"I'm sorry, Ms. Rose, for the trouble," Noah said, his voice calm but edged with an unmistakable tension.
Esme raised an eyebrow, a playful smile dancing on her lips, feigning surprise. "Oh no, it's okay. So, what honor do we have to welcome the new future Mr. Valhalla here?" Her tone was light, yet her eyes sparkled with skepticism, revealing the armor she wore against him.
Noah hesitated, his brow furrowing for a brief moment as her nonchalant demeanor threw him off balance. "Well, you see, I just came here to meet you," he finally replied, attempting to regain his composure.
