Chapter 32: Guarded Promises

Noah’s

I opened my eyes slowly, my head heavy and dull. My body ached deeply, as if I had been hit by a truck. I was back in my room at the mansion, the familiar plain walls and the soft comfort of the bed grounding me in reality.

The door creaked open, and Ren walked in, carrying a plate of food—steaming chicken and rice. The smell made my stomach growl immediately despite the tight knot of anxiety in my chest. He set the plate on the nightstand and ...