Noah's POV
I couldn't do this anymore.
I stared at my phone for what felt like the hundredth time.
The video was still there.
I hadn't deleted it.
I couldn't.
Every time I convinced myself it wasn't real...
I watched it again.
Every time I watched it...
My heart broke all over again.
Diamant.
The same suit he'd left home wearing.
The same office.
The same woman.
That kiss.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"...Why?"
The room offered no answer.
The silence inside the mansion suddenly felt unbearable.
Everything reminded me of him.
The bed.
The couch where we'd fallen asleep watching a movie.
The kitchen where he'd teased my cooking.
The dining table where he'd quietly pushed vegetables onto my plate because, according to him, I "needed proper nutrition."
Every corner of this house held a memory.
And every memory hurt.
I slowly stood.
"I can't stay here..."
The words barely escaped my lips.
Before I could change my mind, I walked toward the walk-in closet.
The doors slid open silently.
Rows of expensive clothes greeted me.
Designer shirts.
Tailored jackets.
Luxury watches.
Shoes I had never imagined owning before meeting him.
Almost everything here...
Had been bought by Diamant.
I reached for one of the sweaters.
Then stopped.
No.
Not mine.
I closed the drawer again.
Another.
Not mine.
Another.
Still not mine.
My chest tightened.
I suddenly realized...
Very little of my life actually belonged to me anymore.
The clothes.
The phone.
The laptop.
The apartment I no longer lived in.
Even this room.
None of it was mine.
I quietly pulled an old backpack from the bottom shelf.
It looked almost out of place among everything luxurious surrounding it.
Inside, I packed only what I had bought with my own money.
A few plain T-shirts.
Two pairs of jeans.
A worn hoodie.
My wallet.
Some cash.
The small notebook I'd carried since university.
My old charger.
That was...
Pretty much everything.
The backpack wasn't even full.
I looked around the room one last time.
Everything else stayed exactly where it was.
Diamant bought them.
They belonged here.
Not with me.
I zipped the backpack closed.
It felt surprisingly light.
Almost disappointing.
"So this..."
I whispered.
"...is all that's actually mine."
I slipped the backpack over one shoulder.
Then walked toward the bedroom window.
Carefully.
Slowly.
I pulled the curtain aside just enough to look outside.
Security.
Everywhere.
Two guards near the front gate.
Another pair patrolling the driveway.
More walking around the estate.
Diamant hadn't been exaggerating.
He'd practically surrounded the mansion with security before leaving.
I stepped away from the window.
Front entrance.
Impossible.
Balcony.
Too exposed.
Backyard...
Maybe.
I changed into simple clothes.
A black hoodie.
Dark jeans.
Running shoes.
Nothing expensive.
Nothing that would attract attention.
I lowered the hood over my head.
My heartbeat refused to slow down.
What if they caught me?
What if Diamant came back before I could leave?
Would I even be able to look him in the eyes anymore?
The thought alone almost made me stop.
Almost.
But then the video flashed through my mind again.
I gripped the backpack tighter.
No.
I couldn't stay.
Not until I understood the truth.
I quietly left the bedroom.
The hallway remained empty.
Every step felt louder than it actually was.
I descended the staircase.
Passed through the living room.
The enormous floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the darkness outside.
The mansion looked beautiful.
Peaceful.
Like nothing bad had ever happened inside it.
I slipped through the rear doors leading into the garden.
The backyard stretched across perfectly maintained lawns, trimmed hedges, and decorative trees illuminated by soft landscape lighting.
Only one guard stood nearby.
Good.
I took a slow breath before walking toward him.
He immediately straightened.
"Mr. Noah."
I smiled weakly.
"I think something's wrong with the water pressure upstairs."
He frowned.
"The water pressure?"
"I was about to take a shower."
I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.
"It suddenly became really weak."
Concern crossed his face.
"I'll have someone check immediately."
"Could you look first?" I asked quietly.
"I think it's the main supply."
He nodded without suspicion.
"Of course."
"I'll be right back."
The moment he disappeared around the side of the house...
I moved.
Fast.
Not running.
Not yet.
Just walking quickly across the darker side of the garden.
My heart pounded violently against my ribs.
Please...
Please don't look back.
I reached the outer hedge.
There was a narrow maintenance gate hidden behind climbing vines.
I'd noticed it days ago while walking around the estate.
It wasn't meant as an exit.
Just an access point for gardeners.
It wasn't locked.
My fingers trembled as I pushed it open.
A narrow alley waited beyond.
Cold night air rushed against my face.
Freedom.
Or perhaps...
A terrible mistake.
I stepped through.
Pulled the gate shut behind me.
Then...
I ran.
I didn't look back.
I couldn't.
Because I knew the moment someone realized I wasn't upstairs...
The entire security team would come looking for me.
So I ran.
Past empty streets.
Past glowing streetlights.
Past strangers who never even looked twice.
The backpack bounced lightly against my shoulders.
My breathing became uneven.
My eyes blurred.
I didn't know where I was going.
I only knew one thing.
I couldn't stop.
Not now.
Not until I was far enough away that even Diamant Reed couldn't reach me.