Daniel had been coming to her bedroom every night—as if trying to make up for the thirteen years they'd lost. As if this week might be his last.
Celeste was tired. But she didn't stop him.
She knew. Once the line had been crossed, there was no pretending it hadn't.
They didn't speak much. But their silence held more than words ever could.
Breath and warmth. Skin against skin. A rhythm that blurred comfort and desire.
And now—morning. The 20th floor. The night before Jinwoo's return.
Noah received a message.
– We need to talk. Come up when you can.
He headed straight for the 20th floor.
When the elevator doors opened, Howard was waiting quietly by the entrance.
He nodded once and stepped aside to let him in.
Celeste was in the living room, still on the phone.
Her hair was damp, falling loosely over her shoulders. She wore soft pajamas, one hand around a coffee cup, the other holding her phone.
She looked tired.
He already knew why.
Noah swallowed the small smile that tried to rise and walked over.
She ended the call and looked up at him.
"You're here. Sit."
"So… what is it?"
Celeste set her cup down. Lowered her eyes for a moment, then met his gaze again.
"I'll start from the beginning," she said.
"There's a lot to explain. But first—I owe you an apology."
"An apology?"
Her voice stayed calm, but something softened in it.
"I didn't tell you everything. I couldn't. If even a little of it leaked, everything I've built could've fallen apart. Only Howard and my black team knew."
Noah said nothing. He simply listened.
She went on.
"The Langley audition project…it's not just an audition."
She took a breath.
"That's just the surface. The real goal is finding out what happened to your parents."
His eyes changed. A flicker. Then stillness again.
"…What did you just say?"
"If someone was behind their disappearance, they've probably tracked everything about you. Hiding you would've only made you a sitting target. So instead, I put you in the spotlight."
He let out a low breath. It wasn't quite a laugh.
"So that stupid interview, my face all over the headlines—that was you?"
Celeste gave a small smile. It held apology, and exhaustion.
"Yeah. That was me. I'm sorry I didn't warn you first."
There was a pause. She took another sip of coffee.
"By now, most of the global press think you're officially part of Langley. They won't touch you carelessly. They'll assume I know things—and they'll hesitate."
"And the official story I've been putting out is this."
She gestured lightly in the air as she spoke.
"We were classmates. You moved abroad. We lost contact. Then we reconnected by chance. You quit your job, and I offered you a position—because I trust you."
Noah didn't answer right away. He just nodded, slowly. Letting it sink in.
Then Celeste added, voice a little quieter:
"And there's one more thing."
Her gaze shifted.
"The whistleblower. The one your parents were supposed to meet. He's still in Korea."
Noah's eyes widened.
"You're serious? The guy I've been chasing for years—you found him?"
She nodded.
"We tracked him last night. He's not far. The team's ready. I want you there with me."
"You deserve to face him."
Noah leaned back slightly. Closed his eyes for a beat.
Then opened them and nodded.
Finally—Celeste smiled. A quiet, relieved smile she'd been holding in for a long time.
"That's everything," she said.
"All the things I've been wanting to tell you."
"I'm sorry I kept it from you. But… I hope you understand."
Noah drew in a breath. Let it out slowly.
"…Thank you," he said quietly.
"If it weren't for you…"
His voice trailed off. Then came back, steadier.
"I'd still be running in circles. Maybe already dead in some alley, chasing ghosts."
He looked at her, clear-eyed.
"I owe you more than I can say. Everything, actually."