---- Chapter 10 Noah spent the first day expecting Ava's call. He was sure of it. After she had a chance to cool down, she would call, crying, and apologize. That's how it always worked. He cleaned up the mess in her apartment, found his watch in his own coat pocket where it had been all along, and went back to his penthouse to wait. The call never came. The second day, his confidence began to waver. He found himself checking his phone constantly. The silence from her was unnerving. He noticed the small things. The apartment was too quiet. The coffee tasted wrong because she wasn't the one who had made it. He felt a strange, unfamiliar sense of unease. By the third day, the unease had grown into full-blown anxiety. He was out for drinks with his friends, the same ones who had witnessed his cruel bets. "So, has she come crawling back yet?" Mark asked with a laugh, clapping him on the back. Noah forced a smile. "Give her time. She's playing hard to get." But his own words sounded hollow. Scarlett, who was sitting beside him, rolled her eyes. "Honestly, ---- Noah, | don't know why you're so obsessed with her. She's so... bland. Let her go." Her words, which would have soothed his ego a week ago, now just irritated him. "You don't get it," he mumbled, downing his drink. He couldn't take it anymore. His pride wouldn't let him call her, but he had to know. He had to know she was still pining for him. He pulled out his phone and dialed her number, but he disguised it, using an app to make it look like a delivery service was Calling her. He just wanted to hear her voice. The phone picked up on the second ring. But it wasn't Ava's voice. It was a man's. "Hello?" Noah's heart stopped. The voice was deep, calm, and unfamiliar. "Uh, is Ava Chen there?" he asked, his own voice sounding strained. There was a pause. In the background, he could hear a faint sound, a soft moan, a gentle gasp. It was unmistakably Ava's voice, but it wasn't a sound of pain. It was a sound of pleasure. The man's voice came back on the line, a hint of amusement in it. "She's a little... busy right now. Can | take a message?" Noah felt the blood drain from his face. The sounds in the background continued, a soft, intimate rhythm that made his ---- stomach turn. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. "Who is this?" Noah demanded, his voice a harsh whisper. The entire table of his friends had gone silent, watching him. The man on the other end chuckled softly. A sound of pure satisfaction. "A friend," he said. Then his voice dropped, becoming possessive and low. "Tell me, who's asking?" Noah's blood ran cold. He knew that voice. He had heard it just a few days ago, filled with contempt, as it said, "This isn't fun, Noah. This is cruel." It was Liam. His rival. His enemy. The one person in the world he despised. And he was with Ava. The phone in Noah's hand felt slick with sweat. He heard Ava's voice again, a little louder this time, a breathless whisper of a name. "Liam..." The sound was like a physical blow. Noah's face, which had been pale, flushed a dark, furious red. He slammed the phone down on the table with such force that it cracked the screen. The entire bar was staring at him. He didn't care. All he could see was red. Ava, his Ava, was with Liam. It wasn't possible. It was a betrayal of the highest order. The thought of them together, of Liam touching her, of her making those sounds for him... it made him sick with a rage so potent it felt like it ---- would consume him whole. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. Adela's journey from deception to betrayal is filled with intrigue and suspense as she navigates through a world where power dynamics and family loyalties collide. What sets this story apart is its strong female lead who defies expectations and challenges societal norms in a quest for justice and redemption. Experience the riveting tale of Adela Taylor online at CrushReel and witness the transformation of a princess into a formidable female general.