Naya was about to launch into a sarcastic retort aimed at Noah's family for chasing her out, when she felt a hand firmly grasp hers from behind. She looked back to see Noah, who had been a trembling, heartbroken mess on the floor moments ago, now standing beside her.
Naya tightened her grip on his hand. "Don't worry," she assured him, her voice fierce. "I will protect you. I definitely won't let these people threaten you any longer."
Noah's broken, wounded heart felt a surge of life at Naya's fierce loyalty. However, Noah was not the type to let others fight his battles. He preferred to settle his own problems with his own hands.
"Don't worry, I've got this," he told her.
Naya looked at him with concern, but seeing the steel resolve in Noah's eyes, she decided to step back, promising herself she would only intervene again if he truly couldn't handle it.
Noah turned to face his parents. He spared no attention for Nick, who remained seated with the smug expression of a champion. Noah looked at his mother and father, and asked only one question.
"Why?"
Leo and Celine exchanged confused glances. "Why what?" they asked simultaneously.
Noah articulated his pain clearly. "Why did you two detest me so much? Why have you never seen me as a human being? Why do you think it is okay for you to do this to me?"
Leo, Noah's father, answered him without hesitation, his voice cold and rational. "It's because you are an Omega. Since the time of our ancestors, Omegas have been weak individuals who are only good for bearing children and for their breedability.
"Omegas have never achieved anything worthwhile with their lives. They don't even possess enough intelligence, and they are easily pushed around. That is the reality of an Omega's life. So, if there is a way that your existence can benefit this family—even if it is through this method you deem degrading—of course, I will sacrifice you so that, at least, your existence will be useful."
As his father spoke these damning words, Noah felt an unsettling calm descend over him. He wasn't angry anymore. His heart was already dead to them; they could no longer hurt what was already fatally wounded. Noah stood there with a terrifyingly serene expression.
He did not believe that his only purpose in life was to serve another man's satisfaction.
He still believed he would reach great heights, and his family's spiteful words would not diminish that determination. He didn't take any of Leo's nonsense about Omegas being useless to heart. He looked at his mother, Celine, with a pitying gaze. She was an Omega herself, yet she saw absolutely no problem with what Leo had just proclaimed.
Noah looked at every member of his family one last time, hardening his resolve completely.
He turned to Naya. "Can you please go to the basement? That's where my room is. Help me pack most of my clothes, my essentials, and my important documents from the room."
Naya understood instantly what Noah was planning. She simply nodded and walked toward the basement door.
Leo was not stupid. He glared at Noah, his face contorted in anger. "What is the meaning of this? What are you trying to do?"
Noah smiled—a chilling, unpleasant expression that did not reach his eyes. "What do you think I'm trying to do? Of course, I want to leave this house. From now on, I want absolutely nothing to do with any of you."
Celine instantly panicked. "No! You can't leave! You can't leave! You still have to fulfill the agreement with Boss Ryan! If you don't go there, they will genuinely harm your brother! Do you want to see your brother's leg and his third leg broken? We still have to rely on your brother to give us descendants!"
Noah's chilling smile widened. "After they are done breaking him, you can ask Nick to send me a picture. I won't even mind the blood. I will just be very happy to see Nick get the retribution that he truly deserves."
Celine looked as if she had lost her mind. She never expected Noah, the quiet, kind-hearted boy who routinely fed stray animals even when he hadn't eaten much himself, to utter such a cruel statement about another human being, let alone his own brother.
"Are you crazy? That's your brother! Your brother!" she shrieked.
Noah simply shrugged, unable to be bothered with any more explanations. When Noah chose to give up on something, he gave up completely, and he had entirely discarded his family.
Nick, who had been sitting calmly assuming victory was assured, suddenly looked worried. He could see the absolute resolution in Noah's eyes. He looked anxiously toward his father, Leo. Leo returned the glance, giving Nick a subtle signal. They both began to move cautiously toward Noah.
Noah was keenly aware of their movements. He saw Leo and Nick exchange glances, saw their careful approach. He knew they intended to capture him and hand him over to Boss Ryan.
He was absolutely determined to never submit to such a vile act. Since they wouldn't let him go, Noah was prepared to do anything to protect himself.
His eyes darted around the room. He spotted two glass alcohol bottles on a nearby table, one empty and the other partially filled. The bottles were close to where he stood. Noah grabbed them both.
"Don't you dare come closer!" he warned them, his voice low and hard. "Just stay where you are!"
Leo and Nick stopped instantly. Nick laughed, trying to mask his fear with bravado. "What exactly are you trying to do with those bottles? You can't threaten us with glass bottles! Have you ever even seen blood in your life? We are fundamentally stronger than you. We can knock those bottles out of your hand before you can even break them on our heads!"
Celine gasped, terrified. "Noah, drop those bottles right this instant!"
Noah simply smiled, the chilling expression returning. "I know you're stupid, Nick. Of course, I know you are stronger than me. So, why would I want to waste time trying to break the bottle on your head?"
Leo frowned, demanding, "Then what exactly are you planning to do with those bottles?"
Noah didn't answer right away. Instead, he slammed the base of both bottles onto the center table, shattering them instantly. He was left holding only the long, jagged muzzles of the bottles, which were now lethal, broken weapons.
Shards of glass flew around the room, and some even sliced into Noah's hand, drawing blood, which streaked down his skin. But Noah didn't flinch; he seemed oblivious to the pain. The remaining beer in the broken bottle stained the carpet.
Celine screamed in fright at the sudden, violent noise. Even Leo and Nick were visibly startled by the brutality of Noah's action.
Noah smiled once more, his voice cold and menacing. "See? I am not planning on breaking the bottle on your head. I am planning on stabbing you both to death. If you keep pushing me to the absolute limit, I don't mind killing you, and then killing myself. So, if you are so confident in your strength, come at me. Then we can test who is faster: you guys knocking these bottles away from me, or me stabbing these bottles into your carotid artery first. If you dare bet with me, come at me."