What Noah Chose to Do
Chapter 07 - What Noah Chose to Do
On the morning of the wedding, Noah was dressed by strangers.
Celeste had replaced the familiar household staff with an event team that followed her instructions without questions. She told Noah that Grace had confessed and left because she never truly cared about him.
He knew it was a lie, but fear made speaking difficult.
Ethan came to his room before the ceremony. He sat beside Noah and asked whether Grace had ever taken anything or encouraged him to disobey.
Noah wanted to reveal the recording. Then he remembered Celeste saying she could make Ethan sick and send Grace to jail. He shook his head, unable to form words.
Ethan noticed the empty place on the memory shelf.
“Where is your mother’s locket?”
“Celeste has it.”
Ethan’s expression hardened. He went to find her, but wedding coordinators pulled him into a meeting about arriving investors and a live charity broadcast. Celeste claimed the locket was safely stored and promised to return it after the honeymoon.
Noah watched his father being carried away by obligations again.
For two years, adults had told him he was too young to understand. Yet he understood the most important thing: if he stayed silent, Celeste would become part of their family and Grace might never return.
He slipped the tablet into the inner pocket of his tuxedo and entered the ballroom alone.
Behind a floral screen, he overheard Celeste and Marcus arguing. Marcus had learned that Lena Brooks was challenging the trust amendment. He wanted to delay the ceremony. Celeste refused.
“Once the vows are public, Ethan will protect the marriage to protect the company’s image,” she said. “He always chooses responsibility over discomfort.”
Noah understood that sentence too.
Celeste opened her jeweled clutch to check the rings. Inside lay Emily’s silver locket. She intended to wear it during the reception, telling reporters Ethan had given her a family heirloom.
Noah stepped from behind the flowers.
“That is not yours.”
Marcus left quickly when guests began entering. Celeste ordered Noah to join the wedding party.
He refused.
She grabbed his wrist and led him toward the center of the ballroom, where the cameras, guests, and his father would soon arrive.
May you like
Noah was terrified.
But for the first time, he had chosen not to be quiet.
