Meanwhile, the man in question had no idea what his darling was doing. He was focused on the two men while he revealed all that he knew about Oliver and his family. Martin and Jonathan were rendered speechless when Noah finished recalling all that had happened since the time he had met Aria.

"Wow, I never expected we would be intertwined in this matter this way." Martin let out a breath and stared into space, trying to arrange his messed up thoughts.

"Also, there is something else you must know. It's about Theo."

"What about him?"

"He is dead."

This time, neither Jonathan nor Martin reacted much. They were calm compared to the time when they had found out about Oliver. "I had predicted this outcome long ago." Jonathan sighed lightly, bowing his head, offering his condolence to his subordinate. "Theo would have made it to us if he was alive and well. He wouldn't have waited for three years."

Noah did not comment further, remembering the time when his grandfather had predicted the probability when they could not contact his mentor for days. However, at that moment, Noah was blinded by emotions and his thoughts were completely contradictory to what his grandfather had spoken.

"How is Ian doing?" Martin queried. "He was the closest to Theo out of the three."

"Better than I thought." And Noah was not lying about it. Although his friend had lost Theo, he had found someone equally good and caring in Aria's father. Oliver had helped him get out of the misery he was in by making him his family.

"That's good, then. About this Ivy, what does she do?" Martin questioned, going back to his son and his life.

"She is a journalist like her father."

"I see. What about Aria?"

"She is a doctor. She is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Ian's hospital."

"That's great. The twins are more formidable than I thought them to be. I guess it's time I visited them to familiarize myself. And as you said," A smile made its way on Martin's face. "I could use this excuse to meet my son. Hazel will be exhilarated once she learns the truth."

Noah did not speak any further, allowing the two men to continue with their chat. Although he was dying to find out why his grandfather had helped Mia, he could only wait until Martin departed. 'Grandpa would have brought up the topic by now if he wanted to. If he is staying silent, there was something important in this matter. I will have to wait until Uncle Martin leaves."

Giving them the space, he got up and went towards the courtyard towards the right of the garden, reading the message Aria had sent him. 'Who is this friend she is talking about? Do I know them?' He thought to himself. 'Why didn't she call me if she was done with her shift?'

Not waiting another minute, Noah called her. At that moment, Aria was still staring at the ceiling, lost in thoughts. The sudden ringing of her phone brought her out of her thoughts and she shook her head, trying to erase all her concerns and worries for the time being.

"Hello?"

"Aria, where are you? Why didn't you call me once your shift ended?"

"Noah," Aria sensed the man's panic over the phone and she rubbed her forehead. "Calm down. Ian allowed me to leave early. I didn't know what to do. So..."

"What do you mean you didn't know what to do?" Noah interrupted her, his voice laced with anger. "You should have returned home like a good girl. You still need to take a rest."

"But I am completely healthy, Noah."

"No, you are not."

"Yes, I am. I am a doctor. I know how my health is."

"Aria, if I say that you need rest it means you need rest. And moreover...." Noah stopped himself before he uttered the words he wanted to keep a secret from her.

"Moreover, what?" Aria frowned lightly wondering what he was hiding from her.

'Jared's men are lurking around, trying to get to me. I cannot allow you to stay alone.' Although Noah wanted to tell her the truth, he stayed mum, not wanting her to worry. "You need energy for what is awaiting you in the later part of the night." Noah changed the topic at once, his anger fading slightly.

His words made Aria's frown vanish and she blinked in disbelief. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"How is it nonsense, sweetheart? Don't tell me you are not curious about what I am going to do you when we meet?" Noah teased, running his index finger over his lips.

"What are you going to do?" Aria queried, biting her lips.

"Do you want me to tell you about it?" Noah replied with a question of his own and when he did not receive any response, a devilish smirk made its way on his face. "I am going to take you in my arms the moment I return and I..."

"And?"

"And I am going to eat you up."

"Noah," Aria squealed, her mind imagining the scenario where he would actually eat her up. Although she was new to relationships and dating, she knew how the human anatomy worked and what Noah was talking about. "If you are going to be this crude, I am going to cut the call."

"What? I am just saying the truth. You have no idea what all I want to do to you. I just want to stay with you in the bed all day and.."

Noah did not have to continue for Aria had understood what his intentions were. "Then. I will not come home tonight. I don't know what you will do to me."

"I will just make love to you, nothing much. And where will you go if you are not coming home tonight, sweetheart?" Noah's smile deepened as he continued with his tease.

"I will stay in my apartment. I need to be safe. A hungry wolf is about to eat me."

"Nothing can save you, sweetheart. This hungry wolf will eat you up for sure tonight." Noah stopped suddenly when he caught up on her words. "Aria, are you in your apartment right now?"

"Yes, why do you ask?"

"Didn't you meet your friend?"

"No, my friend had a last-minute emergency." There was a moment of hesitance in her voice which Noah completely missed.

"Then, what are you doing in your apartment?" Noah could not help but worry about her. Although her apartment was safe for now, he was not certain how far Jared would go just to get to him. He did not want his girl to face any danger.

"I came to retrieve some things. Ivy forgot to pack some of my clothes." Aria came up with an excuse, apologizing to Noah in her mind for lying to him.

"I see. In that case, bring some sexy clothes. You will need them tonight."

"Noah," This time, Aria yelled out loud, making the man chortle. "I am going to cut the call. Bye."

"Wait for me and be prepared to get eaten up by me." Noah managed to add before she hung up, giving her a fair warning of what laid ahead for her.