Chapter 3

Noah lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

But she wasn’t really seeing it.

Her eyes slowly closed—

everything came rushing back.

The kitchen.

The way he had appeared out of nowhere.

The way he stood too close.

The way his voice dropped when he spoke.

And then—

the pool.

Water dripping from his hair.

His shirt clinging slightly to his body.

That effortless, careless confidence.

The way he looked at her—

like he already understood something about her

she didn’t even understand herself.

Noah exhaled slowly.

Annoying.

That’s what he was.

Arrogant.

Infuriating.

And yet—

her mind refused to let go of him.

Why?

A soft knock broke the silence.

Noah’s eyes opened instantly.

“Miss Noah? Dinner is ready.”

“Okay.”

The dining room felt exactly how she expected—

perfect.

Controlled.

Like even conversations here had rules.

“There you are,” Jennifer said warmly. “Come, Noah.”

Noah stepped in.

“This is my husband, Daniel,” Jennifer said.

Daniel Sinclair looked at her—

and unlike everything else in this house,

his welcome felt… real.

“Welcome, Noah,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Noah replied.

“And this is my daughter, Judy.” Jennifer said.

The name hit Noah.

For a second—

That name made her felt nostalgic.

She was reminded of—

A voice. A memory. A warmth she could never touch again.

“Hi!”

Noah blinked.

A little girl stood in front of her—bright eyes, soft smile.

Innocent.

Untouched.

Noah smiled without realizing.

“Hi, Judy.” Noah said politely.

She had just settled into her seat when she heard—

Footsteps.

Slow. Familiar.

It was COLE.

He entered.

“There you are,” Jennifer said.

He walked over casually and leaned down, placing a soft peck on her cheek.

“Here I am.” he said softly.

Like a perfect son.

Like he wasn’t the same person who cornered her in the kitchen.

“Cole, you are late!” Judy said with a pout and crossed arms.

He smiled—actually smiled—and ruffled her hair.

“I know. I’m sorry, princess.”

Daniel watched them with quiet amusement.

Jennifer smiled.

Everything felt… warm.

Normal.

And Noah was admiring their happy little family.

A soft smile appeared on her lips without even realizing.

But at the same time she was in disbelief that—

This is the same guy.

“Cole, this is Noah,” Jennifer said.

A brief pause.

Then—

“Nice to meet you, Noah.” he said with a teasing expression.

His tone was smooth.

Too smooth.

Like he was pretending this was the first time we met.

Like he was enjoying it.

Noah met his eyes.

He knew.

Of course he knew.

“Nice to meet you too,” she replied with an expressionless face.

He took the seat directly in front of her.

And just like that—

the tension returned.

Dinner began.

Soft clinks. Quiet voices.

But beneath it—

something else.

His gaze.

Not constant.

But precise.

Every time she looked up—

he was already watching.

And every time—

he looked away just in time.

Like a game.

And she was already part of it.

“Where’s Monster, Mom?” Cole asked casually.

The word hit like a trigger.

Monster. Noah murmured.

The memory flashed—

the growl

the fear

the way her body had frozen

A small sound escaped her before she could stop it.

Everyone looked at her.

Silence.

Cole leaned back slightly.

A faint smirk playing on his lips.

“What happened, Noah?” Jennifer asked gently.

Noah swallowed quickly.

“It’s… hot,” she said, glancing at the soup.

Jennifer smiled softly. “Be careful, honey.”

“Monster must be asleep,” she added. “Have you met him yet?” Jennifer asked Noah.

Noah opened her mouth—

“Yeah, she has,” Cole cut in smoothly.

All eyes turned to him.

He didn’t look away from Noah.

“She finds him cute.”

A pause.

“Really cute.” Cole said In a way as if he was teasing Noah.

Noah shot him a look.

Sharp. Annoyed.

He held it.

Unbothered.

Amused.

Noah placed her spoon down.

“I’m done,” she said quietly.

She stood before anyone could stop her.

“Thank you for dinner.”

Jennifer looked slightly surprised. “Already?”

“I just need to take a call,” Noah added.

And before anything else could be said—

she walked away.

Her phone was already ringing.

It was Lucas.

She picked it up as she stepped outside.

“Hey…” she said softly.

“Finally,” Lucas said. “I thought you forgot me after reaching London.”

A small smile slipped onto her lips.

“Not possible.”

“So? Mansion life treating you well?” Lucas asked.

“It’s… different,” she said, walking slowly.

“Different how?” Lucas asked curiously.

She hesitated.

“Complicated.” Noah said.

He laughed lightly. “You always overthink.” Lucas said.

“Maybe.”

“I miss you,” he said softly.

Her steps slowed.

“I miss you too.” Noah said softly.

For a moment—

everything felt normal again.

Familiar.

Safe.

She kept walking—

until she reached the pool.

The water reflected the night sky.

Still. Quiet.

“Call me tomorrow?” Lucas asked.

“Yeah.” Noah said with a soft smile.

“Promise?” Lucas asked.

“Promise.” Noah said softly with a smile.

She hung up.

And was looking at the reflection of the beautiful night sky at the pool .

“So… someone’s got a boyfriend.”

The voice came right next to her ear.

Low. Close.

Noah gasped.

Her phone slipped—

her balance shifted—

and suddenly—

she was falling.

A hand caught her wrist.

Strong. Firm.

Of course—

It was one and only THE COLE SINCLAIR.

Again.

Noah was inches away from him.

Too close.

Her breath uneven.

His grip tightened slightly—

not pulling her away.

Not letting her fall either.

Just holding her there.

Like he was deciding.

“Careful,” he said quietly.

A pause.

“Or don’t.” he said with a smirk.

His fingers loosened.

And she slipped.

Splash.

Cold water surrounded her instantly.

Cole looked down at her.

A slow smirk formed.

“Oops,” he said casually. “My hand slipped.”

He bent slightly, extending his hand.

“Need help?”

Noah looked at his hand.

Then at him.

And pulled.

Hard.

The next second—

Cole hit the water.

For a moment—

everything went still.

Cole’s POV

Water ran down his face as he pushed his hair back—

and then he saw her.

Noah stood right in front of him.

Closer than before.

Her hair, now darker, clung to her face—

strands falling messily across her forehead, brushing her cheeks.

Drops of water slid slowly from the ends—

tracing down her neck—

disappearing beneath the line of her collarbone.

His eyes followed it—

then moved back up.

Her lips—

slightly parted.

Not saying anything.

Not backing down either.

And then—

her eyes.

They looked like two drops of coffee in a cloud of milk—

warm, deep—

but right now,

there was nothing soft about them.

They held his.

Unblinking.

Unapologetic.

She stepped closer.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

The space between them shrinking—

inch by inch.

Cole didn’t move.

Didn’t step back.

Didn’t speak.

And that was the part that didn’t make sense.

Because he always moved first.

Always controlled the moment.

But right now—

he wasn’t.

For a second—

it felt like something had caught him off guard.

Held him there.

Stilled him.

Like a pause he didn’t choose.

She stopped just inches away.

Close enough that her presence felt unavoidable.

“We’re even now,” she said Proudly.

Silence.

Heavy.

Unspoken.

Then she stepped back.

Breaking it.

Just like that.

She turned—

climbed out of the pool—

and walked away.

Without looking back.

Cole didn’t move.

Didn’t speak.

He just stood there—

water dripping from his hair, his shirt clinging to him—

eyes still fixed on the place where she had been standing seconds ago.

For a second—

it felt like everything had gone… still.

Too still.

His brows pulled together slightly.

A faint crease forming.

What… was that? Cole murmured.

The moment replayed—

not fully

not clearly

just flashes

her stepping closer

her eyes on his

the way he didn’t move

His jaw tightened.

Slowly.

“She really thinks…” he muttered under his breath.

A humorless scoff followed.

“She really thinks she can just walk in here…”

A pause.

His eyes darkened slightly.

“Like she owns everything.” He said annoyingly.

Another second of silence.

Heavy.

“And control the moment?”

His voice lower now.

More certain.

More guarded.

“No.” He said in anger.

He ran a hand through his wet hair, pushing it back—

rougher this time.

Like he was forcing himself back into place.

Because whatever that was—

that second

that shift

that something—

it wasn’t staying.

Cole stepped out of the pool—

water dripping around him—

but paused.

Just for a second.

His eyes flicked toward the direction she had gone.

Something unreadable crossed his face.

Quick. Controlled. Gone.

“Let’s see…” he murmured quietly.

Because no one

walked into his world

like they owned it—

and got away with it.

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