The CEO's Dangerous Line의 모든 챕터: 챕터 21 - 챕터 30

The hospital room was quiet in a way that almost felt unreal.Soft light filtered through the curtains, painting the white walls in a muted glow. The faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, clean but cold.Estella sat propped against the pillows, one leg slightly bent under the thin blanket. A small fruit plate rested on the tray table in front of her. She peeled an orange slowly, the citrus scent cutting through the sterile atmosphere.Her movements were steady.Measured.As if nothing about her situation was out of place.The door opened without a knock.Estella paused.Not startled—just aware.She didn’t look up immediately. Instead, she finished separating a slice of orange before lifting her gaze.Aizen Deveraux stood by the door.Immaculate as always.Controlled.Untouched by the chaos he often left behind.There was a bouquet in his hand.Blue tulips.For a brief second—just a second—Estella’s fingers stilled.Then she resumed peeling the rest of the orange.“You look be

The elevator doors opened.Estella walked out too quickly.Her breathing was uneven beneath the tightness in her chest, heels striking the marble hallway in rushed, unstable steps. The cold silence of the apartment corridor suddenly felt wrong tonight.Too quiet.Too empty.Her fingers trembled as she searched for her keycard inside her bag.The stranger’s voice replayed inside her head.[“You should stop looking into dead people, Miss Duan.”]Her stomach twisted.He knew her name.Not Miss Duan from Valcor.Not Secretary Duan.Him calling her that felt personal.Like a warning.Or worse—recognition.The moment she entered her apartment, Estella locked the door immediately and leaned against it, trying to steady herself.Her pulse still wouldn’t slow down.For several seconds, she simply stood there staring blankly into the dark living room.Then she grabbed her phone.Linda answered on the third ring.“Ella?”The moment Estella heard her voice, the fear she had been holding down fin

“This company shouldn’t exist anymore.”Vivianne’s voice came out quieter than usual.Too quiet.Estella slowly turned her chair toward her while the Helix Nova Biotech file still glowed on the monitor between them.Outside the secretary division, the office remained noisy after the chaos surrounding Project Aether earlier that day. Phones rang nonstop. Employees moved back and forth carrying documents while media notifications kept appearing across internal company screens.But inside this corner—everything suddenly felt still.Estella narrowed her eyes slightly.“You know this company?”Vivianne immediately looked away from the monitor.A second too late.And Estella noticed it.Vivianne crossed her arms lightly as if trying to regain composure before finally speaking.“My father used to work around government-funded biomedical projects years ago.”Estella stayed silent.Vivianne continued carefully.“I heard the name once when I was younger. Helix Nova was involved in a large rese

Golden lights poured across the grand ballroom of the Imperial Ardent Hotel, reflecting against crystal chandeliers high above the ceiling. The launch event for Project Aether had transformed the entire venue into a gathering place for the most influential people in the country.Investors.Executives.Government officials.Media figures.Every corner of the ballroom carried the scent of expensive perfume, polished marble, and ambition hidden behind elegant smiles.Estella stepped out of the elevator with measured calm, her black satin dress brushing lightly against the floor as she walked. The slit along one side revealed only a glimpse of her leg with each step, elegant without trying too hard. Her hair fell softly behind her shoulders tonight instead of being tied up like usual at the office.Different.But still dangerous.At least, that was the first thought crossing several men's minds the moment she entered the ballroom.Estella ignored the attention completely.Her eyes scanned

The lunch crowd had barely started filling the restaurant district when Estella’s phone vibrated against the conference table beside her laptop.She glanced at the screen.Kael Deveraux.A faint crease formed between her brows.That man rarely texted normally.The moment she opened the message, she regretted it.> Please save me.Another message immediately followed.> Linda ignored my message again.Estella blinked once.Then another text came.> I think she hates me.A quiet laugh escaped her before she could stop it.Vivianne, who sat across from her organizing project files, slowly lifted her head.“What?”Estella shook her head lightly. “Nothing.”Though the tiny smile lingering on her lips said otherwise.Another notification appeared.> Lunch today? Please bring Linda. If you don’t help me, I’ll die alone.Estella leaned back in her chair, staring at the ridiculous messages for several seconds before finally typing back.> You sound dramatic.Kael replied instantly.> Because I