The metallic click of the gun's safety disengaging echoed through the room.
Elena's heart seized violently in her chest.
Her knees buckled, and she nearly collapsed.
But she didn't.
Because Daniel was seconds away from death.
And she would not let Noah pull that trigger.
"Noah, stop!" she screamed, her voice breaking with terror.
But he didn't stop.
Didn't even hesitate.
His eyes were lifeless, devoid of mercy.
Dark.
Unforgiving.
Merciless.
His finger tightened on the trigger.
The barrel was pressed firmly against Daniel's temple.
Daniel's breathing was shallow, labored.
His bloodied eyes fluttered weakly, barely conscious.
But he was too far gone to fight.
Too broken to plead.
Elena's entire body shook violently.
Her eyes burned with tears, and she threw herself forward.
She slammed into Noah, her hands shaking violently as she grabbed his wrist, trying to force the gun away from Daniel's head.
"Please! Noah! Please!"
Her voice was raw and fractured, her throat burning.
"You don't want to do this! Please!"
But Noah didn't move.
Didn't lower the gun.
Instead, his eyes narrowed coldly.
And when he spoke, his voice was a low, venomous whisper.
"Get out of the way."
His voice was calm.
Deadly.
But Elena's fingers tightened around his wrist, refusing to let go.
"No."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but her eyes were fierce.
"You'll have to shoot through me."
Her lips trembled, but she didn't waver.
Her voice shook, but she stood her ground.
Noah's eyes flashed dangerously, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips.
"You think I won't?"
His voice was low, menacing.
Elena's breath caught sharply.
Her heart slammed violently in her chest.
She knew Noah.
Knew his ruthlessness.
His darkness.
His ability to pull that trigger without blinking.
But she also knew—
That somewhere beneath the rage, the man she loved was still there.
Her voice lowered to a trembling whisper, desperate and broken.
"Noah… look at me."
Her voice cracked with emotion.
"Please… just look at me."
But he wouldn't.
He wouldn't look at her.
Because if he did—
If he met her eyes—
He knew he wouldn't be able to pull the trigger.
"Don't."
His voice was hoarse, his jaw clenched violently.
"Don't try to stop me."
But Elena refused to move.
Refused to let go.
Her eyes burned with tears, her fingers trembling violently as she cupped his face.
Her voice was a broken whisper, her hands trembling against his skin.
"Noah… please…"
Her voice cracked.
"You'll regret this. I know you will."
For a split second—
His fingers twitched slightly on the trigger.
Hesitated.
But then—
His eyes narrowed, turning ice-cold once again.
"He took you from me."
His voice was a deadly whisper.
"He stole you from me."
Elena stiffened violently, her eyes widening.
Her stomach dropped.
"Noah, no…"
Her voice broke.
"That's not true."
But his eyes flashed with raw betrayal, his lips curling into a cruel, bitter snarl.
"I trusted you. I let you in."
His voice was low and venomous, each word dripping with disdain.
"And you chose him."
Elena's breath hitched violently, her eyes stinging with tears.
Her voice cracked.
"Noah, no! It was never him! It was always you!"
Her voice was wild with desperation, her hands trembling.
"I swear, I was protecting Daniel because I didn't want his blood on my hands!"
But Noah's eyes were hard, his expression unyielding.
Ruthless.
And then—
He pressed the gun harder against Daniel's temple.
Elena sobbed violently, her voice breaking.
"No! No, Noah, please!"
Without thinking—
She suddenly dropped to her knees, her hands clutching the hem of his shirt.
Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling with heartbreak.
"I love you."
Her voice cracked.
"I love you, Noah… please… don't do this."
Her tears fell in hot streams, soaking into his shirt.
Her fingers trembled violently, gripping him desperately.
For a moment—
Everything stilled.
The room was suffocatingly silent.
Elena's sobs were the only sound.
And then—
Noah's hand suddenly shook.
Just slightly.
But enough.
His fingers trembled faintly around the gun.
His jaw clenched violently, his breathing sharp and ragged.
And then—
Slowly.
Painfully.
He lowered the gun.
Elena's breath caught violently, her hands shaking.
Her heart slammed into her chest, and she let out a broken sob of relief.
Her entire body sagged with the weight of it, her knees hitting the floor as she clung to him.
"Noah…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Thank you… thank you…"
But Noah's eyes were hollow, empty.
Cold.
His voice was flat and emotionless.
Dead.
"Don't."
He jerked away from her touch, his voice devoid of warmth.
Elena's heart cracked violently, her breath catching painfully.
Her eyes were wide with confusion.
"What? Noah—"
But he was already turning away.
His voice was low and cold, devoid of emotion.
"Get out."
Elena's breath caught sharply, her chest tightening violently.
Her voice broke.
"Noah, wait—"
But he didn't stop.
Didn't look at her.
Didn't slow down.
He crossed the room with swift, angry strides, his eyes hard and unyielding.
And then—
Without another word—
He slammed the door shut behind him, leaving her alone with Daniel.
Elena's knees gave out completely, and she collapsed onto the cold floor, her breath coming in broken, uneven sobs.
Her fingers shook violently as she pressed them against her lips, her entire body trembling.
Her voice was a broken whisper, barely audible.
"Noah…"
But he was gone.
And this time—
She wasn't sure he was coming back.
---
See you in next chapter....