Diamant's POV
The call came at 4:17 in the morning.
I was awake before the second ring.
Years of running an empire had trained me to recognize the difference between ordinary calls and disasters.
This one belonged to the second category.
I answered immediately.
"What happened?"
Silence.
Then:
"Sir... there's been an incident in Country B."
My expression hardened.
"What kind of incident?"
A pause.
The hesitation alone told me enough.
"The hotel construction site collapsed."
For a moment, I thought I had heard wrong.
I sat upright.
"What?"
"The foundation section gave way approximately forty minutes ago."
The room became very still.
Beside me, Noah remained asleep.
Peaceful.
Unaware.
I lowered my voice.
"Repeat that."
The report came again.
Same words.
Same impossible conclusion.
The foundation had collapsed.
I ended the call.
Immediately made another.
Then another.
Then another.
By the fifth report, nothing changed.
The facts remained the same.
The foundation of the hotel project in Country B had collapsed.
A project I had personally overseen.
A project I had inspected less than a week ago.
I stood from the bed quietly.
My mind was already working.
Calculating.
Eliminating possibilities.
Finding the flaw.
Because there had to be one.
There was no scenario where this happened naturally.
None.
The project used imported structural steel.
Premium concrete mixtures.
Materials tested repeatedly before approval.
The engineers were among the best in the industry.
I had reviewed every stage personally.
I had stood on that construction site only days ago.
Most of the foundation had already been completed.
Everything had passed inspection.
Everything.
Yet now it was gone.
Impossible.
Unless someone made it possible.
I walked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
Darkness still covered most of the skyline.
The glass reflected my expression back at me.
Cold.
Focused.
Dangerously calm.
Someone had touched my project.
The question was who.
And why.
Behind me, the bed shifted slightly.
I turned.
Noah was still asleep.
One arm stretched across the empty space I had occupied moments earlier.
Something tightened in my chest unexpectedly.
For a brief second, my attention moved away from the collapse.
Toward him.
Then logic returned.
If I was right...
This wasn't an accident.
And if it wasn't an accident...
Then it wasn't only about a building.
It was about me.
Which meant anyone close to me could become a target.
Including Noah.
My jaw tightened.
No.
That wasn't happening.
By sunrise, the house security had already doubled.
Additional guards were stationed throughout the property.
Surveillance systems were reviewed.
Access permissions were updated.
No one entered without clearance.
No one.
The head of security looked confused when I finished issuing orders.
"Sir... is there a threat?"
"Not yet."
The man hesitated.
"Should we inform Mr. Noah?"
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Too immediately.
I softened my tone slightly.
"He doesn't need unnecessary stress."
The real reason remained unspoken.
Because if Noah knew something was wrong, he would worry.
And if Noah worried, he would ask questions.
Questions I didn't yet have answers for.
I preferred facts before panic.
By breakfast, I was already preparing to leave.
Noah looked up from his coffee as I entered the dining room.
The morning sunlight softened everything around him.
The scene felt absurdly normal compared to the storm unfolding elsewhere.
"You're dressed early."
"I have a meeting."
That wasn't entirely a lie.
He frowned slightly.
"You just got back from Country B."
"I know."
"You need rest."
I almost smiled.
Almost.
The concern in his voice was genuine.
Dangerously effective.
"I'm fine."
Noah narrowed his eyes immediately.
"I hate when you say that."
"You say it too."
"That's different."
"It isn't."
He looked unconvinced.
As usual.
For a moment, I considered telling him.
Not everything.
Just enough.
But the idea vanished as quickly as it appeared.
No.
Not yet.
I walked over and pressed a brief kiss against his forehead.
His expression immediately shifted into suspicion.
That alone told me I'd made a mistake.
"You're being nice."
"I am always nice."
"No, you're not."
I ignored him.
He followed me toward the front entrance.
"How long will you be gone?"
"A few days."
That stopped him.
"A few days?"
I nodded.
His frown deepened.
Something in my chest resisted the look.
I disliked leaving him.
Especially now.
Especially with unanswered questions hanging over everything.
But I didn't have a choice.
If someone had sabotaged that project...
I needed to know who.
Before they tried something worse.
The car was already waiting outside.
I paused before stepping in.
Noah stood on the front steps watching me.
The morning wind moved through his hair.
For some reason, the sight stayed with me.
More than the collapse.
More than the reports.
More than the growing list of suspects already forming in my head.
I looked toward the head of security.
One glance was enough.
Protect him.
The message was understood immediately.
Then I got into the car.
As the gates opened, my phone rang again.
Another report from Country B.
Another problem waiting for me.
I answered without hesitation.
But my thoughts remained behind.
At home.
With Noah.
Safe.
Exactly where I intended him to stay.
No matter what I discovered next.