LOGINIf Nick hadn't left this time, Barney probably wouldn't have stood a chance.That thought reminded Khloe of something else. "By the way, what was it you used to threaten Barney last time?""Threaten Barney?"Nick paused, as if recalling the details, before explaining the information he had uncovered about the Lemont family.Even before Barney had shown interest in the bid, Nick had already sent people to dig into both him and the Lemont family.Families like theirs always had secrets.What Nick needed was something Barney deeply cared about—something he would do anything to protect.Growing up, Barney's parents had never had a good relationship. His father had many women outside the marriage and rarely came home, so Barney had been closest to his mother.But because of his father, his mother's mental state had always been fragile. When Barney was six, she fell into depression and passed away.A few years ago, Barney had begun quietly hiring private investigators to search for
The moment Khloe heard that, she immediately understood—Nick was messing with Lucas.And yet, even when he toyed with people, Nick carried himself with such seriousness that it felt completely real. She had almost believed him."Look at this scene."Lucas paused the screen, pointing at the moment when the protagonist discovered clues in a dilapidated apartment."The dim lighting, the chaotic clues—this symbolizes the disorder of information in the emerging energy sector. At the beginning, the protagonist rushes in and chooses the wrong direction, and one mistake leads to another, drifting farther and farther off course. It shows that the more information there is in a field, the more patience you need."Khloe had thought he was speaking off the cuff, but he was unexpectedly earnest.She couldn't help pressing her lips together. "When you put it that way, Lucas… it actually makes some sense."As soon as she finished speaking, she jabbed Nick lightly with her elbow.Only then did
Charlotte quickened her steps to catch up, watching Noah's back as she gathered her courage."I… want to ask you something.""What is it?""Can you… not leave?"Her voice came out a little dry. Even she knew how abrupt the question sounded.Noah fell silent for a moment. "Why?""Because… because you don't really have a home to go back to either. Didn't you say you wanted friends?" Charlotte pressed on, her voice softening toward the end. "If you stay in Goldmont City, you'll still have Khloe and the others… and me.""Charlotte. Thank you for your kindness."Noah waited until she finished before speaking again.His tone was gentler than before, but still restrained—careful, distant."But we… aren't people who walk the same path."The words seemed to still the air around them. The single step between them felt, in an instant, like an unbridgeable divide."I know."Charlotte's voice was soft—calm, yet stubborn. "I know what you do. I know you come and go without a trace. I kn
Noah knew it perfectly well—that he would always be an outsider. And yet, some emotions still took root without reason, growing wild and uncontrollable."I'm fine," Noah said lightly. He pushed his hand deeper into his pocket, as if there had never been a wound there—nor any expectations that shouldn't have existed."You weren't hurt?" Charlotte's eyes searched him intently.Noah smiled. "Of course I was. I'm not a god."Seeing her expression tighten with concern, he added, "Barehanded against a blade—getting a few superficial cuts is normal.""Just superficial wounds?""Mhm."Noah nodded. The night wind lifted the collar of his jacket, making him seem even more untethered, more free."I'm sorry," she said suddenly, her voice soft.Noah paused. "Why are you apologizing?""That night… I was only focused on Ethan." Charlotte stepped in front of him, tilting her head up to meet his gaze, her eyes earnest under the streetlight. "I should've checked whether you were hurt too. But
But Noah knew he didn't have that kind of time.Khloe parted her lips, the words of protest circling at the tip of her tongue, yet she couldn't bring herself to say them.She understood that Noah's world was different from theirs. He came and went like the wind. Goldmont City, to him, was perhaps nothing more than a temporary stop."Will you come back?" she asked at last.Noah shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe… we won't meet again."There was a finality to his words.For no reason she could name, Khloe felt a sting in her chest. Though his voice was calm, there was an indescribable sadness beneath it.Nick seemed to understand as well. "Even if we don't meet again, take care of yourself."At that moment, Charlotte stepped forward, moving past Khloe to face Noah.Khloe noticed her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her gaze fixed tightly on Noah's face, her lips pressed so hard they had turned pale.Noah seemed to sense her stare. His lashes lowered slig
When Spence saw Noah, he was calm.Noah had expected hatred. Instead, Spence smiled and began reminiscing about their past.Back then, they had both been homeless.Noah had treated him as family, as someone to rely on—and Spence had done the same, seeing Noah as his own younger brother.Even when Noah left, Spence had already sensed that one day, the blade in his hand would be turned against him. And yet, he had never resolved to eliminate Noah.Now, seeing him again, Spence felt more relief than anything else. Relief that he had never harmed Noah. He felt comfort in knowing that Noah had not forgotten where they began.Noah had always regarded Spence as a kind of faith—but to Spence, Noah was also the version of himself he had once protected."Just for a woman—you've sacrificed so many lives, everything you worked for, even our ideals. Was it worth it?"Spence might have let it go, but Noah couldn't. Even now, he couldn't accept what Spence had become. That he would personally
Nick suddenly sprang to his feet, so fast that the chair toppled with a harsh clatter.Seeing Nick's mood shift, Arista quickly intervened. "George! Let's go home!"George, realizing he had struck Khloe, felt a twinge of embarrassment. His palm tingled; he'd hit too hard—blinded by anger. This tim
Lenny really couldn't keep up the pretense.Nick's body hadn't fully recovered. Yet, he'd called him in the middle of the night. Lenny had assumed Nick wanted to return to the Hunt family estate. He hadn't expected his boss to go to an apartment near the office instead.For Nick's convenience, two
Though the woman had only flashed past for a moment, Alicia's sharp eyes didn't deceive her."Khloe? She's here too?"Stanley was completely confused. When he followed Alicia's pointing finger, there was nothing but security guards in sight."The woman who just got out of that car—was Khloe!" Ali
After Barney left, Angela's expression darkened.From a distance, Stella had already spotted her and hurried to catch up.Alicia was completely unreliable. At the entrance, the security refused to let them in, claiming that Alicia and Stanley had been stripped of their conference access.They had







