Chapter 129 AFTER PARTY
1119words
.
Anna was still in her dressing checking her dress once more when someone barged in. When she turned around, she saw Noah standing before her, a small smile formed on his lips as he stared at her.
"I couldn't wait to see you there and decided to come down here myself." He said to have her smile. "You look so breathtaking tonight." He pulled her close and her chest clashed against his softly.
"Noah." Anna gasped.
"What, I want to have a taste before those hungry men feast their eyes on my beautiful queen tonight." He said with a straight face that almost had Anna laughing out loud. Just how much more jealous can this man get.
She was worried about being the best tonight and here he is, worrying about how the men there would look at her. Are they not meant to look at her?
It would be a serious problem if they didn't.
Noah leaned forward and was about to steal a kiss, but before his lips could touch her, the door was forcefully pushed open. Nari and Mack who had just arrived were suddenly stunned by the presence of the man in the room with Anna.
They stood by the doorway, their expression shifting from surprise to shock. They had expected her to be alone, and were already happy they hadn't seen any guard around. They should have known this was a trap.
Noah eyes narrowed in anger at the two people standing before him. When he had arrived, he instructed the guards to leave so that he could spend the few minutes left with his wife, but who knew this two fools would take advantage of that to harm her? He frowned at his thoughts.
Anna who was held by Noah was also stunned to see them here. She glanced between the two intruders, confusion clouding her features. It's no surprise they were together but to see them both in her room was what she couldn't understand.
What are you doing here?" Noah's voice was cold and commanding, his gaze piercing as he took note of the white kerchief Mack had concealed behind him. It was clear that their presence was not a mere coincidence, and Noah's suspicions were quickly confirmed.
Nari and Mack exchanged nervous glances, their facade of innocence crumbling under Noah's scrutiny. They had expected to find Anna vulnerable and alone, an easy target for their malicious intentions.
Caught off guard and outnumbered, Nari and Mack realized they shouldn't be here in the first place. She had been too desperate to steal Anna's shine tonight that she hadn't thought things through.
Nari gritted her teeth, her frustration boiling over as Noah Declan, once again, thwarted their plans to harm Anna.
"M... Mr. Declan..." Mack stammered, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes darting nervously between Noah and Anna.
"To kidnap my wife?" Noah's voice cut through the air like a whip, his words laced with a dangerous edge that sent a chill down Nari's spine. Both she and Mack froze, their eyes widening in shock at Noah's accusation.
This man Noah Declan, always saving Anna from her. She doesn't deserve this, she doesn't deserve to be saved by anyone. Nari gritted her teeth.
"Or perhaps to harm her?" Noah repeated, his voice low and dangerous, his gaze piercing as he studied Nari and Mack. He felt a surge of fury at the thought that they would dare to lay a hand on Anna, his beloved wife.
"We would never do that, Noah," Nari protested, her voice trembling slightly, but still addressing him by name, as if trying to appeal to his sense of reason. She knew that if Mack spoke, he would only incriminate them further.
"Noah?" He repeated staring at the girl and she quickly corrected herself.
"M... Mr Declan."
Nari knew Noah's suspicions were not so easily quelled. She had to do more than just deflecting his accusations to be free, but what can she do?
While in her thoughts, Noah watched as Mack dropped the kerchief on the floor and stepped on it, his attempt to deflect attention only serving to confirm Noah's doubts.
"Is... That... Ketamine on the kerchief?" Noah's voice was sharp, his gaze fixed on Mack, who shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny.
"No, Mr. Declan," Mack replied hastily, his tone defensive. "It's just the rag I use for cleaning the floor."
"I met Mack in the hallway while I was trying to find my new sister," she explained, her voice pleading. "I'm sorry if we offended you, Noah. Anna, I already apologized before. I'll never hurt you ever again, I promise." Nari sounded as honest as she could be but she could tell Noah did believe. The look he gave her gave everything away.
"I don't need your well wishes Nari, stay away from me and my family." Anna suddenly said coldly. At the same time a few guards walked back in with Lola who was there to take her madam over to the stage since it was her turn to perform now.
Lola stunned at the people in there paused for a moment and then she regained herself, "Miss Sui, it's time." Anna pegged Noah's lips without warning and started walking away.
He could die for joy at her action, but he was still angry at the two people before him.
As Anna disappeared from view, Noah turned his attention back to Nari and Mack, his expression darkening with resentment. "Kick her out of here," he ordered his guards, his voice firm and commanding. "And give him more places to clean since he doesn't know what to do."
The guards nodded in understanding.
Nari's protests echoed through the hallway as the guards dragged her away. "What have I done? Why am I being kicked out?" she cried, her voice laced with panic and confusion. She struggled against their firm grip, but her efforts were futile against their strength as they forcibly escorted her out of the building.
Meanwhile, Mack found himself being led back to his duty post by two guards. They freed other cleaners from their stations, instructing Mack to clean the areas they had yet to cover. "You're to clean the entire hall alone," one of the guards said firmly, leaving Mack with no choice but to comply.
As Noah returned to the hall, he couldn't shake off the anger and worry that clouded his mind. He knew Anna had asked him not to get involved, but seeing the danger she had been in filled him with a certain need to protect her.
He would protect her from her family, he would protect her from the world...
