Chapter 18 - Moments of Chaos and Confusion
When Noah screamed, and the sound of his voice—once so inaudible—rang throughout the place, those who were deeply asleep were startled awake by the distant cry, and even the already-awake were left dumbfounded by the sheer intensity of that anguished shout.
Immediately after that scream, the soldiers who had been standing guard all night in front of the room where Sophia and Noah were staying burst abruptly into the chamber, exclaiming:
— Miss, are you all right?!
As they hurried in, desperately searching for Sophia, the soldiers relaxed slightly upon seeing that she was still in the room; however, they couldn't understand why she was crouched beside the bed, crying, while clutching the hand of the man she had brought home only hours earlier.
Not even a minute passed after the men's entry before Sophia's parents appeared, terrified and still dressed in their sleepwear. They cried out in succession as they stormed into the room:
— Where's my baby!?
— What happened here!? And where's my daughter!?
Shortly thereafter, Sophia's mother immediately began searching for her daughter, scouring every corner as tears of despair streamed down her face. When she finally saw her daughter sobbing, crouched beside the bed where the young man lay, Mrs. Radiance hurried over and, drawing near, said:
— Daughter, it's all right, my...
Almost at the very moment she was about to touch Sophia's shoulder, Mrs. Radiance suddenly lifted her eyes in bewilderment, slowly pulled her arm back, and covered her mouth with her right hand.
Unlike his wife—who paid little heed to the guards—Mr. Radiance was the first to question them as he entered the room, demanding to know what had happened. His face showed deep concern and irritation, for the fear that someone had invaded his home and stolen his most precious treasure—right from beneath his roof—consumed him inside.