LOGINIn this state, without makeup, even Khloe herself could barely accept it.The moment Khloe stepped out of the restroom, a figure came straight toward her.She instinctively tried to dodge, but it was already too late. Her arm was seized, and in the next instant, her back was pressed firmly against the wall, his arm bracing her against it.The corridor outside the restroom was ornate yet enclosed, the lighting dim and subdued.It took her a moment to clearly make out the man in front of her.But her body recognized him faster than her eyes did. Almost instantly, Khloe blurted out his name."Nick.""If you came, why didn't you say hello? Or do you really not want to see me that much?"His voice followed immediately.Nick leaned slightly forward, caging her beneath the weight of his presence.His voice was hoarse, carrying a faint, ambiguous smile. To Khloe, it even sounded faintly teasing.She looked up at his face.The waiter had been right—Nick looked exhausted. His cheeks
A few moments later, the door to the neighboring private suite opened.The waiter entered carrying a fruit platter and a bottle of champagne. After setting them on a nearby table, he began pouring drinks for the two men seated in conversation.The foreign man in the room didn't find anything unusual about it.Nick, however, noticed the waiter's behavior immediately. The waiter seemed oddly slow and deliberate.As Nick looked over, their eyes met briefly.His voice fell silent, and his gaze shifted toward the fruit platter on the table.The suite had already been stocked with drinks and an assortment of fruit long ago.Why had someone suddenly brought in more?"Who sent you?" Nick asked abruptly, his voice low.The waiter's hand trembled.After a moment, he lowered his head."Sir, I'm here to deliver fruit and drinks."Nick replied calmly, "You've already delivered them.""Yes, but you're a VIP guest, so we've prepared some additional refreshments for you."The answer came
"What if he doesn't care?" Barney asked. "I think that, in his heart, you might be the most important thing of all...""But I can't forgive myself," Khloe said.No one understood better than she did how difficult forgiveness could be.Even if Nick were willing to forgive her, she couldn't bring herself to ask for it. She couldn't bear the thought of making him endure that kind of suffering all over again.Ever since he had been with her, he had done nothing but get hurt.And the members of Lacuna were like a ticking time bomb. No one knew when they might come after her again. As long as Nick remained by her side, he would throw himself in front of danger to protect her. She didn't want to keep living in constant fear of losing him.Knowing there was no changing Khloe's mind, Barney placed an invitation on the table."There's a business summit in Goldmont City tomorrow night. It's being held in conjunction with Hunt Group's charity fundraising campaign. I heard Nick will be atten
After obtaining the list of names, Khloe disappeared completely.No one could reach her by phone, and she stopped appearing in public altogether.Security at the Morrison Group had also been significantly tightened. The moment Trey showed up, the security team intercepted him. The guards quickly reported his appearance to Khloe.She had been prepared for this. Without hesitation, she forwarded Trey's location to the companies currently involved in disputes with Olympus.Now that Olympus's funding had collapsed, numerous companies were desperate to recover their money and cut their losses. The instant Trey appeared, they swarmed him from every direction.The media rushed in as well, capturing every humiliating moment.That very night, news of Olympus's collapse—and Trey's growing list of scandals—made the front page of Goldmont City's headlines.Trey could barely save himself.Bankruptcy, crushing debt, and even prison time loomed directly ahead.As for his family, he couldn't
The moment Trey left the room, Ariana picked up her phone and made a call.Early the next morning, Trey had breakfast prepared and personally came to wake Ariana.The instant he pushed open the door, he froze.The room had been cleaned spotless. Even the wardrobe had been emptied."Where is she?"He rushed out of the room and immediately demanded answers from the household maids. The servants exchanged bewildered looks. None of them even knew when Ariana had left.He quickly dialed her number. The call connected, but no one answered.Trey kept calling again and again. Just as he was on the verge of breaking down, her voice finally came through the receiver."Ariana, are you still angry with me? You're driving me crazy with worry. Tell me where you are, and I'll come pick you up right now, okay?"Hearing her voice at last, Trey clung to it like a drowning man grasping a lifeline, pleading desperately.Ariana's tone, however, remained calm."Trey, do you want to be with me bec
Trey was obviously lying.When Khloe had issued him an ultimatum, he had chosen his family without hesitation. His family was clearly not insignificant to him.Yet now, when Ariana asked him the same question, he didn't show the slightest trace of conflict.If Trey had honestly told her that his family mattered more—or that he simply couldn't choose—Ariana might have thought there was still hope for them.But in order to please her, he would stop at nothing. Lying came as naturally as breathing.Ethan's words echoed in her ears once more.Back then, had Trey deceived Khloe the same way?Khloe had endured far more than she had. She must have suffered even more deeply."Ariana, why are you looking at me like that...? Do you not believe me? I swear to God, I—""There's no need. Of course, I believe you."Lowering her head, Ariana interrupted him softly."Ariana..."Trey wrapped his arms around her. This time, Ariana didn't resist.His breath brushed against her neck."If I w






