CHAPTER 335. A NAUGHTY GIRL. A Lady and a GentlemanNoémi's eyes flashed with anger, and the echo of that slap echoed throughout the house as she clenched her fist because her palm was still hurting."Don't mistake my kindness for weakness," she hissed. "I let whoever I want disrespect me, and you are the last person on Earth who can do that because I gave you more than I've ever given any man in my life."She turned her back and walked out. She couldn't talk to him any more at that moment because if she allowed another word to leave her mouth, she would end up crying or regretting it, and neither of those two things was part of her character.Noémi knew two things that no one else knew: the first was that this would be the last time her sister would be with her family for a long time. And the second was that she couldn't force words into ears that didn't want to hear.She went home, got ready for Loan's wedding, and that afternoon, she did nothing but attend to her family and take c
CHAPTER 336. A NAUGHTY GIRL. Through the StormTwenty-four hours. Noémi gave herself twenty-four hours to cry because, deep down, she was human too. She went to the airport, watched Levi and Peter board that flight, and accepted, because she had no other choice, that her path and Levi’s would separate. She accepted that there was nothing she could do to change it and confirmed what she had always believed: that it wasn't healthy to mix the heart with the bed, and vice versa.She wiped away her tears and braced herself for the coming months because she knew they wouldn't be easy. Chiara and she tried to keep the family as far away from the truth as possible. Her sister’s lawyer managed to arrange a completely private trial, and John’s desperation ensured that the media didn’t catch wind of it.Then came the statements. John’s attempts to discredit her. Chiara taking on a blame that wasn’t hers, and renouncing everything she had. Watching her sister sign away the remaining assets to av
CHAPTER 337. A NAUGHTY GIRL. We did it!She nodded and closed her eyes, falling asleep for a little while.For Noémi, it was difficult to see her sister, especially knowing she didn’t deserve to be in that situation, but there was nothing she could do—only wait for Chiara to serve her sentence. Nino had pulled strings and powerful contacts to have her transferred to Switzerland with the utmost discretion, so at least she was close.“Are they treating you well here?” Noémi asked the next day as she sat on the small terrace, sipping a coffee.“Yes, Viktor takes care of me as if I were the baby,” her sister murmured with a sigh. “I thought I’d miss seeing people, talking to others, working... but I don’t, Noe.”“Don’t you miss me?” her twin pouted.“Of course I do, and I miss our brothers and nephews... and Mom and Dad.” For a second, her eyes welled up, but she shook her head to keep the tears at bay. “But that’s not what I mean. The life I had—I don’t miss that. The other day, Viktor
CHAPTER 338. A NAUGHTY GIRL. An incredible seasonLevi had already been to Oslo, and he loved it; in the end, he was a creature of the cold, and wherever there was snow, that was his place.Mr. Larsen welcomed him with a level of hospitality Levi had never dreamed of. He took him on a tour of the city to show him the most beautiful places in Oslo, and then they headed to the ski team’s facilities, where Levi could see firsthand the impressive equipment they would have for the upcoming season.Larsen had purchased an entire mansion for his son’s team, located on a hill, surrounded by trees, near the professional track where they would train. The house was stunning and had every comfort the teenagers could want: starting with a fully equipped gym and a massive indoor pool. The rooms were spacious and cozy, each with its own bathroom, high ceilings, stone fireplaces, carved wooden furniture, and wool rugs.For Levi, there was a house with its own entrance in the right wing of the mansio
CHAPTER 339. A NAUGHTY GIRL. Wedding NewsThe mansion’s living room began to fill with trophies very quickly. Precisely, Oskar Larsen had come to celebrate one of the latest achievements and invited Levi to sit on the terrace for some drinks while the boys prepared a barbecue."Here. This is a special gift," he said, placing an envelope in front of him.Levi opened it curiously and found a check with a substantial bonus and a pair of open airline tickets for him and the baby."It’s to thank you for everything you’ve done for us. I had confidence in the boys; they’re good, but I never imagined that in just five months, you could lead them to Gold in a national competition. You truly are a great athlete," Larsen assured him. "Use the tickets to travel wherever you want. The boys already have theirs, and I think they’re deciding where they’ll go. Isak!" he called to his son, who came running over. "Have you already decided where you’re going?"The boy smiled nervously."To Cancún. We al
CHAPTER 340. A NAUGHTY GIRL. An empire built over fifty yearsLevi couldn’t even think as he boarded that plane to Zurich; he only knew that wherever he touched down, Noémi would be there. He was determined to find her, and despite all the obstacles in his way at the moment, he was resolved to speak with her.He closed his eyes and tried not to imagine what she had gone through during those months. He didn’t even want to think about her day-to-day life. He knew Noémi was obsessive about work, so she had probably been worse than usual—without eating, without sleeping, with the Italian taking the place of comfort that Levi had left for her... completely free.The plane took off, and Levi stroked his son’s back to calm him. Peter had grown so much in almost half a year and would soon start walking. As they began flying over Zurich to land, Levi felt anticipation take over him. He was so close to finding her that he felt it in his bones.He made his way through the bustling airport and t
CHAPTER 341. A NAUGHTY GIRL. Then and NowShe was halfway through her second glass of whiskey, trying on the infernal dress, when there was a knock at the door. Noémi opened it, tossing her heels aside."What do you wan...?" She froze when she saw the man in front of her but took a deep breath and lifted her chin with a neutral expression. "Levi. What are you doing here?"Levi had seen the apartment lights turn on and had only taken as long as it did to put Peter in his stroller and cross the street. He had been going crazy for hours wanting to see her, but seeing her in that wedding dress was more than he could handle in that moment."Noe..." he mumbled a couple of times, looking her up and down, then pressed his lips together, unsure of what to say.Noémi glanced at the baby sleeping in his stroller and couldn’t help a smile full of tenderness."He’s grown so much. He’s beautiful," she said with a lump in her throat before looking back at him. "How can I help you?" she asked, her v
CHAPTER 342. A NAUGHTY GIRL. ConsequencesLevi felt as if she were hitting him or something worse. “Noe… what are you doing?” he murmured in desperation, trying to get closer to her. “I get that this was a business deal, now I understand you had to save your family… but if that man demanded you marry him in exchange for his help, if you’re the bargaining chip…” “I was, I am, and I don’t care,” she replied. “How can you say that? How can you marry someone you don’t love?” he questioned her. “And who said I don’t love him? Do you have any damn idea what love is? Do you have any idea where Nino has been the last five months while you disappeared and went back to your professional athlete life? No! Right?” Noémi smiled sarcastically. “Don’t get it twisted, I’m not blaming you for anything, after all, you said it yourself: We always kept things clear, nothing ever happened between us, so there was nothing to claim.” Levi ran his hands through his hair in frustration, wanting to punch