Katelyn’s eyes were hard to read, as if they held too many thoughts at once. What could she possibly say right now? Vincent had already pieced everything together. No matter how cleverly she tried to deny it, it wouldn’t change anything.

Besides, Alfy was already a huge bundle of suspicion. Sometimes, saying nothing was the best response. Right now, Katelyn’s silence spoke louder than any words. She lowered her gaze briefly, something unreadable passing through her eyes.

“So, you found out that quickly,” she said.

Vincent didn’t feel any relief hearing her admit it. Instead, all he saw was the bitterness in her eyes.

She’d been keeping this secret for a long time. There had to be some kind of pain behind it.

“You know, there are times when you could choose to trust me. I’d help you deal with your problems,” Vincent said.

Katelyn’s nails pressed into her palms so hard that a warmth spread there, the feeling of her own blood seeping under her fingers.

Her voice trembled, thick with emotion. “But I can’t risk my master’s life.”

This was the master who had brought her into this world, who had shown her everything.

He was a gentle old soul.

And now, because of her, he had been captured, reduced to a pawn in someone else’s game, forced to follow their every command.

If she didn’t comply, if she failed to follow every instruction from the mysterious figure, her master would suffer. Withholding food was just the least of the punishments.

But he was already so frail.

? ? : ν?

It was all her fault.

Katelyn’s guilt and self-blame gnawed at her constantly.

If only she hadn’t won first place in that global hacking competition; if only she hadn’t drawn the attention of the mysterious figure, maybe her master wouldn’t have been dragged into this nightmare.

The guilt gnawed at her, never giving her a moment’s peace.

Vincent exhaled a quiet breath.

He could see how much Katelyn was struggling inside.

“But with something this huge, why didn’t you come to me? Why didn’t you think to ask for my help?” he asked. It was a question that always puzzled him. After everything they had been through together, hadn’t he earned her trust by now?

Katelyn’s voice was rough, barely above a whisper.

“This person—he knows me inside and out. He said if I told anyone, my master would suffer. I didn’t hide it from you on purpose, but I simply can’t let my master get hurt because of me.” Th?s chapter is updated by FindN()vel.net

The words broke something inside her, and the emotions she had buried for so long finally spilled over.

Every time she watched those cruel videos of her master being tortured, the guilt tore at her more, reminding her over and over that it was all her fault.

She also hated herself for not being able to fight back. Years of being controlled, and she still hadn’t found a single lead on who this mysterious person really was. Everyone admired the incredible hacking prowess of TS, the genius hacker. But only Katelyn knew it was more like a chain—one she couldn’t escape.

A shadow flickered in Vincent’s eyes.

He stepped closer, resting a hand on her shoulder. The gesture was more than just friendly; it was the deepest reassurance he could give.

“You don’t have to carry this alone. I’ll help you find a way to save your master,” he said.

The way he looked at her, his eyes steady and full of promise, spoke volumes. His message was clear—no matter what happened, she could trust him and lean on him. To Katelyn, Vincent had always been that safe harbor when everything else crumbled.

Her eyes trembled as they met his, and she felt the cracks in the walls she had built around her heart widen just a little more.

Vincent never made empty promises. He proved time and again that he was someone she could rely on.

Slowly, a faint smile formed on Katelyn’s lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt a piece of the invisible weight lift from her shoulders.

Carrying the weight alone was exhausting, but sharing it, even just a little, made it easier to bear.

“Thank you, Mr. Adams.”

“There’s no need for formalities. We’re more than friends—we’re comrades,” Vincent replied.

It was the kind of bond forged in battle, where you could trust the other to watch your back without a second thought. Katelyn nodded firmly, her voice softening with newfound ease.

“Thank you.”

Their eyes met, locking in a silent exchange of trust and understanding.

In that moment, it felt as if the world around them faded, leaving only their reflections in each other’s gaze. Time seemed to stand still. Everything else blurred into the background, as if it didn’t matter anymore, and all that existed were the two of them.

The air between them grew warmer, a subtle tension forming, as if delicate bubbles of something unspoken—something romantic—were rising.

And then, out of nowhere, an awkward voice shattered the moment.

.

.

.

Message from Noah: Hope you liked the new chapters dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (?O?=)? ?

.