Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever

"What do you mean she is gone?" Noah was beyond agitated to see that Aria was not in the mansion anymore and even more so when he heard about her father's vow.

'How could this happen? How could Aria leave me? No, I will not let her go. Never.'

"Mr. West and Aria packed their bags and left the mansion sometime after you departed, Noah," Ian explained and approached Noah, only to stop when he smelled the scent of blood on him. Albeit faint, he could still make it out and how could he not when he dealt with blood almost daily? It was one stench he could recognize anywhere, anytime.

"Noah," Ian frowned and took a few steps closer to him to confirm his guesses. "What do you smell of blood? What did you do?" His tone changed drastically and he looked at his friend in worry.

'Did Noah lose his mind in his anger and did some unimaginable things? I hope that is not the case. Noah, please say you did not do anything drastic.'

While Ian was filled with anxiousness and fear, Noah was going through a completely different turmoil altogether. On one side, he was devastated to find out his grandfather's ugly truth and on the other, he was in utter anguish to find Aria gone. She was all he needed at that time to calm his miserable heart.

But she was not present and his heart and mind started to go crazy again, only this time in fright. Noah was scared of losing her and just as the thought entered his mind, his eyes dilated and his face lost all its color.

Joshua looked back and forth between the two men and he too approached Noah. However, unlike Ian, he did not have a sensitive nose and it was not until he was standing right beside Noah that he detected the smell.

"Shit, you really stink of blood." He exclaimed and stared at him blankly. "What did you do, Noah? Who did you kill?"

Noah was in no mood to reply to them. All his thoughts were on Aria and her alone.

'I need to get her back before it's too late. I do not want to lose her.'

With that thought in mind, he came out of his trance and bolted towards the door, only to stop suddenly.

"Where did Aria go?" He turned around and questioned his friends, who were looking at him with nervousness and fear.

"Noah, what do you want to do?" Joshua was utterly frightened to see Noah like this. The man looked nothing like the friend they knew him to be. Something was not right with him, but neither he nor Ian could make out what.

"Noah, please calm down. Please do not do anything you might regret later." Joshua tried to stop the man but in vain.

"Where did Aria go?" Noah questioned again, his voice dropping dangerously low and Ian held Joshua's hand to stop him. He shook his head and cleared his throat.

"They returned to their apartment. That was what Ivy told us." He replied, honestly even though he did not know what Noah had in mind.

"Apartment, is it?" Noah nodded.

"What are you going to do, Noah?" Ian, this time, did not let him go and stood in front of him blocking his path while Joshua watched the man closely. Something about him seemed to have changed, he could make it out.

Unlike before, Noah was not incensed. Instead, he looked aggrieved and lost and....heartbroken.

'Why does he look heartbroken? What happened after he left the mansion?' He wondered, his frown deepening further.

"Noah, are you...."

"I need to bring Aria back home. I was wrong. I was utterly wrong." Noah let out a groan and kicked the huge metallic vase near him and it fell to the ground, clanking loudly, gaining everyone's attention on him.

Noah did not speak another word and walked out of the mansion while the two men just stood in their places, stunned by his outburst.

"Ian, what did he mean that he was wrong? Does it mean that Mr. West was right and Grandpa Carter..."

"We cannot allow him to stay alone, Joshua." Ian stopped him before he could finish his thoughts. "We do not know what he will do in his mad rage. Already he has angered Mr. West with his reckless actions. He might end up enraging the man all the more."

"You are right. Let's go before he leaves before us."

Ian and Joshua sprinted after Noah and they were just in time before the man drove off like a maniac again.

While Ian took the passenger seat, Joshua sat at the back, ignoring Noah's dark expression.

"We made it in time." Joshua let out a sigh and grinned at Noah, who still was staring at him as though he would actually throw daggers at them the next instant if they did not get out of the car the next instant.

"What are you waiting for? Drive." Joshua ordered as though Noah was his chauffer and leaned back. Even though he was taking a risk by being shameless and unrestrained, Joshua's attempts at trying to ease the tension in the air did not go unnoticed by Ian and he did not stop him for once.

"May I know what you two are doing here?" Noah gritted his teeth and focused on Ian, who seemed to be the saner one among the three.

"No, you may not. Now, drive." Ian too did not answer him and pointed towards the steering wheel. "Remember, we have to meet Aria. Start the car."

Noah let out deep breaths to calm his anger. He had an inkling of what his friends were trying to do. But he did not have time to entertain them. He had to meet Aria and apologize to her for what he did to her. Until then, he could not stay still. He had to bring her back home before the end of the day.

With that thought in mind, he ignored the two annoying men and started to the car, much to Ian and Joshua's relief. At least, Noah was courteous enough to not kick them out of his car in front of everyone. That would have been embarrassing!!!