Chapter 151: I can take care of my wife.
Elias’s tall figure dominated the room.
The sheer weight of his presence was enough to make Noah feel smaller. The confidence Noah had walked in with slowly crumbled beneath Elias’s cold, commanding gaze.
Elias took a step forward, his eyes calm yet intimidating.
"I can take care of my wife," he said firmly. "She doesn’t need anyone else."
Noah subconsciously clenched his fists. Every instinct urged him to argue.
’If you could protect her, why was she hurt? Why did those men target her in the first place?’
He knew the Rowan family had dangerous enemies, and that was precisely why he was worried. He couldn’t bear the thought of Elena becoming a pawn in someone else’s revenge.
But he swallowed every question.
"I hope she never gets hurt again," he said quietly.
His gaze lingered on Elena for one last moment before he turned and walked out.
Outside the room, he paused. Looking back at the closed door, he whispered under his breath,
"I failed to protect you once, but I won’t fail again. No one will ever use you as a pawn, Elena."
His jaw tightened as he strode down the corridor.
Unbeknownst to him, someone had been watching everything.
It was Vivian.
A calculating smile slowly spread across her lips.
"So, Noah Sinclair came to see Elena. Interesting."
A dangerous idea began taking shape in her mind. "It seems that he still hasn’t gotten over his ex-wife." Her smile deepened. "That makes him useful."
She took out her phone and dialed a number.
The call connected almost immediately.
"Miss," a man’s respectful voice answered. "What can I do for you?"
"I want everything on Noah Sinclair."
"Mr. Noah Sinclair?" The man sounded genuinely surprised.
For years, Vivian had been obsessed with Elias. Now she suddenly wanted information about Noah.
Had she changed her target?
Before he could wonder any further, Vivian answered his unspoken question.
"He still has feelings for Elena." A sly smile curved her lips. "And I can use that to get Elias."
"I understand, Miss. I’ll investigate him immediately."
The call ended.
Vivian slowly lowered her phone. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. It was as if she had finally found the missing piece of a complicated puzzle.
"Noah Sinclair..." She softly murmured his name. "We’ll be meeting very soon."
Outside the hospital...
As Noah stepped into the parking lot, his assistant hurried toward him.
"Boss." His voice carried unusual urgency. "I found something."
Noah stopped. "What is it?"
The assistant quickly unlocked his phone and brought up a photograph. It showed Victor Kane shaking hands with another man. Both of them wore broad smiles.
"This is Cedric Sterling," the assistant explained. "They met today at a high-end restaurant. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary business meeting. But something doesn’t add up."
He paused for a moment. "The Sterling family has maintained a close relationship with the Rowans for years. They are long-time business partners and family friends."
His expression grew increasingly suspicious. "Cedric knows exactly who Victor Kane is. He should also know Victor is the Rowan family’s enemy. So why would he meet him in secret?"
Noah silently studied the photograph. His sharp eyes lingered on the handshake.
From the ease between them, from the familiarity in their smiles, this wasn’t their first meeting. They had known each other for a long time.
Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
"Cedric is the ally Victor mentioned before." His voice was calm. "They’ve been working together all along."
The assistant frowned. "But... the Sterling family and the Rowans have always been close. Why would Cedric betray them?"
Noah gave a bitter smile.
"Sometimes, the deepest wound comes from the person standing closest to you."
He had trusted someone with all his heart once. He had believed he was loved. Instead, he had been manipulated, used, and betrayed.
The assistant remained silent. He understood exactly who Noah was referring to.
"Cedric is that kind of man," Noah continued. "A snake hiding in plain sight. For years, he benefited from the Rowan family’s influence. He used their connections to strengthen his own business. But deep down, he envied everything they had."
His finger tapped lightly against Victor’s image. "When Victor offered him an alliance, Cedric saw the perfect opportunity. He had been part of Victor’s conspiracy from the very beginning."
A heavy silence settled between them. The assistant felt a chill run down his spine.
"If that’s true, Cedric is even more dangerous than Victor. He is someone the Rowans trust. He has unrestricted access to their family and business. They probably have no idea that one of their closest allies is actually their greatest threat."
Noah’s expression hardened. "That’s exactly why I’m worried about Elena. Victor and Cedric will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. And Elena..."
His voice softened with regret. "She won’t believe me, even if I tell her the truth."
He rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. For the first time in years, he felt utterly powerless.
The assistant looked at him with concern. Over the years, he had witnessed every side of Noah.
His confidence, his arrogance, and his ruthlessness. He had witnessed Noah’s overwhelming guilt and regret after losing Elena. But it was the first time he had seen him terrified.
"Boss," he said carefully, "Mr. Rowan can protect her. You don’t have to involve yourself. The more we interfere, the more we’ll put ourselves in danger."
Noah shot him a sharp look. "You expect me to stand by and do nothing knowing Elena’s life is at risk?"
His jaw tightened. "Never. I promised her father I would protect her. I broke that promise once. I won’t break it again."
The assistant still wasn’t convinced. "Mr. Rowan can increase her security. I’m sure he is already aware of the danger surrounding his family."
"I know the Rowans are powerful," Noah replied. "But power doesn’t guarantee safety."
He looked toward the hospital building. "Elias couldn’t prevent the kidnapping. And years ago, his own parents were murdered inside their home. Despite all the Rowan family’s wealth and influence, they never found the mastermind."
The assistant was left speechless.
"I can’t entrust Elena’s safety to luck," Noah continued. "I’ll keep watching over her."
His gaze turned resolute. "And if necessary, I’ll take her away from the Rowan family – far away from all of this."
The assistant felt cold sweat trickle down his back. He knew exactly how dangerous those words were. Yet he didn’t dare argue.
After a long silence, he nodded. "I’ll keep an eye on her. If I notice anything unusual, I’ll report to you immediately."
He stepped forward and opened the passenger door.
Noah got into the car without another word.
Moments later, the vehicle pulled away from the hospital, disappearing into the evening traffic.