Lila ran through the hospital corridor as fast as she could, her heartbeat pounding violently inside her chest. Her breathing had already become uneven, but she didn't stop for even a second.
Only one sentence echoed endlessly inside her mind.
"Stay away from room 306 tonight."
Adrian's warning refused to leave her thoughts.
Something was wrong.
Something was about to happen.
As she turned the corner, she noticed several nurses gathered near the hallway ahead, speaking in nervous voices.
Lila's chest tightened instantly.
She ran faster.
Then finally—
Room 306.
Aria's room.
The door was slightly open.
Her breath caught immediately.
"Aria?!"
Lila pushed the door open and rushed inside.
Aria was still there.
The machines beside her bed were still working normally, the soft beeping sounds filling the room.
But—
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Lila slowly looked around the room carefully.
The window was open.
Cold wind pushed the curtains violently through the room.
And on the floor—
A black glove.
Lila's eyes narrowed immediately.
Someone had been here.
At that exact moment, Ryan, Maya, and Ethan came running into the room behind her.
"What happened?!" Maya asked quickly.
Lila pointed silently toward the glove.
Ryan immediately picked it up carefully.
His expression changed instantly.
"…This doesn't belong to the hospital staff."
Ethan stared toward the open window in shock.
"Wait… someone came in through the window?!"
Lila stayed silent.
But Adrian's warning echoed louder inside her head now.
He knew.
But how?
A nurse suddenly entered the room and froze.
"Who opened the window?!"
Nobody answered.
The tension inside the room immediately became heavy again.
A Little Later
The hospital cafeteria was nearly empty.
Rain continued hitting the windows outside while the four of them sat quietly around a small table.
Nobody seemed to know what to say anymore.
Ryan kept staring at the black glove resting on the table in front of him, his expression unusually focused.
"This was planned," he finally said quietly.
"Someone entered Aria's room intentionally."
"But why?" Maya asked softly.
Ethan leaned back slightly before muttering nervously—
"…Maybe they came to finish the job."
"Ethan!" Maya immediately snapped.
"What? I'm just saying—"
But even Ethan's voice carried fear now.
Lila slowly lifted her head.
"No…"
Everyone looked at her.
"They weren't trying to kill her."
Ryan frowned slightly.
"Then what were they doing?"
Lila's eyes darkened.
"If Aria really belongs to the Noir family…"
"…then maybe she has something they're searching for."
Silence filled the table instantly.
Ryan thought quietly for several seconds.
Then suddenly—
He opened his laptop.
"I found something."
Everyone leaned slightly closer.
Ryan opened several files before a familiar logo appeared on the screen.
🜂 NOIR GROUP 🜂
Lila's eyes widened immediately.
"…That's impossible."
Ryan shook his head slowly.
"No. The company still exists."
Maya stared at the screen in disbelief.
"But everyone said the company collapsed years ago."
"Officially, yes," Ryan replied calmly.
"But not in reality."
He scrolled further through the documents.
"The company is still running."
"Through hidden ownership."
Ethan leaned closer toward the laptop.
"You mean someone is secretly controlling it?"
Ryan nodded slowly.
"And the current chairman's identity is completely hidden."
Lila felt her chest tighten again.
Only one name appeared inside her mind.
Adrian Noir.
Ryan opened another file.
"And there's something else."
An old newspaper article appeared on the screen.
'Adrian Noir — Missing, Never Officially Declared Dead.'
Maya looked stunned.
"…So legally, he's still considered alive?"
"Exactly," Ryan answered.
"And someone is still controlling Noir Group."
Ethan slowly looked toward Lila.
"…Then Adrian is probably still nearby."
Lila stayed silent.
Because Adrian's words from the rooftop kept replaying inside her head.
"I didn't do this."
For some reason—
That sentence scared her more than anything else.
Maya carefully looked at her.
"…Do you think he was telling the truth?"
Lila didn't answer immediately.
Because that question terrified her.
If Adrian was innocent—
Then who was the real monster behind all of this?
Meanwhile
On the other side of the city—
At the top floor of a massive building—
An office remained completely dark except for the faint city lights shining through the windows.
A man stood silently near the glass wall, watching the rain fall over the city below.
In his hand—
An old photograph.
The picture showed two small girls.
Young Lila.
Young Aria.
And their parents standing beside them.
The man slowly brushed his fingers across the photograph.
Then quietly whispered—
"…I only wanted to protect you."
Thunder crashed loudly outside.
For one brief second, lightning illuminated the entire office.
Adrian Noir.
His eyes carried exhaustion.
Regret.
And fear.
Then suddenly—
Another voice echoed from the darkness behind him.
"You're getting emotional again."
Adrian's expression instantly changed.
Slowly, he turned around.
Someone else stood inside the shadows.
Their face remained hidden.
Only a cold smile could barely be seen.
"…The girls are getting closer to the truth."
Adrian's eyes slowly darkened.
"…Stay away from them."
The mysterious figure laughed softly.
"Or what?"
Silence filled the office.
Then Adrian spoke quietly.
Cold.
Dangerous.
"…Don't make me choose sides."