Regret

After getting embarrassed, he quickly ran away from the scene. But something about the exchange had unsettled him.

Later that evening, with the image of that limousine and the man inside burning in his brain, he made the decision that would change everything: he asked his father about the number plate.

"0019."

It had been a casual question at first, born from his insatiable need to understand who Noah was and to whom he was connected.

"Dad," Mark had said as he dropped his backpack on the floor, trying to sound nonchalant. "You know anything about cars with number plates starting with 00?"

His father, Robert, was sitting at the dining table, reading the evening news on his tablet. At first, he hadn't even looked up.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

Mark had pulled out a chair and plopped down across from him. "I saw a car today near my school. A really fancy black limo. Its plate started with 0019. Just curious, that's all."