Chapter 270

The moment Noelle responded, Bennett’s expression shifted. He stared at her pale face and opened his mouth to speak. “Noelle, you–” a warm smile.

But before he could finish, Brandon had already stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Noelle’s shoulders. With a wink, he said, "That’s more like it. I knew you were the best."

Noelle said nothing. In front of Brandon, she didn’t really have a say in anything. Whether she could or couldn’t – he always had the final word.

That afternoon, the second round of endurance testing began. Compared to the morning session, this one required Noelle to push 45 minutes beyond the previous limit. When the researchers heard the news, they were shocked and pulled Bennett aside.

“Bennett, is Noelle really going to do another round today? And for even longer? Isn’t that pushing her too hard?”

Bennett’s face was grim. He didn’t answer. When he first learned of Brandon’s request for another test, his instinct had been to go straight to the institute director and protest. After all, as Noelle’s brother and a lead researcher, he had some pull around here.

But the director’s response was clear: for the sake of scientific progress and the future of humanity, some sacrifices were necessary. And now that it had come to light that Noelle was a product of a human experimentation lab – with physical capabilities far exceeding a normal person – her involvement in the project was seen as a once-in-a-lifetime breakthrough.

The director had been under pressure from higher-ups for lack of progress. Noelle’s arrival had solved everything. So even knowing the risk, he still backed Brandon’s decision.

Bennett had also received a chilling warning: if he couldn’t accept this direction, he was free to walk away. And if he dared leak anything to the outside world… he’d be silenced before he ever had the chance.

With even the director siding with Brandon, Bennett had no choice but to fall in line. Still, he walked over to Brandon and eyed him coldly. Half-joking, he said, “Forty-five extra minutes? Are you sure this isn’t an attempt on Noelle’s life?”

Brandon shot him a glance, lips curling into a smile. “Mr. Anderson, you must be joking. How could I ever hurt Noelle?”

Brandon met his gaze, looking surprisingly innocent. “I don’t expect you to believe me, but Noelle is more important to me than myself. Bennett, you don’t have to worry so much – she’s stronger than you think. She’s a miracle, really.”

Then his eyes fell to the girl strapped into the test chair below, gleaming with something dangerous – an obsession that burned just beneath the surface.

“Just watch Shell pass this test flawlessly.”

Bennett caught that look – wild, fervent, almost unhinged – and for the first time, he felt a chill. There was love in Brandon’s eyes… but it was terrifying.

Noelle stood through and completed the extended session. Around the time the announcement came through that the test was complete, she collapsed, crumpling to the floor, too weak to move.

Noelle Bennett rushed from the observation deck in a panic. Brandon, however, stayed calm. He walked up to the intercom, pressed the button, and asked, “Noelle, can you hear me?”

Her body barely stirred, but she turned her head toward the voice and, barely conscious, whispered, “Brandon…?”

“You did it,” Brandon said, smiling. "You were amazing. At this rate, in less than a week, we can begin the full memory read-write testing. Congratulations, Noelle."

Noelle, however, couldn’t find it in herself to feel proud. Her entire body was in agony. Her head throbbed so violently she thought it might split open. And knowing this was only the beginning – that it would get even worse – made her want to give up entirely.

Maybe that was fine. After all, she was just a tool. Brandon told her to endure, and so she would. Noelle closed her eyes, letting the darkness take over.

Meanwhile, back in Reniam City, Nicolas returned and went straight to the research institute to find Noelle. She hadn’t answered his calls, and his team reported she hadn’t left the facility. That alone gave him a terrible feeling. Every time she got involved with these labs, it ended badly.

As soon as the car pulled up outside the institute, he stepped out – and saw a petite girl being helped toward the exit by a tall man. The girl was Noelle. And the man, Nicolas guessed, had to be Brandon.

“Noelle!” he called out.

Though her mind was foggy and her body weak, the second she heard his voice, her head snapped up.

“Nicolas?” she breathed, not trusting her ears.

But when her eyes met his, everything inside her crumbled. Every ounce of pain and misery came flooding out at once. Without another thought, she tore herself away from Brandon and stumbled toward the gates.

“Nicolas! Nicolas! Nicolas!”

The gate was tall and heavy, but she didn’t care. With one leap, she cleared it and landed unsteadily on the other side. Nicolas was already there, catching her in his arms.

“Noelle,” he murmured, pulling her close as she buried her face in his chest, trembling and clinging to him like her life depended on it.

He didn’t know what she had been through – but the way she clung to him made it clear; she was hurting.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart. You’re safe now. I’m here.”

He gently rubbed her back, whispering soft reassurances, not daring to make a sound louder than a breath.

Back at the gate, Brandon stood silently, watching the scene unfold. He saw everything – the way she ran to Nicolas, the way her eyes lit up, how she seemed to find strength again just from being near him. She had forgotten about him entirely.

Brandon’s gaze darkened. "So that’s how it is, Noelle."

He loved her, someone else did. Brandon’s gracious facade slowly faded, replaced by an icy stillness.

Noelle, he thought, you’ve made me angry.