The next morning...

Elena crossed another date off the calendar.

"Four more days and I’ll finally be free," she murmured.

Her phone rang.

It was Owen.

"Hello." She answered the call.

"Good morning, Miss Hart," Owen said politely. "I have contacted the overseas hospital. Your aunt’s treatment has been approved. Please send me her passport details so I can start the visa process."

"Yes. I’ll send it to you right away."

As soon as the call ended, Elena opened the drawer and gathered the necessary documents before slipping them inside her bag. A small smile appeared on her face.

Finally, she could send her aunt away from here, away from the Sinclair family’s influence. And Noah could no longer use her aunt to control or threaten her.

She picked up the bag, ready to leave.

Just then, the bedroom door burst open.

Noah stormed in. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair messy, his shirt untucked. He looked like a man who had completely lost control.

Elena paused.

The fury in his eyes made her stomach clench instinctively. She stepped back unconsciously.

"I could never believe you would stoop this low," he snarled. "You didn’t stop targeting Tessa."

Elena blinked, confused and terrified. ’What has Tessa done this time to frame me?’

"She is already weak. And yet, you sent some goons to kidnap her."

Elena’s jaw fell apart. "What? Kidnapping? I didn’t even know..."

"Shut up," Noah shouted, silencing her. He gripped her arm violently.

Elena flinched at the bruising grip.

"If you were angry, come to me," he hissed. "Why target her? She almost had a heart attack. She could have died."

Fear gripped her heart. "I did nothing," she said. "I swear. I didn’t plan that. You misunderstood."

"Still denying it?" he grunted, grinding his teeth. "Even now?"

His fury had already drowned out reason. "You are coming with me."

He dragged her out.

"Noah, please believe me. I don’t know anything about this. I didn’t hire anyone..."

But Noah didn’t listen to her. He shoved her inside the car and then got behind the wheel. "You will apologize to her and reflect on what you did."

The engine roared to life. The car shot forward like a bullet.

Elena’s body slammed back against the seat as the car sped recklessly through the street. Buildings and traffic blurred past the window. A sharp turn made her stomach churn violently.

She remained still in her place, eyes wide in horror, hands clasping the seat belt. She could barely breathe.

"Noah, slow down."

But he looked like he didn’t hear her at all. His jaw remained locked, his eyes dark with rage.

Fear drained the color from her face. She wondered when the car would stop.

Finally, they arrived at the hospital. Noah yanked the door open and dragged her out roughly.

"Noah, please stop," she pleaded, stumbling behind him. "You are hurting me."

He completely ignored her.

The image of Tessa tied to a chair, her mouth gagged and terror in her eyes, kept replaying in his mind. If he had not found her in time, he didn’t know what those kidnappers would have done to her.

This thought kept fueling his anger. And he wouldn’t show Elena any mercy.

"You made a mistake. Now face the consequences." With one harsh tug, he pulled her into a room and then shoved her down.

Elena crashed onto the floor on all fours. Her palm scraped against the cold floor. Pain shot through her knees. Tears immediately filled her eyes.

She whipped her head up to see the man who had just pushed her down so mercilessly.

He looked at her with no emotion in his eyes, as if so many years of relationship meant nothing to him.

Beside him, Tessa shrank back, pretending to be fearful. "Elena," she started weakly, tears gathering in her eyes. "I know you hate me. You are angry because I took the vice president’s post. But hiring dangerous men to kidnap me is too much. Those men would have raped me if Noah had not appeared at the right time."

"I didn’t," Elena blurted frantically.

Her mind stopped working by now from fear, shock, and confusion.

"I didn’t hire anyone. I don’t know what you are talking about."

Before she could even finish speaking, a slap landed on her. The force sent her head sideways.

Elena felt as if her cheekbone had just cracked. The inside of her cheek tore open, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

"Apologize right now," Noah demanded.

Elena slowly turned to him, eyes blazing with pain. "You have no proof that I did that," she roared. "You can’t force me to admit something I didn’t do."

"You want proof?" he snapped back. "Fine."

His expression was deadly. He took his phone and dialed a number. "Bring him in."

A moment later, Noah’s assistant dragged a man into the room and forced him onto his knees.

Elena looked at the man, who was trembling in fear.

"Speak," Noah let out a guttural roar. "Who paid you to kidnap Tessa?"

The man glanced nervously at Tessa, who gave him a sharp warning look and signaled something to him subtly.

The man immediately pointed a finger at Elena. "It’s her," he cried out. "She gave me money and told me to kidnap Miss Tessa. She said I could torture her however I wanted."

"Lies," Elena yelled in a frenzy. "I don’t know you. I have never seen you before."

"I’m not lying," the man said. "I still have the money you gave me."

He pulled out a bundle of cash from his pocket and tossed it toward her. "I don’t want your dirty money. Take it back."

"Elena," Tessa chimed in, looking heartbroken. "How could you be this cruel? I did nothing wrong to you. I have no enmity with you. Then why? Why do you hate me so much?"

Elena shook her head. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "This is fake. You have to believe me."

"Believe you?" Noah thundered. "The proof is here. And you are still denying it?"

He made a stern face. "Since you refuse to admit your mistakes, you will be punished."

He looked down at the man kneeling on the floor. "And you..." His voice turned deadly cold. "You dared to touch Tessa. Now, you will pay the price for it."

"Please, Mr. Sinclair. I was wrong. Forgive me. I’ll never do that again." The man’s desperate eyes darted to Tessa. "Madam, please tell him..."

"Shut up," Tessa screamed instantly, terrified the man would open his mouth and expose her. "Get out of here. Noah, drive him away."

She clung to his arm, pretending to be scared.

Noah waved a hand dismissively. "Take him away. Hand him over to the authorities."

The assistant dragged the man out of the room.

Silence fell momentarily.

Elena’s mind raced, her chest moving up and down rapidly. She was sure Tessa was lying. But ironically, she didn’t have proof, and Noah wouldn’t listen to her.

"And you..." Noah’s voice thundered again, snapping Elena out of her thoughts.

"Do you accept your mistake now?" he asked.