Billionaire's match novel

---- Chapter 825 Charlotte had already finished two cans of beer, and the tension she'd been holding in her chest finally began to ease. Her mood lightened, and she felt ready to talk to Noah. "Really? | thought | was eating pretty roughly." Noah felt a little shy at her words, brushing his mouth with the pads of his fingers. "But you eat with such focus, and it looks... satisfying." Charlotte was genuinely complimenting him-she liked men who were rugged yet capable of being absorbed in something, completely grounded in the moment.

Noah, however, misunderstood and thought she was criticizing him for not being comforting. He said softly, "Sorry... I'm not good at comforting people." "usually don't either. I just... accompany people," Charlotte replied with a small smile. She popped open another beer and tilted her head to look at him. "That's enough for me. | like quiet people." Beneath his rough exterior, Noah could be surprisingly gentle. Charlotte noticed this and took another slow sip of beer.

---- The two of them sat quietly in the small living room, one silently eating, the other slowly drinking, until Noah finished his food and Charlotte's eyelids grew heavy. With her eyes still closed, she asked, "Khloe won't be in any danger, right?" "She won't," Noah said evenly. "She's strong." "| think so too," Charlotte said firmly, nodding. Noah cast her a glance. "But... why are you so worried about Khloe?" Seeing Charlotte didn't answer immediately, he realized he might have been too forward. "| know you're friends.

But you seem so rational most of the time .." His voice softened further. Actually, that night when Charlotte went to see Ethan, Noah had been nearby. It was late, yet she had gone to the hotel. Worried, he had discreetly checked the guest information-it was Ethan A late-night hotel meeting... His mind raced, jumping to conclusions, and he left quickly. But he soon realized he had misjudged. Charlotte and Ethan weren't involved in the way he feared. She had gone for Khloe. ---- But to do this for a friend... could it be that she gave too much of herself? "Because Khloe isn't just my friend...

she's my emotional anchor, " Charlotte sighed. The alcohol made her drowsy, and her words came instinctively. Khloe had guided her into the workplace, teaching her countless lessons. Charlotte admired not only her professional ability but also her character and temperament. She had modeled herself after Khloe in nearly every way. To protect Khloe was, in a sense, to protect her own direction in life. Of course, this was only part of the reason. There was another. Nancy. Nancy had once been Charlotte's source of warmth and support.

But back then, Charlotte had been too weak to protect her friend. When Nancy suffered, Charlotte realized just how much pain and helplessness her friend had endured. She blamed herself. If she had noticed sooner, if she had reached out to protect Nancy as Nancy had protected her... would things have ended differently? For years, regret and guilt had gnawed at her. ---- Now, Khloe was like Nancy to Charlotte. Charlotte's frantic desire to protect her was a way of trying to make amends for past regrets. Noah listened to Charlotte's halting words. Though fragmented, he understood the essence.

The girl was young, yet carried a heavy heart. Her thoughts reminded him of himself at her age. He had lost his parents early and had once relied heavily on Spence-his anchor, his guide. He would have risked his life for Spence. But now... everything had been shattered