Chloe''s movements were swift,pletely devoid of any emotion.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    Noah blinked and lowered his head, shoveling pieces of pie into his mouth. It was his favorite vor, yet he found it tasteless.


    "You should still take the money. I know I''ve caused you quite a bit of trouble," Noah mumbled, his words muffled by the pie in his mouth.


    Chloe''s hand, still holding the contract, trembled, her heart tightening.


    She couldn''t even bring herself to look at Noah''s expression as he spoke those words while lying in bed.


    "There''s no need to worry. The agreement you signed includes a gift use. You can ept this money without any hesitation," Adams said, his long, clean fingers holding a check as he handed it over.


    Chloe looked down, her eyes slightly reddened. She stared at the check, hesitating, unable to take any further action.


    "Even if you don''t take it, I''ll make sure the money gets to your ount. The West family doesn''t owe anyone a favor," Adams added.


    His implication was clear.


    Once this was settled, she shouldn''t try to use it to bargain for anything from the West family.


    When Ophelia walked in, this was the scene she encountered.


    Ophelia quickly rushed to Chloe''s side, instantly bing a protective shield, her entire posture bristling with defense as she stood up for the person she cared about.


    "The West family really is efficient, isn''t it? Not a trace of emotion.


    "Is this how you settle things, just exchanging money and calling it even?" Ophelia''s delicate brow furrowed, her clear, unclouded eyes staring coldly at Adams, their chill a stark contrast to the warmth she had shown earlier. Adams was taken aback. "No, you misunderstand. This is just appropriatepensation. If you feel it''s not enough..."


    Adams, always clear-headed, suddenly found himself at a loss for words.


    He felt uneasy under Ophelia''s gaze, as though he were being reprimanded by his own mother.


    "I don''t need it," Chloe said, cutting him off.


    "Then please take it back, Mr. West," Ophelia said, her voice icy and sharp.


    Adams instinctively pulled the check back, looking toward the door for help, his eyes pleading toward Keh, who stood there casually with his hands in his pockets. "Keh..." Adams hesitated.


    Say something, will you? This is your woman, Adams thought.


    "Didn''t you hear Ophelia? Keh saidzily, ncing at Adams. His narrow eyes met Adams'' amber gaze.


    Keh seemed to be saying, "No matter who you are, Ophelia has the final say."


    Adams swallowed the words he was about to say, realizing that Keh had no limits when it came to indulging a woman.


    Adams should have known this when Keh had him help bai Ophelia out of the police station.


    Adams reluctantly took back the check, handing Chloe her copy of the contract. His tone softened just a little as he spoke, "If you have any questions about the contract, you can always contact me. My phone number''s on it. Ophelia nced over the contents of the agreement, catching only a few lines. [Both parties are not to meet in the future.


    [The second party shall not mention anything rted to the first party in public. Even if they encounter each other in a public setting, the second party shall not acknowledge him...]


    ''Is... is this a non-disclosure agreement?'' Ophelia thought, ncing at Chloe. ''Did she really just sign this?''


    It wasn''t fair. Noah had practically forced his way into staying at Chloe''s ce, and now they were treating her so cruelly.


    Before Ophelia could speak, Chloe patted the back of her hand,


    "Wyatt''s still at home alone. I''ll go now," Chloe said, putting the contract away. She gave Ophelia a reassuring look, signaling that she was okay.


    Chloe turned and left the room, leaving Noah only with her retreating figure.


    Noah, still chewing on his pie, felt a sudden sharp pain in his chest, his heart tightening again.


    "I''ll walk you out," Ophelia said.


    After knowing Chloe for so long, Ophelia had rarely seen her so down.


    Ophelia followed closely behind Chloe, and they both exited the room together.


    In the hospital room, Keh sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, casting a casual nce at Noah''s foot, which was in a cast. "The injury''s not that serious," he said indifferently.


    "Even if he wasn''t injured, my father wants him to return as soon as possible. Ronin''sing back at the end of the month, you know," Adams exined, ncing over at Noah, who was still shoving pie into his mouth.


    It was clear Noah was in a bad mood.


    "Noah, I know you have feelings for that woman, but you need to understand your position. Once your memoryes back, you won''t feel the same way about her. So, you''d better juste back with me and stop this nonsense," Adams said. His tone was like he was trying to calm a child.


    Noah struggled to swallow the pie in his mouth, feeling a sharp contradiction in his heart. He didn''t agree with what Adams was saying, but he had grown used to not contradicting them.


    It didn''t matter anymore.


    Once Noah''s memory returned, he would be aplete person, and with his mind functioning well again, he could pursue the person he liked as Keh did.


    After a short silence, Noah took a sip of milk. "Get me discharged as soon as possible. I''ll go home and pack my things."


    He still wanted to go back once more.


    "Thank you, Elia. I''m fine. I''ll go back and pack his things. Don''t worry about me," Chloe said.


    Chloe managed a weak smile, her voice hoarse, and even cracked a little, as though her throat was constricted.


    <


    10:17 Wed,


    Ophelia stared at


    her face just a fesloe for a long time. Her back was straight, and her body was slender. The rosy glow Chloe had had on


    days ago was now gone.


    Standing in the sunlight, Chloe''s deep blue eyes carried an innate aloofness and coldness, like a lone silver wolf in the snow, destined to be alone.


    "Chloe, if there''s anything on your mind, you can talk to me," Ophelia said, a hint of guilt in her voice. She knew Noah''s true identity but hadn''t stopped it, letting things unfold as they did.


    In the end, it was Chloe who got hurt.


    "I don''t have anything on my mind. It''s fine, Elia. I''m really going now. I don''t want Wyatt to be home alone for too long. "Tell Noah his things will be at the supermarket on the first floor. He can send someone to pick them up," Chloe said. Without waiting for Ophelia to respond, Chloe turned and gged down a taxi by the side of the road.


    Chloe had been through much worse before, and now things were much better.


    At least Chloe still had Wyatt.


    When she returned to her apartment and opened the door, the moments of the past month seemed to unfold in front of her, each memory ying out in this very room.


    Chloe knew this day woulde eventually.


    She had known all along.


    The small apartment was filled with Noah''s presence. It looked like she''d need to find a new ce.


    The room was neatly tidied, probably cleaned before Chloe was picked up yesterday.


    Noah''s obsessivepulsive tendencies hadn''t changed one bit.


    Warm tears streamed down her cheeks, falling inrge drops to the floor.


    Chloe copsed weakly by the entrance, not daring to cry too loudly.


    She didn''t know how much time had passed, but suddenly, the door to the room clicked open.


    Chloe looked up, her back stiffening.


    "What''s wrong?" Noah''s voice came from behind her.


    Hearing that familiar voice from behind, Chloe felt as though her heart stopped beating.


    She wiped away her tears and stood up but didn''t dare to turn around.


    Chloe had forgotten that she had given Noah a spare key.