EPISODE FOURTEEN
1124 Words
THE ONE WHO LEFT
The international tour was a whirlwind. The band barely had time to breathe between rehearsals, performances, and media appearances. Noah had been too busy to think—too busy to notice.
Ethan wasn’t there.
Sure, messages still came in. The schedules were still tight, every little detail flawlessly arranged, just as Ethan always handled things.
But something felt… different.
He had assumed Ethan was just tied up with work back home.
He had assumed Ethan would always be there.
He had assumed wrong.
---
THE PARTY BEFORE THE END
The final night of the tour was a grand celebration—one last event before they flew home. The rooftop venue in Tokyo overlooked the city, filled with high-profile guests, industry executives, and celebrities. Laughter and music surrounded them, but Noah felt a strange sense of exhaustion.
Something was off.
He nursed his drink, leaning against the railing, letting the cold night air cool his skin. The rest of the band was enjoying themselves, and their new manager—someone Ethan had sent in his place—was handling the formalities.
Noah should have felt relieved.
Instead, he felt restless.
Jay Kang approached, leaning on the railing beside him. “You good?”
Noah exhaled sharply. “Just tired.”
Jay hesitated before speaking. “You don’t even realize it, do you?”
Noah frowned. “Realize what?”
Jay turned to face him fully, his expression unreadable. “Ethan’s gone.”
Noah blinked. “What?”
Jay’s gaze was unwavering. “He resigned, Noah. Three months ago.”
The world tilted.
Noah felt his chest tighten, his grip on the glass loosening.
“What the hell are you talking about?” His voice was sharp, but his heart pounded in his chest.
Jay sighed. “He sent in his resignation before we left for the tour. The company agreed, and the CEO kept it quiet. Ethan didn’t want you to know—he thought it would distract you.”
Noah froze.
His breath caught.
His mind raced, trying to process Jay’s words.
Ethan wasn’t here because—
Because he left.
No.
Ethan wouldn’t just—
Would he?
Jay watched him carefully. “You really thought he’d stay forever, huh?”
Noah clenched his jaw, his nails digging into his palm. “Where is he?”
Jay shook his head. “No one knows. He disappeared the moment we left. Sold his penthouse. Cut off contact. It’s like he never existed.”
Noah felt something cold settle in his stomach.
This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.
Ethan had always been there. Through everything.
No matter how much Noah pushed him away, no matter how much distance he created—
Ethan always stayed.
But this time…
He was gone.
---
THE SEARCH BEGINS
Noah didn’t remember much after that.
The moment they landed, he went straight to Ethan’s penthouse.
Or what used to be Ethan’s penthouse.
The place was empty.
Completely wiped clean.
As if Ethan Choi had never lived there at all.
Noah stood in the middle of the vacant space, his chest tightening with something he couldn’t name.
He checked his phone for the hundredth time, scrolling through messages that had long stopped coming.
His fingers trembled as he called Ethan’s number.
Disconnected.
Again.
Disconnected.
Again.
The number you have dialed is no longer in service.
Noah slammed his phone onto the counter, his hands gripping the edge as he tried to breathe through the overwhelming frustration clawing at his chest.
He was gone.
Ethan was really gone.
A sharp pain twisted in his chest, an unfamiliar weight pressing down on him.
He had always thought Ethan would be there.
That no matter how far he pushed, no matter what he did—
Ethan would never leave.
But he had.
And Noah didn’t know what to do with that.
---
THE CONFRONTATION
The CEO’s office was silent when Noah stormed in, shoving past the secretary who tried to stop him.
The CEO barely looked surprised. “I was expecting you.”
Noah slammed his hands on the desk. “Where is he?”
The CEO leaned back, folding his hands. “Who?”
Noah’s glare was lethal. “Ethan. Where. Is. He?”
The CEO sighed. “Ethan resigned, Noah. You already know that.”
Noah gritted his teeth. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Ethan didn’t want you to know,” the CEO replied smoothly. “He said it would affect your tour. He made it clear—he didn’t want to be a distraction to you anymore.”
Noah’s breath caught.
A distraction.
The words sliced through him like a blade.
Ethan had always put him first. Always made sure Noah’s life ran smoothly, sacrificing everything for him.
And Noah—
Noah had thrown it away.
The CEO studied him for a long moment. “He left everything behind, Noah. Even his past.”
Noah’s fingers curled into fists. “That doesn’t make sense. He has nothing without this job. He wouldn’t just leave.”
The CEO’s lips quirked up slightly. “Is that what you think?”
Noah froze.
Something in the CEO’s expression unsettled him.
“Ethan Choi was never just your manager,” the CEO said, his tone unreadable. “And he didn’t leave with nothing.”
Noah frowned. “What are you talking about?”
The CEO exhaled, leaning forward. “Ethan took over his company the moment you left for the tour.”
Noah’s pulse stilled.
“What?”
The CEO’s gaze didn’t waver. “Ethan Choi is now one of the most powerful businessmen in the world. He had an empire waiting for him—one worth billions.”
Noah’s breath hitched.
Ethan… was a billionaire?
The CEO continued, “He chose you over that empire once. But since you didn’t want him anymore… he decided to finally take what was his.”
Noah’s heart pounded in his chest.
This couldn’t be real.
Ethan—his Ethan—had been hiding this?
“You’re lying,” Noah whispered.
The CEO chuckled. “Look it up yourself. The media’s been buzzing about the ‘Young Trillionaire’ who took over multiple industries overnight. He keeps his identity hidden, but anyone in the corporate world knows who’s pulling the strings.”
Noah stood there, stunned.
Ethan was gone.
And the person who had always stood behind him—supporting him, sacrificing for him—was now untouchable.
Noah felt something deep inside him crack.
For the first time, he realized—
He hadn’t just lost his manager.
He had lost the one person who had always been by his side.
And he didn’t know if he’d ever get him back.
- Writer
