Soon after leaving behind the motorway, Noah arrived at the gated neighbourhood.
The villa complex was as private as he’d imagined, with high walls and dense trees offering seclusion.
Guards were stationed at the entrance, just like in Amelia’s neighbourhood, giving the place an air of exclusivity and security.
As Noah slowed his car near the gate, a couple of guards approached, one of them stepping forward with a polite but cautious demeanour.
“Good evening, sir. How can I help you?” the guard asked.
Noah glanced at the guard, keeping his expression neutral yet friendly. “My name is Noah,” he said smoothly, before pausing to ask, “And you are?”
“My name is Anderson, sir,” the guard replied, standing a bit straighter. “I’m the guard leader here. How can I assist you?”
Noah nodded, acknowledging him with a slight smile as he reached over to the passenger seat, picking up the tenancy agreement he had retrieved from his system inventory earlier.
“I’m a new resident in this complex,” he said, handing over the document, “I’ve just moved in.”
Anderson took the tenancy agreement, his eyes scanning the paperwork with diligence.
When his gaze fell on the name and mansion number, his posture changed subtly.
He stiffened slightly, eyes widening as he connected the dots.
A few days ago, his boss had mentioned that someone important—someone of significant wealth—had purchased the most luxurious mansion in the neighbourhood: Mansion No. 1. That name had stuck with him.
“Anderson, listen carefully a person had purchased Mansion No.1 recently and he might come to visit it anytime, his identity is quite mysterious and unknown.”
“I was only told that his name is Noah Thompson, so if anyone with that name comes you must treat them with utmost respect. Understand me?”
“Yes Sir!” Anderson responded on the other side of the phone.
“Noah Thompson.” Anderson thought, as his gaze shot back to Noah, his demeanour instantly more respectful.
He quickly handed back the agreement with both hands, a gesture that showed just how much his attitude had shifted.
“Mr. Thompson, we’ve been awaiting your arrival,” Anderson said, his voice warm and deferential.
“Please, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to let us know. We’ll be more than happy to assist you in any way we can.”
Noah smiled gently as he took back the agreement. “Thank you, Anderson,” he replied, his voice as calm and composed as ever. “I’ll be in your care then.”
The guard nodded, and with a subtle motion of his hand, the other guards opened the gate. As Noah drove forward, he heard the hushed voices of the guards behind him.
“I didn’t expect him to be so young,” one of the guards muttered. “And polite too.”
Anderson nodded in agreement but kept his expression serious. “He does seem humble,” he acknowledged, “But we don’t know much about him yet. Only time can show us what he’s really like.”
The others murmured their agreement before returning to their posts. Noah heard what they said due to his increased physical ability from the Intermediate Soldier-King skill, but he didn’t look back or acknowledge their words.
The way people judged so quickly—based on appearances, wealth, or demeanour—had always amused him, though he had no energy to care tonight.
His mind was elsewhere.
Noah continued driving through the villa complex, which was as luxurious as he’d expected. The road was flanked by well-manicured gardens, each villa more extravagant than the last.
When he finally arrived at Mansion No. 1, the sight took his breath away for a brief moment. It was standing alone without any neighbouring mansion showing its status.
The mansion was vast, towering above the other villas with a sleek, modern design that was softened by subtle medieval touches—arched windows, wrought-iron details, and dark wood accents.
It was an elegant fusion of the past and the present, with a certain grandeur that instantly made it feel like a place of importance. The mansion sat beside a small river, its gentle flow adding a calming sound to the already serene environment.
The gardens surrounding the mansion were meticulously maintained, with tall trees and carefully arranged flowers creating a serene scene.
Noah parked his Lykan in the circular driveway and sat for a moment, staring at the mansion. Despite its beauty, despite its obvious luxury, he couldn’t shake the strange emptiness that gnawed at him.
“This was supposed to be a reward, wasn’t it? Something to be proud of? ” He thought.
Yet he felt none of the satisfaction he should have.
“Everything feels so distant now,” he thought, a heaviness settling over him.
Finally, with a weary sigh, Noah stepped out of the car. The cool night air brushed against his skin, and he took in the scenery one last time before heading to the front door.
The entrance opened easily with a soft push, revealing an interior that was as grand as the exterior. Noah’s eyes quickly scanned the spacious foyer, the gleaming marble floors, and the expansive living room just beyond.
Tall windows allowed moonlight to flood the space, casting a soft glow over the detailed furnishings. The place had been furnished ahead of his arrival, with furniture that screamed elegance and wealth.
Noah walked further into the mansion, his footsteps echoing through the halls. Normally, he would have been eager to explore the place, to see what hidden luxuries it had to offer.
But tonight, he wasn’t in the mood. His mind was too cluttered, too weighed down by the thoughts that wouldn’t stop.
His fingers brushed over the smooth marble of the kitchen counter as he wandered, aimlessly opening a few doors.
The first two revealed lavish bathrooms, complete with gold accents and expansive mirrors.
Noah stared at them blankly for a moment before shaking his head. “Not this one,” he muttered under his breath.
“Not that one either.”
Finally, on his third try, he found what he was looking for—a bedroom. It was huge, with a king-sized bed that looked impossibly soft.
Plush pillows were arranged neatly, and the dark sheets looked inviting, a place where he could sink in and disappear for a while. Noah felt a brief urge to just collapse onto the bed and let the exhaustion of the day overtake him.
“I will shower first, then I will try out this bad… girl? No that doesn’t sound right, “bad bed?” that doesn’t sound right either.” he muttered, “Either way, I will try just try out this bed.”
Glancing around the room, his eyes landed on a walk-in closet. He opened it to find rows of designer clothing—Ralph Lore, Huge Boss—all neatly arranged.
It was over the top, like everything else in the mansion, but Noah didn’t care. He quickly grabbed a pair of pyjamas from the collection and headed to the bathroom.
The bathroom attached to the bedroom was massive, with a spacious shower, a large mirror, and an array of high-end toiletries.
“They have a jacuzzi here too?” he muttered as he stared at the beautiful design.
“This bathroom alone could probably fit my entire home, Noah thought, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
“Makes me question if I’d rather sleep in my old room or in this bathroom,” he muttered to himself, chuckling softly.
As he stepped into the shower, the hot water hit his skin, and steam quickly filled the space, clouding the mirrors and soothing his tired muscles. For a brief moment, Noah felt the tension in his body begin to ease.
The warmth of the water wrapped around him like a blanket, and he allowed himself to relax, if only for a little while.
But even as he stood there, his mind refused to rest. The thoughts kept coming—about the changes he could feel inside himself.
“Maybe I should just embrace how I really am, even if it means…” As he remembered her phrase.
“One day, you’ll have nothing left to hold onto, Noah,”
Shaking his head to get rid of the voice, he closed the tap and got out of the shower.
He grabbed a towel and dried himself off, then ran the blow dryer over his hair with practised ease.
After brushing his teeth, he slipped into the designer pyjamas he’d grabbed earlier. The soft fabric felt good against his skin, but it didn’t bring any comfort to his restless mind.
With a tired sigh, Noah walked back into the bedroom, his eyes falling on the king-sized bed.
Without thinking twice, he slumped onto the mattress, his body sinking into the softness. He stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling.
“System, do you think I’m crazy? why is it so hard for me to decide.”
“It’s quite ironic I got the ‘Ultimate Choice System’ when I can’t even make this simple choice of either embracing my true self or keeping my promise.” He muttered as he scoffed.
Fatigue from the day quickly caught up with him, his eyes grew heavy, and despite the conflict in his heart, sleep eventually claimed him.
The mansion was quiet, the world outside still, but Noah’s mind was anything but at peace.
How do you feel about Noah’s change, please do let me know your thoughts as I value them ALOT!
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