Chapter - 5: Between trust and doubt

Chapter - 5

Noah led Austin through the grand hallway, their footsteps echoing softly on the polished wooden floor. The house was vast, with walls adorned with intricate paintings and dimly lit chandeliers casting golden hues across the expanse. Every turn led to a beautifully furnished room, each exuding sophistication and mystery.

"This is a huge living area," Noah said, gesturing toward a room with a high ceiling, furnished with deep brown leather couches and a stone fireplace that served as the heart of the space. A large bookshelf lined one wall, stacked with books that seemed centuries old. "If you ever need a place to unwind, this is one of the best spots."

Austin nodded in silence. His eyes scanned the room cautiously, his mind running through every possibility. He still wasn't sure what to think of Noah or why he had brought him here, but for now, he had no choice but to follow along.

Noah continued the tour, leading Austin through the dining hall, which boasted a long wooden table fit for a banquet, a kitchen stocked with every ingredient imaginable, and a vast study filled with antiques.

"This is the main hall," Noah said, her voice firm but not unkind. "Everything you need is here. The kitchen is on the left, the dining area is right next to it, and the library is down that corridor. Most things here are valuable, so I would appreciate it if you were careful with them."

Austin followed her, observing everything, unsure how he felt about being here. Everything looked too perfect, well-maintained, and that only added to his suspicion. He barely spoke, only muttering short responses when necessary.

"Who else lives here?" Austin asked after a long pause.

"Just us, and my family members," Noah replied. "Though there are staff members who come during the day. They do their work and most of them leave. I don't like unnecessary people lingering in my space."

Austin nodded, his expression unreadable. His mind raced, dissecting each word she said, as Noah led him up a spiral staircase.

"The guest rooms are on this floor, you will be staying in one of them. But don't worry, It's right next to mine," Noah added with a smile, though Austen barely reacted.

They passed several doors, leading to a different part of the house. Noah paused at one and pushed it open. "This is your room."

Austin stepped inside cautiously, taking in the spacious room adorned in deep shades of brown and gold. A large bed, neatly made with silk sheets, dominated the center.

The walls had intricate carvings, and the furniture looked well-organized. A tall window on the far end of the room allowed a soft breeze to enter, carrying the scent of flowers from the garden below.

"I expect you to keep this place tidy," Noah said, crossing her arms lightly. "I'm not strict about rules, but I like things in order."

Austin turned to look at her. "Don't worry about that. But where is your room?"

Noah pointed to the door right next to Austin's. "Right there. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. But I do appreciate that you respect my privacy."

"Sure, but I like doing things myself," he said, shedding her sympathy, "So you won't have to worry about me."

"I am sure you will," Noah smiled, gave him one last glance before stepping back. "Get some rest. I have things to do."

And with that, Noah left the room, closing the door behind her.

Austin remained standing in the center of the room for a moment before he started moving around, examining everything carefully.

He ran his fingers over the carved wooden desk, opened a drawer only to find it empty, and then turned his attention to the wardrobe.

Inside, neatly arranged clothes hung in the wardrobe, as if someone had prepared them just for him. He found that suspicious.

He turned toward the bookshelf. The Rows of old, leather-bound books lined the shelves. He pulled one out, flipping through its yellowed pages.

The words were unfamiliar, written in some old language, looking all gibberish that he can't understand.

"Great. As if this place wasn't mysterious enough," he scoffed, shaking his head before placing the book back to its place.

With a sigh, he moved to the bed and sat down, running a hand through his head and tried to process the situation.

"Is it right to trust her?" He muttered to himself under his breath. "This is starting to get on my nerves."

"Nothing looks familiar..."He tried hard to figure things out but couldn't. Still, he had no other choice. If he wanted answers and safety, he had to stay, "Just like this name... Austin?"

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He tensed, but it was just Noah.

"I forgot to mention," Noah said, leaning against the doorway. "If you need any help, or feel uneasy, just call one of the servants. And try to get some rest—you look exhausted. I'll see you later."

Austin just nodded. "Okay."

Noah lingered for a moment, her gaze assessing him. Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and left.

Letting out a deep breath, Austin lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. His eyelids grew heavy, and soon, sleep claimed him, pulling him into a world of unknown dreams.

-----

In the evening, Austin woke up to the sound of raised voices, his head still heavy from sleep. "Who the hell is that?" he frowned, waking up.

The dull ache in his body reminded him of his injuries, making him very slow and cautious. He pushed himself up, wincing, and turned his head toward the commotion outside his room.

Carefully, he slid his feet to the floor, inhaling sharply as pain flared through his side. Ignoring it, he stood up, his steps careful and deliberate as he made his way toward the noise.

As he reached the doorway, he saw Noah standing in the living room, facing a middle-aged woman with sharp, disdainful eyes. Beside her, a man stood with his hands in his pant pocket, his expression mirroring hers—cold and unimpressed.

"Take him and throw him out of this house!" the woman snapped, her voice sharp with irritation. "This is not our problem! If he had an accident, why bring him here?"

Austin stood at the edge of the scene, watching with quiet amusement.

Noah, arms folded, let out a short, mocking laugh. Her eyes gleamed with contempt as she tilted her head slightly, looking at the woman like she was nothing more than an annoyance.

"Calm the hell down old lady," Noah drawled, her voice dripping with arrogance, "Your voice is already hard to bear. Yelling doesn't make it any easier on us."

"And before you run your mouth any further, let me remind you—I have an equal right to make decisions here. So if I decide to bring in a dying dog, a stranger, or even your worst nightmare, you'll just have to shut up and deal with it."

The woman sucked in a sharp breath, her nostrils flaring as she turned to glare at Noah. "Look at you! Manners don't exist in your dictionary, do they? Who taught you to talk back to your elders?" She sneered.

Noah barely blinked. "I am just stating the truth," she replied smoothly, her tone unfazed.

The man beside the woman scoffed, shaking his head. "Looks like my mother-in-law spoiled you. Just look at yourself."

Noah let out a dry chuckle, her arms still crossed, her posture relaxed but commanding. "And look at you, Mr. Brown. A grown man with no spine, standing behind his wife like a backup dancer."

His face darkened "Watch your mouth," he muttered.

"Why?" Noah's voice turned sickly sweet. "Afraid I might say something too real? That maybe, just maybe. You'd have to face the fact that you're nothing but an accessory in this house?"

The woman, clearly Mrs. Brown, let out a bitter laugh. " Don't try to turn this on us" she said,her expression hardened. "My mother has always been too soft-hearted for her good. I bet you manipulated her into this, like you did twenty years ago."

Austin's brows furrowed slightly at that statement. He didn't understand the history, but the tension in the room was suffocating. He felt the air grow heavy as Noah and Mrs. Brown clashed.

"I don't understand why my Mother keeps letting people like you drag their baggage in this house." Mrs. Brown said, rolling her eyes.

Noah's expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes. "Funny, coming from you," she said, her voice cutting. "Last I checked, you are a fully grown woman still living under your momma's roof."

Mrs. Brown gasped, her face confronting with anger. " You punk—."

Noah didn't stop there. She tilted her head, her gaze sliding back to Mr. Brown. "And you—married into this family, living off your wife's name, her money, and still trying to act like you have a say in anything. Must be exhausting pretending to be the man of the house when everyone knows you are just a leech. A leech painful to look at."

Mr. Brown's face turned red. He opened his mouth, then shut it again. His fingers twitched at his sides, but he said nothing.

Mrs. Brown stepped forward, her hands balling into fists. "You bitch, how dare you—"

But Noah had already turned her back on them. She exhaled, running a hand through her hair before her gaze lifted, locking onto Austin's.

"What happened? Do you need any help?" she asked, her voice losing its edge as she addressed him.

Austin, still leaning against the doorway, studied her. He saw the frustration in her stance, "No…I'm fine," he replied.

Noah nodded. "Dinner will be ready soon. I'll have someone bring it to your room." With that, she turned away, heading toward the library without another glance at Mrs. Brown or her husband, leaving them standing there, humiliated and speechless.

Austin watched her go, his mind turning over the heated exchange he had just witnessed. Noah wasn't just standing her ground—she was making it clear exactly who belonged in this house and who was merely taking up space.

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