Falling in Love : I love you, Today and Forever

"Noah," Rachel freaked out completely and she exclaimed loudly, forcing Noah to cover his ears to prevent them from exploding due to the sudden onslaught of deafening sound.

"Did you reveal my state to Dad, Mom and Grandpa?" She screeched like an angry bird and Noah let out a helpless laugh, seeing the horror and fury in her eyes. Her reaction was justified and being the elder brother he was, he had expected it from her.

And why would she not when it was a nightmare for her to meet her family in such a situation? Rachel was the treasured daughter of the Carter family and to think that she had met with such a disaster and no one had been there to prevent it. They had failed as her family and they had to seek justice for all that had happened and all that Rachel had experienced.

But before that, they had to make sure that Rachel was fine and that meant....Rachel cried without any tears in her eyes. "Will I be grounded for now?" She whined and Noah nodded at her, his eyes flashing with amusement.

"That's the best outcome for now, Rachel. You will be safe here and I will not allow the mistake to repeat twice." Noah replied with his eyes lowered and Rachel's face scrunched up, puzzled by her cryptic words.

"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" She looked at the man as though he was an alien which Noah did not mind.

"I was so involved in the other matters that I failed as an elder brother to protect you. Please forgive me. I should have been more careful." Noah realized that things were spiraling out of hand and worst of all, his entire family was in danger. All his loved ones were Jared's target, from his family to friends and even his beloved and her family.

But what incensed him all the more was that somehow his grandfather was involved in this matter and he could still not believe that the old man was willing to put his family in danger just to achieve his goals. How despicable!!

Noah stood up and walked away from Rachel, unwilling to show her his dark expression and fortunately for him, his sister did not give much thought to his actions and assumed it to be his guilt eating him alive.

"Noah..." She let out a sigh and smiled faintly before she followed Noah. "You are not at fault. Look at me."

She forced the man to turn around and face her and she held his hands. "No one had predicted that such an incident would happen. So, don't blame yourself. Who knew that Jared would attack me out of nowhere? Moreover..." Her tone changed and she let out a frustrated growl. "I already feel miserable and anxious whenever I think about facing Dad and Mom. Please do not add more to my problems. I'll not be able to focus on all of them at the same time."

Noah burst out laughing at her words and he rubbed her forehead dotingly, successfully messing her hair and Rachel glared at him in return.

"I just combed my hair. Did you have to do that?"

Noah just shrugged his shoulders and walked back to the sofa. "For now, you will be staying here. So, make yourself home."

Noah's lips twitched when he realized that his mansion had become a hotel. People just kept coming and staying whenever they wanted and he could do nothing but allow them. He let out a sigh and shook his head. What else could he do other than to allow them to stay in his place? He was helpless anyway.

"And who decided it?" Rachel queried and with her hands folded, trying to appear as intimidating as possible. But it had no effect on the man in front of her.

"I did. Is there a problem?" Noah replied nonchalantly as though he was speaking about the weather.

"Yes, there is. I do not want to stay here."

"Then, where do you wish to stay?"

Noah raised his brows when he saw Rachel blushing and his lips arched up into a teasing smirk. "By the way, did you not move in with Daniel? Why were you at the office so late? Did you two fight?"

"Who told you that I moved in with Daniel? How did you find out?" Rachel was spooked and she looked at her brother as though she was staring at a monster.

"It's easy for me to find out anything if I want."

'That's true.' Rachel thought and gave up arguing. "Daniel had returned to his parents' house to tell them about us and I was too nervous to stay alone at home, waiting for him. I stayed back at the office and only came down when I received a call from Shane. I think you know what happened afterward."

Noah nodded at her and his eyes darkened when he thought about Shane, the man he was yet to handle. He had not visited him even once since the time he had been taken to the base. Noah was waiting for the perfect opportunity to kill him. But before that...

'I need to find out all that he knows about Jared and....Grandpa.'

"By the way," Rachel's voice broke his chain of thoughts. "Why did Shane kidnap me? I never knew he was working for the enemy. To think we had such a scoundrel around us for years." Rachel shuddered and closed her eyes for a moment. "What was his motive behind betraying us?"

"He is Mason's only family."

"Who is Mason?" Rachel frowned and thought for a few seconds, trying to find a face for the name. But she could not recall anyone by that name.

"He is Aria's colleague and he was harassing her at work. I got rid of him once and for all and Shane betrayed us for it."

"That explains it. What scumbags they are!!" Rachel huffed and looked at Noah, her eyes turning soft and fawning all of a sudden. "Is there anything to eat? I'm starving."

Noah rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Come with me."

Rachel followed him like a happy puppy and took a seat at the dining table while Noah heated the dishes for his dear sister, only to stop after hearing Rachel's next question.

"Yeah, I forgot to ask," Rachel questioned suddenly. "What happened to Jared? I hope he was captured after all that happened and all that he did."