Chapter 4: The Photograph

My hands trembled.

I read the message again.

If anything happens to me, don't trust the Kang family.

The handwriting belonged to my brother.

I knew it.

There was no mistake.

My chest tightened.

For three years, I had searched for answers.

And now I finally had one.

The problem was...

I didn't know what it meant.

The Kang family.

Not Noah.

Not a specific person.

The entire family.

I looked at the photograph again.

My brother stood beside Noah.

Neither of them were smiling.

They looked tense.

Worried.

As if they already knew something terrible was coming.

A sudden sound outside the meeting room made me jump.

Footsteps.

Someone was coming.

Quickly, I shoved the photograph into my bag.

The door opened.

And Noah walked in.

My heart nearly stopped.

His gaze immediately landed on me.

Then on the documents scattered across the table.

"What are you doing here?"

"Working."

"At eleven o'clock at night?"

I crossed my arms.

"Why are you here?"

Noah didn't answer.

Which was answer enough.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

As if he sensed something.

"Did you find something?"

My pulse quickened.

"No."

A lie.

And apparently, not a very good one.

Noah took a step closer.

I instinctively stepped back.

He stopped.

His jaw tightened.

"Minjun."

The way he said my name sent an uncomfortable warmth through my chest.

I hated it.

"You shouldn't be here alone."

"Why?"

His expression darkened.

"Because you're being watched."

The words hit me like ice water.

"What?"

Noah looked away briefly.

As if he regretted speaking.

Then his phone rang.

His expression immediately turned cold.

He answered.

"Speak."

Silence.

Then I watched his face change.

Not fear.

Not surprise.

Anger.

Pure anger.

"I'll handle it."

The call ended.

Noah grabbed his coat.

"We're leaving."

"What?"

"Now."

Before I could argue, he took my wrist.

Firm.

Warm.

Possessive.

The sudden contact made my breath catch.

Noah froze too.

As if realizing what he had done.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then he slowly released me.

But the feeling lingered.

"Come with me."

This time, it sounded less like an order.

More like a plea.

And somehow...

That was even more unsettling.

The parking garage was almost empty.

The sound of our footsteps echoed through the darkness.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Noah seemed to feel it too.

His eyes constantly scanned the area.

Watching.

Listening.

Waiting.

Then suddenly—

A loud crash echoed behind us.

I spun around.

A metal pipe hit the ground where I had been standing moments earlier.

Someone had thrown it from above.

My blood ran cold.

"What the—"

Before I could finish, Noah grabbed my arm and pulled me against him.

A second object crashed onto the concrete.

Exactly where I had been standing.

My heart pounded.

Noah's arm remained around my shoulders.

Protecting me.

His expression was terrifying.

Cold.

Dangerous.

Murderous.

Whoever had done this...

Had made a serious mistake.

Then Noah looked up toward the shadows above.

And spoke in a voice so calm it was frightening.

"I know you're there."

Silence.

A few seconds later...

Footsteps ran across the upper level.

Someone was escaping.

Noah immediately started after them.

But before he could move—

My phone buzzed.

A message from an unknown number.

I opened it.

And felt the blood drain from my face.

It contained a photograph.

A recent photograph.

Of me entering the company that morning.

Underneath was a single sentence.

Just like your brother, you should have stayed dead.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***