Ultimate Choice System: I Became The Richest!

David's knees almost buckled as he absorbed the information. "Yes, sir. Understood."

"Good. Now, unless you want to risk your job, I suggest you don't bother him further. Handle whatever situation you're dealing with appropriately. That will be all." The call ended abruptly.

The manager slowly lowered the phone, his face pale as a sheet. He turned back to Noah, his expression a mix of awe and fear. "Mr. Thompson, my sincerest apologies. I didn't know… I mean, I wasn't aware of your position."

Noah smirked and crossed his arms. "Now you are. So, let's wrap this up. I suggest you handle the real issue here." He gestured toward Layla, whose face was now a mix of panic and defiance.

The manager nodded hastily, wiping his brow. "Yes, of course. Security, take her to the interrogation room. She will pay for the costs of all the damages that happened here."

The guards moved toward Layla, who clutched her bag tightly. "This isn't fair! You can't do this to me! He was the one that broke it." she screamed, her voice breaking.

"Fair?" Noah said, stepping forward, his tone icy. "Don't talk to me about fairness, Layla."

The guards grabbed her arms, gently but firmly leading her toward the exit. "You'll regret this, Noah!" she shouted, her voice fading as the doors closed behind her.

The manager turned back to Noah, bowing slightly. "Again, I deeply apologize for this incident. Is there anything we can do to make amends?"

Noah glanced around the room, his eyes landing on the broken screen. "Fix that," he said.

The manager nodded vigorously. "Yes, sir. Absolutely."

Noah turned on his heel and headed toward the door. As he passed Mark, he paused briefly, locking eyes with him.

Mark froze, his breath hitching.

"You might want to reevaluate the company you keep," Noah said, his voice low and cold. He leaned in slightly, his next words barely above a whisper. "Think with your brain next time. Not your..." He let the sentence hang ominously before turning away and walking out.

As Noah pushed the heavy doors open, Aiden hurried after him. "Bro, what the hell just happened in there?" he asked, his voice hushed but urgent as they stepped outside the room.

Noah's hands slid into his pockets, his expression unreadable. "What part of it are you confused about?" he said calmly, without breaking his stride.

Aiden jogged slightly to keep up. "Don't play dumb with me. Were those screenshots actually real? You—" He hesitated, lowering his voice as if the walls might have ears. "You wrote all that? You actually…dated her mom?"

"Yes," Noah said flatly, not bothering to glance at his friend. "I wrote those texts. Every word."

Aiden stopped in his tracks, staring at Noah's back as if he had grown a second head. "You did that for revenge?" he finally asked, his voice tinged with something Noah hadn't heard from him before—disgust.

Noah paused mid-step, his hand resting lightly on the metal rail of a stairwell. He didn't turn around but stayed silent for a moment as if deciding whether to answer.

"No," he said finally, his voice quieter than usual. "Not for revenge."

Aiden frowned, his brows furrowing deeply. The sharpness of his earlier tone softened into confusion, but the disgust lingered on the edges of his expression. "Then why, Noah? Why would you—" He cut himself off, realizing he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

Noah turned his head slightly, enough for Aiden to see the side of his face. There was no anger there, no defensiveness—just something cold and distant as if Noah wasn't fully in the present anymore. "It wasn't about revenge," he repeated, his tone carrying a finality that dared Aiden to dig deeper.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, a flicker of something crossed Noah's eyes— a memory surfacing briefly before being buried again.

A girl's voice, filled with heartbreak, echoed in his mind. "You'll end up with no one beside you..."

The memory was fleeting but vivid. Noah pushed the thought away, his face returning to its usual calm.

"I see," Aiden said slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied his friend. "So you were truly in love, huh?" His voice had shifted, losing the edge of judgment as something softer crept in.

Noah's lips twitched slightly, the barest hint of a bitter smile. "Not really," he said curtly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Aiden sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "You're impossible, man. Seriously. One day, you're gonna have to let someone in. For real, I mean. Not this—whatever this is."

Noah didn't respond, continuing his walk down the steps and toward the parking lot. Aiden trailed after him, his earlier frustration giving way to resignation.

As they reached the car, Noah opened the driver's side door and slid in. Aiden climbed into the passenger seat, his earlier questions left unanswered but his curiosity was far from satisfied.

Finally, Aiden broke the silence. "So...are we just gonna ignore the fact that Layla tried to ruin you tonight? Or do you have something planned?"

Noah's grip on the steering wheel tightened ever so slightly, but his face remained calm. "I don't need to plan anything," he said simply. "People like her…they dig their own graves."

Aiden glanced at him sideways, a small shiver running down his spine. For all the time he'd spent with Noah, he still couldn't fully understand the man.

Arriving at Aiden's house, Noah pulled the car to a smooth stop in front of the familiar driveway. The streetlights cast a faint glow on the quiet suburban neighbourhood.

Aiden turned toward Noah, his expression serious. "So, you're not gonna tell me, huh?" he asked, leaning slightly against the car door. "Why you did it? If it wasn't for revenge or love…then why?"

Noah's hands stayed firm on the steering wheel, his face calm but unreadable. After a moment of silence, he glanced at Aiden. "I don't think you want to know the answer."

Aiden frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the response. His lips parted as if he wanted to press further, but instead, he sighed and shook his head. "Maybe you're right," he said, his voice low as he opened the car door. "Goodnight, Noah."

"Goodnight," Noah replied, his voice steady as ever. He watched Aiden make his way to the front door, shoulders slightly hunched, before starting the car and pulling away.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The drive back to the mansion was uneventful, the roads quiet at this hour. Noah's phone buzzed repeatedly on the passenger seat, but he ignored it. Once he arrived, he parked in the driveway and stepped out, the cool night air brushing against his skin.

Inside the mansion, Noah tossed his phone onto the bed without even glancing at the screen.

Missed calls from Elara, classmates—he didn't need to look to know who it was.

Heading straight to the bathroom, he turned on the shower, letting the sound of the water fill the space.

The steam rose quickly, fogging the mirror as he stepped under the hot stream. Closing his eyes, he let the water cascade over him, washing away the tension of the night. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to feel everything—then, just as quickly, he buried it.

After the shower, Noah changed into his workout gear and headed to the private gym downstairs. He started with a warm-up, hitting the treadmill for a few minutes before moving to the weights.

After an hour, Noah stood in the middle of the gym, his breathing heavy, sweat dripping down his temples. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

After that, he headed towards the bathroom to take another shower.

...

The next day arrived, and sunlight poured through the large windows of Noah's room. He got up, stretched his arms, and went through his usual morning routine. After showering and getting dressed, he made his way downstairs, the faint aroma of breakfast guiding him toward the kitchen.

Inside, Selena was busy at the counter. A small bowl of sliced cherry tomatoes and crumbled feta cheese sat nearby, ready for plating.

Noah leaned casually against the doorframe, a soft smile on his face. "Good morning, Selena. What's for breakfast today?"

Selena turned slightly, startled by his sudden presence. Her cheeks flushed lightly as she quickly composed herself. "Good morning, Mr. Thompson. It's avocado toast today."

"Avocado toast?" Noah raised an eyebrow playfully.

Selena chuckled lightly, placing the finishing touches on a plate. "Healthy and delicious. You'll like it, sir. Would you like tea or coffee with it?"

"Tea," he replied, moving to the dining table and sitting down. "You know me well."

A few minutes later, Selena set a plate in front of him. The toast was perfectly golden, the avocado spread evenly and topped with a sprinkle of feta, cherry tomatoes, and a drizzle of olive oil.

A cup of steaming tea accompanied the meal, its aroma blending harmoniously with the freshness of the food.

Noah took a bite, savouring the combination of flavours.

"Any plans for the day, Mr. Thompson?" Selena asked, noticing the thoughtful look on his face.

"Not really." He replied.

Selena nodded politely. "Good luck with everything, sir."

"Thanks," Noah said, finishing the last bite of his toast, he stood up. "The toast was great. Keep up the good work."