Noah glanced down at his phone, swiftly opening an app to check the surveillance footage outside his apartment door. Lucas’s tense figure stood impatiently on the other side. With an irritated sigh, Noah pocketed his phone and opened the door.
Lucas barreled past him immediately, barely sparing Noah a glance. Noah raised an eyebrow in mild amusement, prepared to make a sarcastic comment when Lucas’s eyes fell on Vivian’s bandaged hand. In an instant, Lucas spun around, violently shoving Noah up against the wall, his hands gripping Noah’s throat.
“What the fuck did you do to her? You can’t fucking help yourself, can you?” Lucas growled, eyes blazing with fury.
“No! Stop! It wasn’t him!” Vivian rushed forward, grabbing Lucas’s arm with both hands before recoiling sharply with a wince.
Lucas immediately released Noah, who collapsed, coughing heavily as he tried to regain his breath. Even while spluttering, Noah’s gaze locked onto Vivian’s injured hand, concern surfacing through his coughing, “your hand, are you ok?”
“Yes, it’s fine, I just forgot,” Vivian said softly, helping him up carefully with her uninjured arm. Her back was turned to Lucas, allowing Noah to flash a smug grin behind her.
Lucas’s jaw tightened visibly, a vein pulsing angrily at his temple.
Vivian turned around to face Lucas, calm but firm. “It’s not his fault. I made him take me to find Mochi.”
Lucas looked at her skeptically. “You made him?”
Noah raised both hands mockingly, feigning helpless innocence.
“Believe it or not, yes. I wanted to make sure we didn’t lose the lead we have on Serena to Red Phoenix,” Vivian replied evenly.
Lucas gently took her bandaged hand, examining it carefully. “And this?”
Vivian hesitated at his unexpectedly gentle touch, then admitted quietly, “She had a knife. I fought back. Noah helped me stitch it up.”
“And you said she would be safe with you nearby,” Lucas snapped at Noah.
Noah’s expression hardened, but he said nothing—because it wasn’t untrue.
Vivian glanced guiltily at Noah before adding softly, “He told me not to confront Mochi, but I did it anyway.”
Lucas stared at her incredulously. “Why?!”
Vivian’s expression grew stubborn, her eyes unwavering. “Because the opportunity was there and I could. And I did. And we got what we needed. Somebody named Key took Serena. And we know more about this Mike Liu guy.”
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The tension lingered as they gathered around the kitchen bench, relaying the details to Lucas. Vivian naturally handed Lucas a glass of water, and Noah’s eyes glinted with amusement.
“Such a hostess, what a perfect wifey,” Noah teased, grinning as he leaned casually against his palm, insinuating Vivian was his.
Lucas swung angrily at Noah, who smoothly dodged, leaping backwards off the stool.
Vivian cast Noah a sharp, warning glance before quickly changing the subject. “What happened with Black Lotus?”
Lucas explained the meeting with Black Lotus leaders, mentioning Vince’s upcoming funeral. "It’ll be in two days," Lucas informed quietly. “You’ll pay your respects after Black Lotus, before the outsiders.”
Vivian nodded slowly, her face suddenly pale and distant. The memory surged back vividly—Vince collapsing violently under the killer’s hammer blow at the Karaoke. Her throat tightened painfully.
Lucas continued, mentioning Black Lotus had traced Serena’s phone and tasked him with investigating.
Vivian’s head snapped up instantly. “Where? I’ll come with you.”
Noah visibly tensed but remained silent.
“You can’t,” Lucas said stiffly, looking away. “It’s official Black Lotus business now. You’re a civilian. If you join, you’ll only make yourself look suspicious.”
Vivian stared at him, confused. “But Serena is MY family.”
Lucas looked at her regretfully, his voice firm yet gentle. “Serena is Black Lotus first.”
He held out his hand. “Give me your phone. I’ll give you a number you can reach me on if you need help. And I’ll let you know when I find anything—even if it’s small.”
Vivian handed Lucas her phone, her expression deeply forlorn. The look on her face made Noah want to rip Lucas’s throat out, even though he silently acknowledged Lucas was right.
Lucas leaned over the kitchen bench, moving closer to Vivian. His voice softened, carrying an undertone of genuine concern. “Look, Vince would want you to stop.”
Vivian blanched visibly, tears pooling in her eyes.
“You should go back to your dorm, go back to class, ignore this fucker—” he nodded sharply at Noah, who scowled back, “and go back to living your life. Don’t get caught up in any more of this. You know Serena would say the same.”
Noah watched Vivian closely, saying nothing. Deep down, part of him agreed; Doll Face belonged far from the darkness he inhabited. Yet the mere thought of her leaving sent a panicked jolt through him.
Lucas paused, his voice heavy. “Vince once told me ‘she’s gonna be better than all of us’ and I believe him. This world isn’t for you. Go home.”
Vivian remained silent, tears rolling slowly down her cheeks. She looked up—not at Lucas, but directly at Noah, silently asking if he agreed.
Noah stared back at her, conflict raging in his expression. Finally, forcing the words out, he said quietly, “He’s right, Vivian. You should go home.”
Vivian inhaled sharply, visibly hurt, and Noah’s expression faltered.
After a painful silence, Vivian whispered shakily, “Okay. I’ll go home.”
Lucas nodded approvingly. “I’ll help you pack.”
Noah watched silently as Lucas helped Vivian gather her belongings, committing her every movement to memory. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, knuckles white.
I’m doing the right thing. I’m doing the right thing. I’m doing the right thing.
Lucas shouldered Vivian’s bag and opened the door. Without looking back, Vivian stepped through, Lucas following after casting one last hateful glance at Noah.
Noah stayed at the kitchen bench, his fists clenched on the cold marble top:
I’m doing the right thing. I’m doing the right thing. I’m doing the right thing.
