Billionaire's match novel

---- Chapter 765 "No. He's fine," Khloe said immediately, her voice firm. "He has to be." "I believe he'll come back... because he promised me," she added, cutting off any chance for Noah to respond, as if speaking another word might shatter the hard-won hope that had just reached her. "What do you plan to do?" Noah asked, concern tightening his chest. "I'm going to do as Clarice suggested... exchange for Nick." "Are you out of your mind?" Noah's worry spiked. Never mind that Clarice's words were likely a lie-Khloe shouldn't surrender herself even if Nick really was in their hands.

"Of course not. Clarice doesn't have all the evidence. | need to hold the leverage so that she dies completely-without escape." Khloe's tone was calm, but her body betrayed her emotions. Her arms pressed against the edge of the table for support. Noah understood her intent and felt a chill. She was walking straight into danger herself. "If you insist on doing this, I'l help you," he said. "Give me a few ---- days. I'll make sure-confirm whether Nick is actually with Lacuna." By all logic, he didn't need to get involved anymore. Collect the payment, deliver the message, and leave.

Risking Lacuna's pursuit was already part of the price. Yet now, he couldn't pull away-half because of Lacuna, half because of Nick and Khloe's bond that had touched him. "Noah... thank you," Khloe said, her voice thick with gratitude. * But... | don't want you risking yourself for us." "Don't worry. | can protect myself. Besides... Lacuna is essentially my home," Noah replied Khloe froze at that, then quickly understood. Noah's choice to accept this job wasn't a whim-he had a plan. No wonder he had been so careful, so deliberate in his communication with her.

He also needed to avoid drawing Khloe into any potential fallout when Clarice and others were eventually dealt with. Later, when they emerged from the study, Charlotte had prepared a full breakfast spread. Khloe invited Noah to eat something before leaving. He glanced at the table, grabbed a sandwich, took a bite, and waved her off. Only when he noticed Charlotte's expectant gaze did he smile slightly. "Thanks. It's good." A week later, Khloe represented the Hunt family in the first round ---- of bidding against Solara Energy. The atmosphere in the conference hall was solemn.

Khloe sat at the Hunt Group's representative table in a sharp black suit, makeup precise, expression composed-every detail radiating confidence. She had prepared meticulously. In her short thirty-minute presentation, every data point and plan was flawless. This was the proposal she had refined more times than she could count, polished to perfection in record time. Below the stage, Solara Energy's representatives maintained impassive faces. Bamey stared at Khloe, hands clenched, unreadable eyes fixed on her. The presentation ended, moving into the Q&A session.

Khloe deflected each sharp question effortlessly, even turning some to emphasize aspects that favored the Hunt Group's plan. Just as the judges announced the next stage, someone from Solara Energy raised their hand to ask another question. A ripple of murmurs ran through the audience. And then Khloe's eyes froze. In the shadowed crowd, she saw a familiar figure. He was gone the instant she focused on him, but her heart felt as if someone had grabbed it ina vise. ---- That figure... she knew it perfectly It was Nick.