MasukBy the time Noah and Charlotte finished cleaning up and returned, Ethan had already left."Ethan didn't seem very happy tonight," Noah remarked, his gaze falling on the cake that had been moved. It now sat at the center of the dining table instead of the coffee table."That's just how he is—he gets upset at the slightest thing. Don't take it to heart."Though Charlotte said it lightly, her eyes dimmed just a little. She knew Ethan still harbored feelings for her. But she had already made her stance clear.Still, at times, when she saw the faint vulnerability hidden beneath his arrogance, she couldn't help but feel a trace of sympathy."I don't mind," Noah said, his voice steady. "But he is your friend—and colleague. I wouldn't want there to be any distance between you because of me."He paused briefly, then added, "After all, I'm just a passerby. It's never worth affecting the people around you for the sake of someone passing through.""You're not a passerby."Charlotte stepped
Ethan could no longer hold back and let out a cold laugh."Noah, what brings you back all of a sudden? I heard Lacuna's been taken down. You should be lying low too, shouldn't you?"Noah paused at the words.Charlotte shot Ethan a sharp glare.Of all things to bring up—he was clearly picking a fight on purpose."Ethan, if you really can't eat, then don't force yourself."Charlotte forced a smile at him, awkwardly trying to change the subject.But Ethan only pressed further. Leaning his elbow on the table, he edged closer toward Noah."How could I not? Sharing a meal with an internationally wanted mercenary—I'm honored.""Ethan!"Seeing Noah's expression darken, Charlotte slammed her hand against the table."Charlotte."But almost immediately, Noah spoke as well.He set down his bowl, lightly brushing a finger across the corner of his lips where a trace of sauce lingered. His voice was low."I'm leaving tomorrow. Don't worry, I won't drag you into anything."There was no
Charlotte set the cake down on the table, then turned and went straight into the kitchen, skipping even the basic courtesy of pouring Ethan a glass of water.It was clearly not a welcoming gesture.Ethan understood that perfectly well, yet he still sat quietly on the sofa, pretending not to notice.Out of the corner of his eye, however, he caught sight of the kitchen—where Charlotte and Noah stood close together, chatting and laughing.Charlotte handed Noah a freshly mixed drink. He took a spoonful, tasted it, and nodded. "Not bad."Then, without another word, he poured a glass and walked over to Ethan."Charlotte's special blend. It's good."Ethan's lips twitched slightly. He accepted the glass, only to set it down on the table. "Thanks.""By the way, how's your condition? Are your injuries healing?"Noah's tone was calm, but there was something unhidden in his gaze. It almost seemed like genuine concern.Ethan looked at him for a moment before replying, "Much better.""Tha
This unspoken understanding between them gradually dissolved the faint weariness Charlotte had always felt amid the city's bustle. The supermarket was clearly noisy and crowded, yet with Noah beside her—pushing the cart, silent but steady—she felt an unexpected sense of grounding, something warm and real, like life itself.At the checkout, Charlotte insisted on paying. Noah didn't argue; when he took the shopping bags, he simply lifted the two heaviest ones into his own hands."Let's go," he said.Charlotte's apartment was not far from the supermarket, just over a ten-minute walk. Night had deepened, and the streetlights stretched their shadows long across the pavement, occasionally overlapping. The early autumn breeze carried a hint of coolness, sweeping away the lingering stuffiness from inside the store."This time… how long will you stay?" Charlotte tilted her head to look at him, finally asking the question that had been circling in her mind. His movements were always elusive,
"I don't know. But I know what you're worried about. That's why I wanted to give Lenny a chance."The smile faded from Khloe's face. Looping her arm through Nick's, she spoke softly, like a quiet confession.Nick's thoughts were easy enough to read. Khloe acted on emotion, but his considerations were entirely rational. He was fiercely protective of his own. Between Michelle and Lenny, Nick would almost certainly prefer that Lenny not be the one who got hurt.Even if there were feelings between them, the Keller family was far from ordinary. Standing before Lenny was a gap in status he could hardly cross.And Nick knew Michelle too well—he was certain she would find it even harder to overcome that divide.…Night gradually fell, and the bustling city was bathed in a glow of neon lights.The streets in the central district were at their liveliest at this hour.With the workday over, pedestrians hurried along—some rushing home, others meeting friends, weaving through shopping malls
Since it was a win-win arrangement, Michelle was naturally willing to cooperate.However, with the new product not yet finalized and everything still in preparation—coupled with Nick and Khloe's recent wedding—Michelle hadn't had the chance to sit down with Hunt Group's team to work out the details.Khloe smiled brightly. "That's right. It's exactly because of that. Since neither Nick nor I will be at the company for now, we're worried there might be issues with coordination. So we thought we'd assign you a 'guardian escort.'""A guardian escort?" Michelle looked completely baffled. "What do you mean?"She turned to Nick, whose gaze shifted slightly—landing on Lenny.Lenny looked even more confused."Starting today, your collaboration will be fully handled by Lenny. He'll represent Hunt Group and oversee the entire process with you and your team, ensuring smooth communication and proper resource allocation."If you have any needs going forward, you can go directly to Lenny. And…
Nick let out a low hum. He had just finished a meeting and had left a few minutes later than planned. He had intended to take the highway and make up time, but a few rear-end collisions caused a traffic jam, and his car had been caught in the mess.His injuries were minor—mostly superficial—but the
Nick's presence was overwhelming. Even from across the room, the sheer authority he exuded made anyone uninvited hesitate. It was the kind of air that seemed to say, keep your distance, stranger. Only someone like Khloe—poised, unflinching, with a heart as steady as her composure—could stand besid
Nick's eyes sharpened, a sudden clarity dawning upon him. Without hesitation, he dialed Khloe's number."Hello?… Mr. Hunt?"At that moment, Khloe was sitting at the table with Grandpa and Grandma Orsen, eating.Hearing the name, the two elders instantly froze, holding their breath, careful not to
"I heard your engagement party went quite well," Ethan said, "Nick must be very pleased with you, huh?"It was only a few words, but every one of them carried an edge.There was an ongoing investment project involving the Hunt Group.What Ethan was really saying was clear enough—Khloe had gotten







