Chapter 460

Chapter 460:

Noah spared Vivi not a second glance. He drove through the gates of the residential complex, his focus unshaken, his mind set. The car eased to a stop outside the building where Sadie lived, but he made no move to step out.

Instead, he sat in silence, his gaze locked onto the illuminated window of her apartment. The glow from inside spilled faintly onto the night, steady and warm. Yet, no shadows flickered; no sign of movement stirred behind the curtains.

A quiet unease crept into his chest. “What is she doing?”

For a long moment, he hesitated, but the gnawing sense of something unspoken finally pushed him into action. He stepped out of the car, the night air cool against his skin, and made his way to the elevator.

Pressing the doorbell, he waited. The chime cut through the hush of the late hour, the only sound in the stillness. Seconds stretched, heavy and slow. Then, at last, the door cracked open. But it wasn’t Sadie. Carol stood in the doorway, blinking up at him, her surprise unmistakable.

“Mr… Mr. Wall?” Her voice wavered slightly. She was caught between confusion and curiosity. “What brings you here?”

Noah’s eyes barely lingered on her. Instead, they flickered past her shoulder, scanning the apartment. His voice was low, firm. “Where’s Sadie?”

“Sadie is…” Carol faltered, her voice unsteady. “She’s… not home.”

Noah’s expression darkened. His brows knitted together. “Not home? At this hour? Where did she go?”

Carol averted her gaze, her hesitation speaking louder than words.

Just then, a small, excited voice rang out from inside the apartment. “Mr. Wall!”

Noah froze. His sharp gaze softened instantly as he turned toward the sound. Standing in the living room, eyes bright with delight, was Averi.

“Hey, Averi!” A rare smile curved Noah’s lips as he strode forward, scooping the boy effortlessly into his arms.

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Averi giggled, wrapping his tiny arms around Noah’s neck in an affectionate squeeze. “What are you doing here, Mr. Wall?”

Noah ruffled the boy’s hair, his smile lingering. “I came to see you because I’ve missed you.”

Averi beamed. “I’ve missed you too!” He planted a small, warm kiss on Noah’s cheek, his laughter bubbling with pure joy.

Carol stood to the side, watching the exchange with a conflicted expression. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but hesitated, uncertainty flickering across her face.

Then, suddenly—her phone rang.

She was startled by the sound, fumbling to answer. As she listened, her face quickly drained of color.

“What?” Her voice tightened. “Alright… I understand. I’ll be there right away.” Ending the call, she turned back to Noah, visibly tense. “Mr. Wall, I’m so sorry, but there’s an emergency at my home—I have to leave immediately.”

Noah glanced between her and Averi, his expression unreadable. “What about him?”

Carol hesitated. Then, gathering herself, she looked at him pleadingly. “Mr. Wall, could you watch over Averi for a little while? Please… I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Without hesitation, Noah gave a firm nod. “Go. I’ve got this. Don’t worry.”

Relief flooded Carol’s face. “Thank you so much, Mr. Wall. I really appreciate it.” After rattling off a few hurried instructions, she grabbed her things and rushed out the door.

Now, it was just Noah and Averi.

The little boy tilted his head, blinking up at Noah with wide, curious eyes. “Mr. Wall, are you hungry?”

It was only then that Noah realized the emptiness gnawing at his stomach—he hadn’t eaten dinner yet.

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