up and down and realized that she was the same as the nanny in his memories. A woman in her early forties, with her hair pulled back in a high ponytail, fair skin, and slender. She was wearing the same uniform as always, a navy blue dress, with a simple white apron. Lila was a mature woman, but no less beautiful than a twenty-year-old, and despite her profession she had class and elegance.
"Young Noah! You arrived earlier than expected"she greeted with a warm smile, which made Noah feel like "coming home" for the first time in a long time. It's just that the feeling vanished quickly, as Lila stopped smiling as soon as she noticed the blood on the boy's clothes and lip, she also noticed the obvious flush on his face, as if he had a bad cold.
She was surprised because the party had started just three hours ago and the boy had left the house with the lady, both in perfect condition.
"Why are you hurt? Did someone bully you? Isn't the lady coming with you?"This used to happen whenever she worried too much about Noah, she stopped addressing him formally and spoke directly. The boy had liked that trait about Lila. It made him feel closer to his nanny.
He smiled at finding something like this as soon as he returned to the Ballestero mansion.
"Nanny…"he whispered, trying to hold back tears. His heart felt bittersweet. Sad for the old farewell, but happy for the unexpected reunion.
""I was so resigned to her loss that I didn't think about seeing her again. Even after going back…""
It was difficult for Noah not to sink into nostalgia and start crying right there.
After the truth came out in his first life, Nanny suffered a terrible fall from the second floor of the mansion, which caused her death. And it all happened in an argument she had with Angel on one of the many “visits” the omega made to the Ballestero mansion. According to the blond's testimony, Nanny had started insulting and hitting him out of nowhere. And it was because of her own rude attitude that she misjudged her strength and ran out the stairs, thus ending her own life.
It could never be proven that it was planned or something, and everything remained an unfortunate accident, even he who knew Nanny's kind attitude well, had no choice but to believe the officers' response.
But now, after her death and thanks to that strange book in his memory, Noah knew that Angel was not as innocent as he was forced to believe at first. Since something that the blond had completely omitted when he was questioned was that Victor and he were entangled like a couple of vipers, and Nanny saw everything. She knew that the newcomer Ballestero son and Noah were still in a relationship, and she began to scold them, furious at the betrayal of the boy she had watched grow up.
The two, scared of being discovered, lost control and in a careless moment, Victor struggled with Nanny and pushed her down the stairs. Angel, "moved" by being defended in this way, told the officers that he had been alone the entire time.
In the book, this scene was portrayed as the elimination of a minor villain, so the protagonists went on with their lives as if nothing had happened, without consequences or guilt. The only one who suffered was Noah, who had lost the only person who still appreciated him in the family.
On the current timeline, that would happen in a few days. Maybe two weeks.
He clenched his fists, determined not to let that disgrace happen again. Nanny shouldn't die defending him, and he didn't need to be defended anyway. He had to tell her the whole truth so that she wouldn't be upset later on if she ran into that pair again.
Unable to contain himself any longer, he threw himself into Lila's arms and buried his face in her neck.
"Do you need me to call the doctor?"asked the woman, patting the boy who was behaving differently than usual. "Is everything okay, Noah? Did you get into a fight with someone? I thought you wouldn't be back with Mrs. Aleida until the banquet was over."
"Nanny, there's something I have to tell you…"
Lila, oblivious to what the black-haired boy wanted to tell her, took a step back and touched his forehead, wanting to check his temperature. To her surprise, she found the boy was burning up.
"Good heavens!"she exclaimed. "You have a fever! Come on, let's go to your room"she ordered and pushed Noah up the stairs.
"Nanny, I have to tell you something important!"
"I know, I know. But nothing is as important as your health."The boy was touched when he heard her. It had been a long time since anyone had cared for him like this. Not knowing what to say, he let Lila guide him.
When they got to what had been his room for years, he hesitated to enter, but Nanny was not willing to delay calling the family doctor, so she opened the wooden door and practically threw him on the bed.
"Change your clothes, I'll call Dr. Elias. I'll be back in a while with some antipyretics," "she said, not listening to anything he was saying. Noah wanted to refuse but seeing the serious look in her brown eyes, he chose to remain silent."
She left and the black-haired boy was left alone.
Despite everything, he couldn't help but smile at Nanny's actions. She was still the same.
...
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