EPISODE EIGHTEEN
1660 Words
THE TRUTH THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
The world knew his name now. For the first time, Ethan stepped into the light.
The exclusive interview with the man behind the trillion-dollar empire shook South Korea to its core. Every major news outlet covered it. His face—once an enigma—was now on the front pages of newspapers, flashing across TV screens, dominating online trends.
People were in awe. The mysterious trillionaire wasn’t just some unknown businessman. He was Ethan Choi, Noah’s former manager.
And then came the words that shattered Noah’s world.
"I’m taken."
Noah stared at the screen in disbelief, his heart hammering in his chest. The words echoed in his mind like a cruel joke.
He felt his breath hitch. His stomach twisted painfully.
"Taken… Someone else took him…"
The realization crushed him. He felt lightheaded, as if the world had been yanked out from under his feet. Everything—his hard work, his determination, his confessions—it had all been for nothing.
Noah felt like a fool.
A stupid, hopeless fool.
The man he fought so hard for was already gone.
His vision blurred with unshed tears. His body felt numb. He didn’t remember how he ended up in bed that night, but for the first time in years, he didn’t dream of Ethan.
Because Ethan was no longer his to dream about.
-----
VANISHING FROM THE WORLD
Noah Disappeared.
For a whole week, he was unreachable. He didn’t show up at his company. His phone was turned off. No one could find him at his mansion or penthouse. His closest friends were worried, but Noah refused to answer their knocks, their calls, their desperate messages.
Jay Kang tried everything, but even he was met with silence.
"Where the hell are you, Noah?"
-----
ETHAN’S GROWING PANIC
Ethan never expected Noah to disappear.
At first, he thought Noah was just avoiding the media storm, but when days passed with no word from him, a tight knot formed in his chest.
He called Jay Kang.
"He’s not answering me either," Jay admitted, his voice tense. "No one’s seen him."
Ethan's heartbeat pounded in his ears.
Then the reports started coming in.
"Sir, we found traces of him in a bar downtown."
A bar?
Ethan’s stomach twisted.
He wasted no time. He got into his car, speeding toward the location his men had given him.
When he stepped into the dimly lit pub, what he saw made his blood run cold.
Noah was drunk—completely wasted.
And a man had his hands on him.
Noah struggled weakly, his glassy eyes unfocused as the man tried to drag him away.
Ethan saw red.
He didn't think—he acted.
With one swift move, he grabbed the man's wrist, twisting it behind his back with enough force to make him yelp in pain.
"Let go of him," Ethan's voice was dangerously low, laced with pure menace.
The man turned, clearly about to protest, but one look at Ethan's cold, murderous gaze had him backing off immediately.
"Who the hell do you think you are—"
Before he could finish, Ethan landed a brutal punch to his jaw. The man stumbled back, clutching his face in shock.
"Try touching him again, and I swear you'll regret it."
The bar fell into hushed silence.
Noah, barely conscious, slurred out Ethan’s name.
Hearing it—seeing him like this—it did something to Ethan’s heart.
He didn't hesitate. He scooped Noah up in his arms, carrying him like he was something precious. The people in the bar watched in stunned silence as the mysterious trillionaire walked out, holding the drunk idol like he was the most important thing in the world.
-----
BACK TO WHERE HE BELONGS
Ethan took Noah to his mansion.
His real home.
He laid him on the massive bed, carefully removing his shoes and tucking him in.
Noah whimpered in his sleep, his brows furrowing as if even in his dreams, he was in pain.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled, voice thick with emotion. "I… I don’t wanna lose you, Ethan…"
Ethan sat beside him, running a hand through Noah’s soft hair. His heart ached at how pitiful he looked.
"i***t," Ethan thought, his fingers lingering on Noah’s cheek. "Do you really think I belong to anyone else?"
He sighed, pulling the blanket up.
"It’s okay," he murmured, his voice gentler than he ever allowed it to be. "Sleep, Noah. I’m not going anywhere."
Noah seemed to hear him, his body relaxing slightly.
Ethan stayed there the whole night, holding him close, whispering soft reassurances until Noah finally stopped trembling.
-----
THE MORNING THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
When Noah woke up, his head was pounding.
The scent of expensive cologne and fresh sheets filled his senses. This wasn’t his house.
His eyes fluttered open.
And then—
The door opened.
Noah's breath hitched.
Ethan walked in, looking as breathtaking as ever. A simple silk robe hung loosely over his toned body, his sharp features glowing in the soft morning light. In his hands, he held a tray of breakfast.
Noah felt his entire brain short-circuit.
Ethan smirked.
"You’re awake."
Noah opened his mouth, but no words came out. He stared at the tray—fresh toast, eggs, coffee, and even a small bowl of soup.
Ethan… made him breakfast?
"You—" Noah swallowed, his throat dry. "W-What am I doing here?"
"You were drinking yourself into oblivion," Ethan said casually, setting the tray down. "I wasn’t about to leave you like that."
Noah's heart clenched.
This felt… too unreal.
Ethan sat beside him on the bed, arms crossed. "Eat first. Then we’ll talk."
Noah obeyed, though his hands trembled slightly as he picked up the spoon.
Silence filled the room.
Until—
"I saw your interview," Noah finally said.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
Noah clenched his fists. "You said… you were taken."
Something in his voice cracked at the last word.
Ethan leaned back, watching him carefully.
"You thought I meant someone else," Ethan stated. It wasn’t a question—it was an observation.
Noah looked away. "It’s obvious, isn’t it? You’re rich, powerful, successful. There’s no way you were waiting for—"
Ethan laughed.
A deep, genuine laugh.
Noah’s head snapped up, shocked. "Why are you laughing?"
Ethan shook his head, smirking. "Because you’re an i***t, Noah."
Noah blinked. "What—"
Ethan leaned in, their faces only inches apart. His eyes locked onto Noah’s, filled with something intense. Something undeniable.
"The person who has taken me…"
Ethan’s hand reached up, cupping Noah’s jaw. His thumb brushed gently over his lower lip, sending shivers down Noah’s spine.
"…is you."
Noah froze.
His heart stopped.
His mind went blank.
"W-What?"
Ethan smirked, enjoying his flustered state.
"Who else could it be?" Ethan whispered.
Noah’s eyes widened, his chest tightening. "But… I thought—"
"You thought wrong." Ethan’s voice was soft, yet firm. "Do you think I’d let anyone else have me?"
Noah felt something warm pool in his chest.
He had been so stupid.
Ethan had never moved on.
Because he had never needed to.
A raw, emotional silence stretched between them.
Then—
Noah surged forward, wrapping his arms around Ethan, burying his face into his neck.
"I’m sorry," he choked out, his voice muffled against Ethan’s skin. "I’m so sorry for everything, for hurting you, for not realizing sooner. I—"
Ethan sighed, closing his eyes. His arms tightened around Noah.
"I know."
Noah pulled back slightly, looking into Ethan’s dark eyes.
"Can we… start again?"
Ethan smirked. "We never ended."
And with that, he pulled Noah into a kiss.
A kiss that tasted like home.
-----
A LOVE REKINDLED
Noah melted into Ethan’s kiss.
It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t desperate—yet it held the weight of years of longing, regret, and love. Ethan’s lips moved slowly against his, savoring, reassuring, claiming.
Noah trembled. His fingers curled into Ethan’s robe, clinging onto him as if afraid he would disappear.
Ethan felt it—the way Noah still feared losing him.
So, he deepened the kiss.
One hand tangled into Noah’s hair, the other pulling him impossibly closer. Noah gasped, his breath hitching as Ethan dominated every part of him, making sure he understood—
"You are mine."
When they finally broke apart, Noah’s lips were swollen, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
Ethan smirked, wiping a stray tear from the corner of Noah’s eye.
“Still think I belong to someone else?” he teased.
Noah shook his head frantically, his voice barely above a whisper. “No.”
Ethan chuckled, tilting Noah’s chin up with his fingers. “Good.”
Noah’s heart pounded, his emotions overwhelming him. “I missed you,” he admitted.
Ethan’s smirk softened. “I know.”
Noah exhaled, leaning his forehead against Ethan’s. “What now?”
Ethan’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him onto his lap. “Now?” He smirked. “Now, you make it up to me.”
Noah flushed. “H-How?”
Ethan leaned in, lips brushing against Noah’s ear. “By staying.”
Noah sucked in a sharp breath.
His heart raced.
Because this time, he wasn’t running.
He was staying—where he truly belonged.
-----
A PUBLIC CONFESSION
The next day, Noah did something that shook the entire industry.
During a live interview, when asked about his personal life, he took a deep breath and looked straight into the camera.
“I finally got the person love back into my life,” he declared, his voice steady, unwavering. “That someone I was apologizing for letting go.”
The internet exploded. Fans were screaming. The media went wild.
But Noah didn’t care.
Because minutes later, a message popped up on his phone.
Ethan: You’re finally catching up, i***t.
And for the first time in a long time, Noah laughed.
Because he knew—
Their story was only just beginning.
- Writer
