Chapter 426

[ 958 words ]

Noah’s POV

“I’m done,” I said. The words came out steady even though my pulse was hammering. “I’m done taking orders. I’m done being the son who doesn’t ask questions. You want a war with the Windsors? You can have it without me p>

Father laughed once, short and sharp.

“You think walking away is that simple? You’re married to the woman whose name is about to be dragged through every site in this city. You’re publicly tied to Vesper Group. You’re the one who delivered the proposals. You don’t get to wash your hands now because you suddenly discovered feelings p>

“Watch me p>

I turned and walked toward the door.

“Noah p>

I stopped but didn’t look back.

“If you go to them,” Father said, “if you warn them, if you try to play the good cousin now, I will make sure the next move is worse. I have been patient for a very long time. Do not test how much patience I have left p>

I opened the door and left without answering.

The corridor felt too bright. I pulled out my phone while I walked, already calling the number I had saved after the family lunch. Julian answered on the second ring.

“Noah p>

“Where is Aiden?” I asked. My voice sounded wrong in my own ears. “Right now. Where is he p>

There was a short pause.

“He’s at school. Why p>

“My father did something. He altered the pickup. Someone is going to try to get close to him. Get your people there now. I’m on my way p>

I heard the change in Julian’s breathing. When he spoke again, the warmth from the lunch was completely gone.

“How long have you known p>

“I just found out. He told me himself. He’s also releasing shit about Delia in the next hour. Ugly shit. I’m coming to you p>

“Come straight here,” Julian said. “Do not stop. Do not call anyone else p>

The line went dead.

I took the stairs two at a time, already calculating how fast I could get across the city. Behind me, in the study I had just left, my father was probably already moving the next piece. In front of me was a family that had only just started letting me sit at their table.

I had told Julian I wasn’t my father. Now I had to prove it before someone got hurt because of the name I still carried.

The elevator doors opened onto the garage level. I got into the car, started the engine, and drove like the entire city was trying to stop me.

Somewhere across town a child’s school day was about to turn into the exact kind of message my father specialized in. I was not going to let it land cleanly. Not this time.

Julian’s POV

I was out of the office before Zane even finished asking what was wrong.

We took my car. I didn’t explain much. I didn’t need to. One look at my face and he just buckled up and let me drive. The school was twenty minutes away in normal traffic. I made it in twelve.

By the time we pulled up, my jaw hurt from how hard I’d been clenching it.

Inside, the front office already felt off. A man I didn’t recognize stood near the side corridor with security. Average height, forgettable face, the kind of person you pay when you want someone who won’t be remembered later. He was mid-sentence about a schedule change when I walked in.

I didn’t let him finish.

“You don’t go near my son,” I said. My voice came out low. “You don’t speak to him. You don’t look at him. If I see you again, the police will be the least of your problems p>

Security already had his arm. Zane stepped in to help keep him contained while I went to find Aiden.

He was in the after-school room with a juice box and a half-finished drawing. When he looked up and saw me, his whole face lit up like nothing in the world was wrong.

“Dad p>

I dropped to one knee and pulled him in hard.

“I’ve got you. We’re going home p>

I carried him out myself. Zane stayed behind long enough to make sure the man wasn’t going anywhere before the police arrived, then followed us out. The drive home was quiet. Aiden asked a few questions I only half-answered. I kept one hand on the wheel and the other resting near him, like I still needed the proof that he was really there.

Katia opened the front door before I even cut the engine. She took one look at my face, then at Aiden in my arms, and the color left hers.

“What happened p>

“Elliot sent someone to the school p>

She took Aiden from me and held him tightly, pressing her face into his hair. I stood there a second longer than I needed to before I turned and saw Noah standing near the bottom of the steps. He looked wrecked.

“Is he okay?” he asked.

“He’s safe,” I said. “No thanks to your father p>

We went inside. Katia took Aiden upstairs. When she came back down, Noah was still standing in the hallway like he wasn’t sure he was allowed to sit.

I didn’t offer him a drink. I didn’t offer him anything.

“Talk,” I said.

Noah dragged a hand down his face.

“He leaked a package on Delia, old messages, and voice notes, the kind of shit that makes her look obsessed and unstable. It’s already out. Then he told me about the school. Called it a message. I called you the second he said it p>

“Your father sent a man to my son’s school p>

“I know p>

“He used your wife as public entertainment p>

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