Theodore's face, which had just been burning with righteous fury, suddenly froze. The color drained from it at a visible rate.He knew better than anyone what the name Nolan Vaughn meant in the East District.If Theodore was a fierce tiger on the streets, then Nolan was a dragon coiled above the clouds, looking down on the jungle below.He was the true master of this chaotic territory. The undisputed ruler."Mr. Ryan..." Theodore's voice trembled for the first time. He turned abruptly, his tone urgent. "You have to leave! ""That man Nolan... there is no need for you to clash with him directly! Leave the fallout to me!"Theodore was truly panicking. The veins in his neck bulged.In his eyes, Mr. Ryan was the hero who had saved his life. A man worthy of his respect.However, Ryan's reaction caught him completely off guard.Ryan didn't leave.He didn't show a single hint of panic.He released his protective hold on Yelena. With complete nonchalance, he walked back to his original window

The phone screen went dark.The door to Room 302 was closed tight. The adrenaline of surviving a brush with death completely faded.Only an incredibly awkward silence remained in the cramped room.Yelena sat on the old wooden chair.She stared blankly at Ryan's focused profile as he looked down to pack away the ointment. Her heartbeat lost its rhythm entirely."I... I'll make us something to eat."Yelena stood up abruptly. Her voice carried a trace of unconcealable panic."To thank you for saving me today."Ryan didn't refuse. He nodded.Yelena immediately turned around. She fetched some simple ingredients from Room 301 and got busy in Ryan's tiny, rudimentary kitchen.Half an hour later.Two plates of simple spaghetti were set on the peeling desk.The incandescent light in the room cast a dim, yellow glow.The air was thick with a mixture of scents: cheap tomato sauce, the cooling mint of the burn ointment, and the faint, clean fragrance of soap lingering on Yelena's skin.The three

He extended his long, well-defined fingers, pinched the note, and slowly unfolded it.Two lines written in black ballpoint pen. The handwriting trembled slightly."Ryan, thank you.""I wish you happiness and joy for the rest of your life."Just a handful of words.It was a one-sided farewell letter.Ryan's brow instantly furrowed into a tight knot.This was not a sweet love note left by a woman after a night of intimacy.An intense sense of urgency flooded his veins.He stood up abruptly, snatching his shirt and suit pants from the chair. He dressed in record time.Ryan strode out of Room 302, heading straight for Room 301 across the hall.He raised his fist and pounded heavily against the rusted security door.BANG! BANG! BANG!"Yelena! Open the door!"Ryan's deep voice echoed down the empty, damp hallway.No sound came from inside. Only dead silence.Ryan looked down, his gaze sweeping the threshold.Wedged in the gap at the bottom of the door was a thick manila envelope.He crouche

Ethan's phone call worked faster than he expected.Ninety seconds.The revolving doors of the Wells Building's main entrance spun rapidly.Fourteen black-clad security guards filed out, quickly forming a crescent-shaped barricade across the marble plaza.Tasers holstered. Earpieces in. Their gazes uniformly locked onto a single coordinate—the spot where Ryan and Blake stood.Ethan leaned back against the hood of his Bentley, looking thoroughly satisfied."You two. Please cooperate with a security check."The lead guard stepped forward. His tone was strictly business, but his eyes kept darting to Ryan's bespoke suit.The outfit clashed sharply with the grimy fire truck; it was undeniably conspicuous."We received a report of suspicious behavior. Loitering around the building perimeter and spying on internal facilities. Please show your IDs and visitor registration passes."Blake stepped up first.He pulled his work ID and dispatch order from his turnout gear, his movements as crisp as

Ryan looked down, quietly watching Ethan kneeling on the ground, streaming tears and snot.Just a few minutes ago.This man had used his bespoke leather shoe to stomp on the back of Blake's hand. He had demanded Blake lick his Bentley's door with his tongue.And now.His own knees were shattered against the marble, which was much harder than a Bentley's door.There was no anger on Ryan's face.No disdain. No mockery.Only something far crueler than these emotions—absolute indifference.Ryan looked straight past the top of Ethan's head, gazing at Security Captain Max standing nearby."Max, handle it as you see fit."His tone was casual and flat.Max immediately stood at attention, responding loudly."Immediately revoke the financial summit qualification of Mr. Ethan Reed and his company! Permanently add them to the Wells Group blacklist!"Ethan's face instantly turned a deathly ash grey.Banned from entering the Wells Building.This meant he would be completely excluded from tomorrow's