Ultimate Choice System: I Became The Richest!

"Tell them, Noah! Admit it! Tell everyone that you were playing with my mother's feelings, that you ruined her life just because you could!" Layla's voice cracked as her desperation reached its peak.

The crowd murmured louder, their eyes darting between Layla and Noah, awaiting his response.

Noah remained silent, his calm expression unwavering, which only seemed to fuel Layla's anger.

She pointed an accusing finger at him, her face red with frustration. "See? He won't deny it! What kind of man stands there when confronted with the truth?"

In the crowd, Aiden clenched his fists tightly. Doubt began to creep into his mind, gnawing at the edges of the friendship he had with Noah.

'Is this really the same Noah I've known for so long? Why won't he defend himself? Is he actually guilty?' Aiden's thoughts swirled, his gaze fixed on Noah's impassive face.

Noah finally moved, his hands slipping into his pockets as he took out his mobile phone with deliberate calmness. The crowd watched in hushed silence, Layla included, as he pressed a button and placed the phone to his ear. The ringing tone echoed faintly in the tense air.

Ring-Ring.

The call connected, and a soft, slightly tired voice came through. "Hello?" Sarah's tone carried confusion, as the number displayed on her phone was marked as 'No Caller ID.' She wasn't sure who was calling until she heard the unmistakable voice on the other end.

"Come pick your daughter up from the streets," Noah said coldly, his tone devoid of any warmth. "She's at Dagar Avenue, causing a scene and trouble for me."

Sarah's heart skipped a beat. She froze, her mind not immediately registering the words. "Noah?" she asked, her voice wavering in recognition. She hadn't spoken to him since the fallout.

Noah didn't hesitate. His voice remained steady, controlled. "You heard me. Your daughter is here, shouting and screaming nonsense. This isn't my problem anymore, Sarah. Discipline your daughter properly, or I will."

The crowd gasped collectively at his bold words, the sheer weight of his tone cutting through the growing murmurs. Layla's face paled as she heard him say her mother's name, her composure cracking.

On the other end of the line, Sarah's grip on her phone tightened, her mind racing. "Wait, what did you say?" she stammered, struggling to catch up.

Noah sighed softly, his voice as icy as ever. "I said," he repeated, enunciating every word with piercing clarity, "Come pick your daughter up from the street. She's making a fool of herself—and you. I thought we already put an end to this whole drama, but it seems you've failed to handle it. Do your job, Sarah, or I'll do it for you."

There was a long pause on the other end of the call.

Sarah's silence stretched on, her mind a swirl of embarrassment, shame, and anger. She finally hung up without a word.

The sound of the call disconnecting was sharp in Noah's ear. He lowered his phone, slipping it back into his pocket with a faint smirk. His eyes locked onto Layla's, his gaze unwavering and cold.

Layla's bravado faltered further, her mouth opening as if to retort but no words came out. The crowd watched in stunned silence, their perception of the situation shifting drastically.

Meanwhile, in a small house just a five-minute drive away, Sarah slammed her phone onto the counter. Her chest heaved as she tried to steady her breathing.

A mix of emotions flooded her—anger at Layla for causing another scene, shame at having to face Noah again, and an undeniable sense of urgency.

"Damn it, Layla," she muttered under her breath, quickly grabbing her keys and rushing out the door. Her mind raced as she hurried to the location Noah had given her.

'How could she still be doing this? Why can't she just leave him alone?' she thought.

Aiden glanced at Noah, his expression a mix of confusion and suspicion. "Was that her mom?" he asked, his voice low as if he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"It was," Noah replied simply, his tone calm and unaffected, his eyes still locked on Layla with an almost predatory intensity. He didn't even glance at Aiden, as though the question barely warranted his attention.

Aiden frowned, his thoughts swirling. 'How does he have her mother's number? Is Layla actually telling the truth? Did Noah really do something to her mom?'

The murmurs of the crowd only fueled Aiden's unease. A few onlookers whispered to each other, their voices barely audible but enough to plant more seeds of doubt in Aiden's mind.

"How would he even have her number?" someone in the crowd muttered, their tone sceptical.

"Maybe she gave it to him," another replied. "Or maybe Layla isn't lying after all…"

Aiden shifted uncomfortably. His mind raced back to the screenshots Layla had shown the class at the party. 'Was there some truth to her accusations? Or is Noah just a lot more complicated than I thought?'

He clenched his fists, unsure of what to believe. He had known Noah for years, but recently, it felt like his friend had become an enigma—a puzzle with pieces that didn't quite fit.

Noah finally broke the silence, his voice cutting through Aiden's spiraling thoughts. "You're overthinking this," he said, his gaze still fixed on Layla, who had gone pale and seemed to be shrinking under the weight of his stare.

Aiden blinked, startled. "What?"

"You're trying to piece together something that doesn't need piecing. You know who I am," Noah said evenly, his tone carrying an unspoken finality. "The question is, do you trust what you know, or are you going to let someone like her plant doubts in your head?"
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Aiden opened his mouth to respond but hesitated. He didn't know what to say. Noah's words had a way of cutting through his doubts like a blade, but the nagging voice in the back of his mind wouldn't let go of the inconsistencies.

Noah's lips curved into a faint smirk as if he could read Aiden's internal conflict. "Relax, Aiden."