The Billonaire's Broken Vows

Chapter 2

Noah’s Pov

I hadn’t planned to come back.

That was the first thing I needed to understand about my decision to return to the Kingston estate. I had spent the last five years making sure I never had to step foot in this place again. Not after what happened. Not after what they did to me.

But then my father’s assistant called, and something in his voice made me think that maybe, just maybe, it was time to stop running.

I’m Noah Kingston, the family’s favorite disappointment. Five years ago, I supposedly sabotaged a major business deal that cost the Kingston empire millions. I supposedly stole company files. I supposedly did a lot of things that would have made me into the kind of person who deserved to be cast out.

Except I didn’t do any of it.

I never told anyone the truth because the truth was worse than being a villain. The truth was that someone in my own family had framed me. So I took the fall. I disappeared. I let them believe the worst of me, and I tried to move on with my life.

When I pulled up to the estate in my beat-up Range Rover, nothing had changed. The massive iron gates still loomed at the entrance. The house itself still looked like something out of an architectural magazine—cold, beautiful, and completely without heart.

I parked and sat in my car for a moment. This was a mistake. But I was here now, and I was going to find out why.

The staff looked shocked to see me. A butler fumbled over his words, and I waved him off, heading straight for the study where I knew my father would be.

Arthur Kingston was sitting behind his desk when I walked in without knocking. He looked up, and for just a second, I saw something flash across his face. Fear, maybe. Or guilt.

“Noah,” he said carefully. “This is unexpected.”

“You called,” I said flatly. “Through your assistant. Something about family business.”

“Yes.” He cleared his throat. “I wanted to discuss some things. Some old matters that need to be resolved before the wedding.”

That’s when I realized something was seriously wrong. My father wouldn’t have called me back unless there was no other option.

“What wedding?” I asked.

“Daniel is getting married,” Arthur said. “To a woman named Sophie Laurent. The wedding is in three weeks.”

I felt something twist in my chest. Daniel. My brother. The golden child who had always been exactly what our family wanted him to be.

“Congratulations to him,” I said coldly. “But that’s not why you called me.”

Arthur sat back down slowly.

“There’s been a development,” he said. “Something has come to light that concerns the business. I need to know if you’re willing to help before this wedding happens.”

“Help?” I laughed bitterly. “You accused me of ruining the company. You turned everyone against me. And now you want my help?”

“Noah—”

“No,” I cut him off. “You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to ignore me for five years and then expect me to come running when you need something.”

But even as I said it, I knew I was already caught. Part of me still wanted to fix things. Still wanted to prove that I wasn’t the villain everyone believed me to be.

“I’ll listen,” I said after a long moment. “But I’m not promising anything.”

Arthur nodded, and I could see the relief wash over his face.

“Not here,” I said. “Not now. I need to settle in first. We can talk tonight.”

I left the study before he could argue with me. What had changed? What had come to light? And why did my father look so afraid?

That’s when I saw her.

She was walking down the main hallway, looking absolutely lost. She had light brown hair that fell just past her shoulders, and she was wearing clothes that probably cost more than everything she’d owned before. But there was something in the way she moved, something vulnerable and real, that stood out in this house of perfect lies.

She must be Sophie.

I leaned against the wall and watched her. She looked worried. She looked like she was already regretting whatever decision had brought her here.

“You’re the fiancée,” I said, and she spun around.

I introduced myself, watched her realize who I was, and I smiled at her in a way that was designed to unsettle her.

“Daniel said you wouldn’t be here,” she said.

“Daniel’s always saying things that aren’t true,” I replied. “Welcome to the Kingston family, Sophie. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”

Then I walked away, leaving her standing there with the truth hovering just out of reach.

That night, I was in my old room when I heard someone knock on my door. I opened it to find my father standing there, and behind him, Daniel.

My brother looked furious.

“You need to leave,” Daniel said without preamble. “This wedding is important, and your presence here will only cause problems.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I replied calmly. “Father invited me back.”

“Father made a mistake,” Daniel snapped. “You’re a liability, Noah. And if you do anything to jeopardize this wedding—”

“What?” I interrupted. “What will you do, Daniel? Tell everyone else lies about me? You already did that.”

Daniel’s face darkened. He just turned and walked away, with our father following behind him.

I closed the door and leaned against it, my heart pounding.

Something was very wrong here. And I was beginning to suspect that Sophie Laurent had just walked into the middle of something far more dangerous than a simple family feud.

The question was, what was I going to do about it?