Chapter 2 - The Taste of Spilled Gold
The heavy candlestick whistled through the air, aimed directly at Noah’s temple.
Noah raised his left forearm in an iron reflex, intercepting the brass rod inches from his jaw.
The bone-jarring impact echoed across the room, but Noah did not yield an inch.
Victoria hissed in fury, swinging her left hand to deliver a stinging slap across his cheek.
The crack of skin on skin snapped the paralyzed guests out of their stupor, causing muffled shrieks.
Noah’s head whipped to the side, but his jaw clenched with cold, deliberate resolve.
Victoria drew back the metal stand once more, completely unhinged by the public defiance.
Before the brass weapon could swing a second time, Noah’s hand clamped like a steel vice around her wrist.
Victoria gasped as her knuckles turned white, her fingers involuntarily releasing the candlestick.
The heavy metal clattered loudly against the floor, rolling harmlessly through pools of crushed vanilla cream.
"Don't touch me, you worthless nobody!" Victoria screamed, writhing against his iron grip.
Noah twisted her wrist down and shoved her backward with immense, controlled power.
Victoria stumbled in her six-inch designer heels, crashing violently into the long gift table behind her.
Expensive ribboned boxes, silver wrapping paper, and crystal champagne bottles cascaded onto the marble floor.
Elena let out a ragged sob behind him, both hands pressed against her swollen abdomen.
"Noah... the baby... please, it hurts so bad," Elena whimpered, her face losing every drop of color.
Noah glanced over his shoulder, his heart tearing into pieces at the sight of the blood pooling around her bare ankles.
Seizing the distraction, Victoria snatched an ornate wooden gift box from the debris of the table.
The solid oak box had sharp brass corners, heavy enough to fracture a human skull.
Victoria lunged forward with a murderous shriek, aiming the heavy wood squarely at Noah’s chest.
Noah anticipated the charge, sidestepping gracefully while keeping his body angled away from Elena.
As Victoria barreled past, Noah grabbed the shoulder of her dark emerald gown and redirected her momentum.
He shoved her sideways with a furious thrust directly toward the central dessert display.
Victoria shrieked as she lost her balance entirely, flying headfirst into the towering five-foot birthday cake.
The structure collapsed like a falling skyscraper, burying the billionaire heiress beneath layers of sponge, fondant, and raspberry filling.
Frosting splattered across her face, matted her designer updo, and ruined her multi-million dollar gown.
Gifts, broken porcelain, and crushed berries scattered in every direction across the slick floor.
The crowd recoiled in utter disbelief, horrified to see the untouchable queen of society covered in birthday trash.
Noah didn't waste a single millisecond watching his tormentor flounder.
He spun around just as Elena’s legs gave out, her body collapsing toward the edge of the dessert table.
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Noah caught her beneath her shoulders and knees before her head could strike the hard floor.
"Call 911!" Noah shouted at the staring guests, his voice cracking with agony. "Right now! Somebody call a doctor!"
