Hendrix had already dialed the number, and the voice on the other end had already answered with a "hello". But Hendrix couldn't bring himself to say a word.

"Mr. Freeman?"

The person on the other end kept speaking, but Hendrix slowly turned his head, his eyes locking onto Noelle. She stood there, meeting his gaze.

"What did you just say?" he asked.

"If you really kill Dylan, then I'll kill myself, too," Noelle said, her voice unmistakably clear.

Hendrix suddenly burst into laughter. It was as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world, laughing. so hard that he was trembling all over.

But his eyes slowly turned red, and there was the taste of blood lingering on his tongue. Even so, his voice remained-calm as he asked, staring at Noelle, "You would die for Dylan?"

"Yes."

"And what about Elm Group? You don't care about it anymore? And the one lying in the hospital-"

"Is threatening me the only thing you know how to do?" Noelle interrupted him. "I've already done what you wanted-I married you. Isn't that enough? Why must you go after others so ruthlessly?"noveldrama

"Ruthless? Dylan got himself investigated for his own shady dealings. What does that have to do with me? And now, you're saying you'll die if I don't help him? Why should I help him?"

"Is that really all it is? Just refusing to help him?" Noelle countered. "Weren't you the one who just said you wanted him dead?"

Hendrix was momentarily at a loss for words and abruptly ended the call. He remained silent, and Noelle didn't press further. The quiet between them settled back in.

The waves continued to crash against the shore, their rhythmic sound unchanged by the tension that now hung between them. Not even a fierce argument-or the death of one of them-would make the slightest difference to the world.

After all, no one was truly special.

The thought struck Noelle as bitterly ironic: Without another word, she simply turned and prepared to leave.

But in the next moment, Hendrix's voice came from behind her, "Why are you suddenly asking me to help Dylan? Did he contact you?"

"No. I asked him myself," Noelle replied without turning around. "And I didn't insist that you have to help him. After all, like you said, if he's truly done something wrong, then facing punishment is only fair.

"I just know him well enough to believe he wouldn't do something like that. So, I wanted to try to help him. But since you're unwilling, then forget it."

As Noelle finished speaking, Hendrix let out a soft laugh.

"Yes, you know him well enough. But what about me? Do you think I'd agree to such a request tonight? You should know it's impossible for me to help him. So, why did you even bother to ask?

Noelle stopped in her tracks. She knew deep down it was unlikely, but she still had to try. Even going so

far as to

choose a moment when Hendrix was at his "happiest".

Was it because she couldn't resist trying to help Dylan? Or was it because she couldn't stand seeing Hendrix so content? Had she chosen this moment just so she could inflict the most pain on him?

Noelle didn't know the answer, so she remained silent in the face of Hendrix's question.

Hendrix, however, chuckled. Then, speaking again as if to himself, "You just wanted to tell me, didn't you? That in your heart, I'll never be as important as Dylan."