Noelle didn't want to look at him, so she turned her head away.Hendrix didn't seem to mind. He chuckled softly before turning and walking out.Craig immediately turned to Noelle. "What did he mean just now? Are you two living together now? And what's this about Dylan?"Noelle didn't answer his questions. Instead, she simply said, "I was planning on discussing Elm Group with you, but it seems there's no need anymore. I have other things to take care of, so I'll be leaving now.""Wait! You still haven't explained yourself. Are you really living with him? So, this was all planned between you two, wasn't it? I knew it! He was talking about giving us more time before, and now, he's moving this fast—it must be because you tipped him off—""Enough," Noelle suddenly interrupted exhaustedly."What did you just say?""He knows everything," Noelle said with a faint, bitter laugh. "From the beginning to the end, we've been nothing more than prey in the palm of his hand. We're not even on t
As Hendrix's words fell, the car was suddenly engulfed in silence.Noelle clutched the document tightly, her knuckles turning stark white from the force of her grip.Hendrix sat beside her, watching intently, as if deliberately waiting to see how she would react. If she threw a fit or even tried to bite him, he might actually enjoy it more.In fact, Noelle couldn't help but think that Hendrix truly was hoping for that. After all, he had already gone insane and wanted everyone else to spiral into madness with him.But Noelle refused to give him the satisfaction. Clenching her teeth, she forced her emotions back down and asked, "And what if I refuse to sign?""Hmm, it's not a big deal. I'll just let Elm Group keep rotting, and as for Dylan's little mess, don't expect me to keep it under wraps for him."His tone was calm, but in just a few words, he painted a picture of utter chaos and destruction.Noelle's expression grew darker by the second.The man in front of her didn't seem
Noelle maintained a calm facade, but as she completed the final stroke of her signature, the pen's tip unintentionally tore through the paper. She didn't bother to fix it. Instead, she tossed the signed document at Hendrix.As for Hendrix's reaction? She didn't bother to check. After tossing the document onto his lap, she turned and reached for the door. But before she could step out, Hendrix's voice came from behind, "Where are you going? Let me drive you. Oh, and since the agreement is signed, let's take care of the marriage registration tomorrow. I'll pick you up in the morning, okay?"Noelle didn't respond, nor did she reject him. Instead, she decisively closed the car door with a loud thud. The car fell into silence once more.Hendrix gripped the steering wheel, his eyes lingering on Noelle's retreating figure for a moment before he finally picked up the document she had thrown at him.There were two copies, and Noelle had signed her name on both. Though she hadn't taken the
Ophelia looked as though she might faint from rage.Hendrix, on the other hand, remained utterly composed.He even picked up the glass by his side, taking a slow sip before calmly saying, "Grandma, I'm an adult now. This is a decision about my life, and I've made it with careful consideration.""Your life? Do you think I don't know what you've been up to out there? Let me remind you—so long as you carry the Freeman name and are my grandson, I have every right to control your decisions! "Don't forget. Everything you have now is because of me. If you dare to act recklessly, everything I've given you can just as easily be—"She suddenly stopped, as if realizing she had said too much. Clenching her teeth, she swallowed the rest of her words.Hendrix chuckled. "Are you referring to the one outside? No need to keep it a secret. I already know about him."As his words fell, Ophelia's sharp glare immediately turned to Beatrice.Beatrice, however, merely frowned and said nothing.Hend
But it was only a sliver. As Beatrice's period of slumber grew longer, even that sliver of feeling was worn away completely.When Hendrix learned of her awakening, his first reaction wasn't joy but strategizing. How could he use her fragile state to push Noelle into seeing her and igniting Noelle's guilt?Hendrix knew this wasn't how a normal person would think, but it was exactly the kind of mindset he had been taught since childhood.From an early age, Beatrice had focused solely on teaching him how to be a successful businessman—how to stay composed and level-headed so he could make the right call no matter the situation.She had done her job well, and he had succeeded in becoming an exceptional businessman. But she'd never taught him how to be a normal son, which meant Hendrix had no clue what a normal reaction was supposed to be.Including now.Beatrice quickly stepped in front of him. "What did you do to Noelle?"Hendrix lifted his eyes to look at her.Beatrice gritted he
Noelle hadn't told Hendrix which hotel she was staying at. But this was Coppersville, and there was little here he couldn't find out if he wanted to.The next morning, just as Noelle woke up, the doorbell rang. When she opened the door, Hendrix stood there, smiling brightly at her."Let's go to the courthouse," he said.He wasn't wearing a jacket today, just a crisp white shirt. Combined with his soft, slightly tousled hair, it made Noelle pause for a moment.For a fleeting second, it felt like she was back in the past, hiding in a corner, secretly watching him.But she quickly shut down the thought.Now, she knew better. The person he had been back then was a lie, just as the version of him she thought she'd come to understand later was a lie.The man standing before her now—shameless, ruthless, and utterly self-serving—was the real Hendrix."I've already picked out clothes for you. You've got your documents ready, right?"Noelle had planned to say she hadn't brought them, but
Beatrice handed the box to Noelle. "Even though we've known each other for a while, since you and Hendrix have decided to start over, it's only right to mark the occasion with something auspicious. This was part of my wedding gift when I got married, so I'll give it to you as a gift for today.""This is too much," Noelle said."It's fine," Beatrice replied with a smile. "Hendrix has already made up his mind about you, so everything of mine will end up with you eventually anyway, won't it?"Noelle looked at the woman in front of her. She was still the same—poised, composed, every bit as dignified as the Beatrice in her memories.But what Noelle remembered even more vividly was how this same Beatrice had once been so desperate to escape the Freeman family—so much so that she was even willing to take her own life.And now, her lover was gone.That part of the past had long been forgotten by everyone in their circle, as if it had never happened. Even Beatrice herself seemed to have e
When Beatrice finished speaking, Noelle fell silent for a moment. Then, she suddenly smiled, which made Beatrice frown involuntarily."So, you still love him, don't you?" Noelle asked softly.Beatrice couldn't help but tighten her grip around her cup when she heard that question."I don't blame you, but I'll never forgive him, either," Noelle said as she set the coffee cup back on the table. She then continued, "If it weren't for the pressure he exerted in business and all those underhanded tactics, I'd already be someone else's wife by now. "Do you really think, under these circumstances, I could convince myself to love him?"Her tone was calm, and so were her emotions.Beatrice couldn't come up with a suitable reply. In truth, she would have preferred if Noelle had been more confrontational and aggressive. At least that would have meant she still felt something—anything—when it came to Hendrix.But there was nothing."I know," Beatrice finally said. "His name is Dylan, right
Erwin still showed signs of dissatisfaction. It seemed he was saying something, but Noelle could no longer hear him. She didn't look back either, instead turning her gaze to the other people at the party.The loud music continued, and the excitement and energy of the crowd remained high. But Noelle knew that this wasn't the usual celebration. This, in fact, was just Hendrix's way of making her adapt and accept the situation.Though she had known this for some time, the realization still made Noelle uncomfortable. Then, she suddenly remembered something Dylan had told her a few days ago about her past with Hendrix.Even though she knew Dylan's words weren't necessarily true, that didn't mean everything he said was a lie. How much of the past he mentioned was real, and how much was false?Noelle actually thought her life was fine now. She was willing to accept her past choices and believed in Hendrix's feelings for her. At least, this was what she thought sometimes.But at other tim
Dylan didn't dare to stay there. He immediately drove back to his place.He wanted to take Noelle with him and leave. Even if she didn't have her passport, it didn't matter. After all, there were definitely people looking for him right now.But no matter what, he was going to protect her. Even if they had to roam the world, it didn't matter. As long as they were together, it was fine. Even if it was just a shabby house, as long as there was a light on, that would be their home.However, when Dylan returned to the apartment, he found Noelle nowhere in sight. Gone also were all her things. The desk and floor were spotless, as if nothing had ever existed there.Dylan remained standing where he was. It took him several minutes to finally process what he was seeing. Then, he couldn't help but laugh. It was as if he had just heard the biggest joke—he laughed so hard that his whole body shook.Of course, how could he have thought she would be waiting for him here? How could she possibly
"I'm damned for ever believing your words! Now, just die!" George didn't give Dylan another chance to speak. He pulled the trigger, aiming to shoot a bullet through Dylan's forehead.In that instant, Dylan finally understood. This time, Hendrix didn't intend to leave him alive.If the goal had only been to swallow up Morphy Fund and make Dylan lose everything, the matter would have ended there. However, it seemed that Hendrix must have said something to George, which led him to believe that Dylan and Hendrix were working together—that Dylan had betrayed Morphy Fund.At this point, George had no way out. So, it wouldn't be surprising if he shot Dylan in the head. What Hendrix wanted was for him to die.Dylan didn't know what he was thinking at that moment. By the time he reacted, he had already grabbed the gun's barrel and twisted it violently. The bullet scraped past his head.Without hesitation, George moved to pull the trigger again when Dylan, still holding onto his wrist, forc
Dylan still remembered the victory party at the villa a few days ago. At that time, George had pushed him in front of everyone. He had enjoyed all the praise and recognition while sipping glass after glass of champagne.He knew that no matter how much doubt and skepticism there had been about him in the past, it all vanished that night. That was also why George had thrown him a victory party at the very first stage.After all, only by telling everyone about his achievements would they believe in him and entrust him with their funds. But they probably didn't expect the final result to be like this.Actually, when Fuer Fund continued to add to their position after reaching the peak, George had already warned Dylan that there might be some issues. But the market was unpredictable—a moment's decision or a few seconds of hesitation could lead to failure.Thus, Dylan didn't wait. He thought Hendrix was also gambling. So, he disregarded the risk and pushed all the funds in. He wanted Hend
Noelle's expression changed at that moment. It took her a while to find her voice to ask, "Is that what really happened?""Hendrix definitely hasn't told you all these, right?" Dylan smirked. "It's because he's too afraid to mention them. So, tell me. How could someone like him possibly deserve a happy life? "Don't worry. I'll make sure to take him down this time. Once I get your passport, you can go whenever you want."When he finished speaking, there was sincerity and seriousness in his eyes as he looked at Noelle. He really hoped she would stay. Of course, he wanted victory. But if he could have her by his side when he achieved it, that would be even better.Although once he reached the top, anyone could stay by his side. But the person he wanted most was Noelle."Thank you," Noelle said in the end.That wasn't the answer Dylan was most satisfied with. But he knew he couldn't afford to rush things just yet. For now, it was enough that Noelle was on his side."Alright, go to
As Dylan spoke, his teeth clenched tighter. It was unclear whether he was trying to convince Noelle or himself.Noelle remained silent, quietly watching him.After staring at her for a while, Dylan suddenly laughed. "So, do you know why we were celebrating tonight?"Noelle shook her head."Because we stole Fuer Fund's opportunity! It's all thanks to the plan you sent me before. Now, no matter what Fuer Fund does next, we'll know about it. "George is really happy, too. He used to doubt my abilities, worried that I'd drag down his fund, but you should've seen how he treated me tonight."Not just him, but the whole industry now recognizes me. I've finally established myself here!"Dylan's voice grew more excited as he spoke.Noelle, however, remained calm.The only sign of change was when she heard that he succeeded because of the plan she had given him—her brow slightly lifted. But it was just for a moment.She quickly regained her calm and nodded.Her reaction made Dylan fro
George didn't care about being cautious. He was too excited. He had clashed with Fuer Fund a few times before, but when faced with absolute power, he had barely gotten any scraps from the table.Now, to be able to seize such a large slice of the pie from Fuer Fund and force them to back off, how could George not be thrilled?Thus, the drinks kept coming, one after another.Even if Dylan hadn't planned on getting drunk, it was hard to refuse the goodwill of so many people. In the end, he was thoroughly drunk.When he returned to the apartment, his steps were unsteady. Seeing the light still on inside, he paused for a moment. Then, he suddenly remembered he didn't live alone anymore. Noelle also lived with him now.Though Dylan was well aware, and his rational mind reminded him repeatedly that he had essentially kept her here as a hostage. If Hendrix made any further moves, he would have no choice but to kill her.But when he saw the light she had left on for him, Dylan couldn't he
The plan Hendrix had given Dylan was, of course, real. Though he had been tempted to lace it with a trap and watch him walk right into it, he knew better—Dylan wasn't that stupid.More importantly, what Hendrix truly wanted wasn't just to bait Dylan into a trap. Even if Dylan didn't trust the plan, it didn't matter. Their team would still move forward with the plan. But if he did trust it, all the better.Fuer Fund wouldn't tolerate anyone messing with their slice of the pie. And what Hendrix wanted was to drag Erwin and the rest of them into the game.Dylan might have found himself a solid backer, but this wasn't Coppersville. Taking him down alone wouldn't be easy. But what if Fuer Fund collapsed with Hendrix? That would change everything, and that was Hendrix's real goal.Thus, Hendrix didn't even panic when Erwin called him out on it. He simply raised an eyebrow."If this gets out, do you still think you'll have a place in this business?" Erwin slammed his hand on the desk. "O
"Stay at your place?" Noelle asked."Yeah," Dylan said with a smile. "Hendrix already has another woman now, doesn't he? But don't worry. Unless it's something you're willing to do, I'll never touch you.""Alright."Dylan had planned to say more but was caught off guard by how readily Noelle agreed. Her response made even him freeze for a second. Then, he narrowed his eyes slightly."Do you need me to do anything else?" Noelle asked.She looked completely sincere and serious, like they were truly on the same side now.But Dylan still held on to a shred of suspicion. Regardless, Noelle was in his hands for the time being. If all of this really was an act, and she was lying to him, then she shouldn't blame him for what came next.With that thought, Dylan smiled slightly and gently took Noelle's hand. "Alright. I'll have someone make arrangements right away."Just as he finished speaking, his partner George called to inform him that Hendrix's side had already started moving."Tha