Charmed by the Billionaire CEO
Chapter 131: Why would you do that

Chapter 131: Why would you do that

Noah felt his blood run cold and ran to her, falling on his knees and embracing Alice in his arms.

"Alice, what are you doing...." Noah called her, watching the marks on her hands.

Alice didn’t listen to him and kept scratching herself as if she was being possessed and wouldn’t stop until she was done.

Noah turned off the tap, and the water stopped pouring on then. It was as if Alice sensed it. She looked up and saw Noah.

"Noah... you came," she said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"Look, I erased everything," she said like a person who had lost her mind and smiled, letting her tears fall.

Noah felt helpless looking at how vulnerable Alice looked in his arm. She wasn’t the same Alice he knew but someone else with a broken past.

Alice kept smiling until everything around her turned black, and she lost consciousness falling limp into Noah’s arm.

Noah quickly picked her up, took her out of there, and called the doctor. He then rushed to her closet, took out the towel, and helped her dry.

Soon the doctor came and checked Alice." This is the sign of severe depression, Noah. I suggest you keep her away from the thing that would trigger her mind, or else it wouldn’t stop here" he pointed at the nail marks and continued," She can even take her own life."

Noah’s eyes widened in shock, listening doctor’s words, and he looked at Alice, who seemed so fragile while she slept.

"I have given her sedative, and she wouldn’t wake up for at least four hours," the doctor said and soon left.

Sitting next to her, Noah watched Alice’s arms wrapped with bandages. Her face looked pale while her lips turned dry after she soaked herself in water for god knows how long.

God knows what would’ve happened to her if he hadn’t shown up.

Noah caressed the back of her palm, carefully holding her hand with his thumb.

"I wish we would have met before, or else you wouldn’t have to go through so much by yourself."

Noah could still feel a shiver run down his spine, reminiscing Ashley’s words.

Alice was strong that she stood up for herself and ended up with all the ties with those who never wanted her, including her parents.

*****

Knight mansion

After telling Noah everything, Ashley could only hope that Noah would try to understand Alice. She wasn’t like those girls whose life was sorted because she was born with a silver spoon.

Her life was chaotic because the people whom she called her parents never understood her and only kept her dragging into the mess they created. And now Noah being with her gave her some hope that even she would start a new life leaving behind her past.

Grace came and joined her as she was busy pondering in her thoughts." Here is your juice," she said, passing her the glass of orange juice.

"What are you thinking so much?" Grace asked.

"I was just a little worried about Alice. You know her, right?" she asked and saw Grace nod with a smile.

How can she not remember the girl who finally got hold of a playboy wrapped around her little finger?

"How wouldn’t I remember her? She is the woman who stole Noah’s heart" Grace smiled, remembering her face, but soon her smile dropped.

"Why are you worried about her?" she asked.

Taking a deep breath, Ashley looked at Grace and told her everything about Alice. By the end of the story, Grace’s eyes welled up, and she gasped.

"I didn’t know the poor girl had gone through so much" Grace was yet to meet her in person, but now, listening to her, she couldn’t wait to see her had showered her with the love she always graved from her parents.

"It was hard in the beginning, but she came a long way, yet there are some deep holes in her heart that are yet to heal" Ashley had seen the worst but was proud that Alice had coped with it and achieved her dream.

****

Melanin International

Karl was getting restless with each passing second. How could he keep quiet when Gwen was questioning him? Yes, he wanted time to bring himself to the position where he could declare his love bravely to her parents and brother.

Yes, he was a coward now, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t trying. He had been building his self-confidence by looking at the girl who stole his heart. He wanted to be courageous for her because she trusted him blindly.

"No!!!..." standing up from his chair, he voiced," I won’t let her end this," and walked out with hurried steps, looking for Gwen.

His eyes landed on her desk, and his eyes sparkled but soon dimmed when he saw her sad face.

Taking a step, he was about to walk to her but stopped when he saw other employees working around. His confidence suddenly began to decline, and he took a step back.

"I think it’s not the right time to speak," he said, looking at the people and Gwen.

’I should talk to her after work’ nodding, he turned and walked back into his cabin.

*****

Evening

Gwen finished her work and got ready to leave. Taking a step, she stopped, and her eyes averted towards Karl’s cabin.

Her heart felt heavy recalling the incident that happened in the elevator. Gwen was expecting to hear a positive response from him but what she got was silence.

She just wanted assurance about their future because she felt a little insecure after what she heard from Tristan. They both loved each other but couldn’t proclaim their love to anyone.

She understood that he needed time, but how long would it take for him to be brave enough to speak about them?

Heaving out a shaky breath, she looked away and walked from there. As soon as the lift opened, Gwen stepped into it, and the lift closed.

Stepping out of his cabin Karl was about to meet Gwen, but his heart sank when he saw the place empty. Immediately pulling out his phone, he called Gwen, but she didn’t receive it, which made him lose all hope.

"Is she planning to end everything between us" Karl suddenly felt suffocated, and his eyes widened at the possibility?

Taking a long stride, he dashed toward the elevator and stepped in. He soon reached the reception when his eyes caught Gwen walking out of the building.

He was about to run to her when he saw Tristan’s car, and he stopped. Since the entire premise was empty, there was no one to see Gwen stepping into Tristan’s car, and they soon drove away.

Dropping his shoulder in defeat, Karl felt helpless. He wanted to talk with Gwen, but something forced him to take a step back every time.

He looked at the car until it vanished from sight and sighed. With a heavy heart, Karl left from there and drove back home alone.

****

Soon their car reached home, and Gwen stepped out without waiting for Tristan.

Surprised by her behavior, Tristan couldn’t help but smile and followed her quietly without speaking.

Ashley and Grace were busy chatting about different stuff inside the living hall when the main door opened, and they saw Gwen and Tristan enter.

"See, they both are here," Grace said, looking at them, but what surprised her was Gwen’s depressed look.

"Gwen... what happened?" she asked immediately.

Tristan, standing behind Gwen, looked at Ashley, who shrugged her shoulder, asking them, to which he shook his head.

"Mom... can I skip the dinner. I am not feeling well" Gwen wasn’t in a good mood, and she wanted to be alone.

Grace stood up and walked to her," What happened. do you have a fever" she asked, touching her forehead, and yes, her skin was hot.

"No... it’s just I have a headache. I will feel better if I rest," she said and saw Grace nod.

"Okay, go and get changed. I will get some soup for you. You can’t sleep empty stomach," nodding Gwen left there, and Grace, too, headed to the kitchen.

"What’s wrong with Gwen? Did something happen between Karl and her"

Ashley knew Gwen usually came with Karl, and today, when she returned home with Tristan and that depressed look, she couldn’t help but think something wasn’t right between them.

Tristan looked at his wife and grinned, confusing her even more, and she asked," Don’t tell me you did something."

Ashley was aware of Tristan helping Gwen all this while, and his being calm didn’t seem to be digested by her. There was no way Tristan didn’t know anything, or else why would he be at peace knowing his sister fought with Karl?

Wrapping his arm around her waist, Tristan leaned close to her and told her about his plan, which was also the reason for her sadness.

Looking at him in shock, Ashley slapped his hand and stepped away from him," Why would you do that?" she asked, knowing how important Karl was to Gwen.

Karl was yet to figure out everything, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t serious with Gwen. It’s just that he needs some time to bring himself to open up.