The next day began with an uneasy quiet that settled over Stella's apartment like a heavy fog. She stared at Kai's message for what felt like hours before mustering the courage to call him. The cryptic tone of his text hadn't left her mind all night."Hey," she said when he answered, her voice tight. "What's going on?"Kai's sigh came through the line, heavy with frustration. "Can we meet? It's better if we talk in person."Her stomach twisted. Kai wasn't the type to beat around the bush unless it was serious. "Okay. Coffee shop by campus in an hour?""See you there," he replied before hanging up.At the Coffee ShopKai was already waiting when Stella arrived, his dark blonde hair slightly disheveled as though he'd been running his hands through it. He looked up, his usual confident demeanor replaced with a rare flicker of hesitation."What's going on, Kai?" she asked, sliding into the chair across from him.He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I don't think Noah's being completely honest with you."Her heart skipped. "What do you mean?"Kai tapped his fingers on the table, clearly choosing his words carefully. "I was talking to a friend of mine from work—someone who's done some contracts with Noah's company. They mentioned that there's been... some controversy. Something about a hostile takeover that went south a year ago."Stella frowned. "Okay, but what does that have to do with me?"Kai sighed. "There were rumors that Noah might've had something to do with leaking internal information about a competitor. Nothing was proven, but if it's true...""That's ridiculous," she snapped, her protective instincts flaring. "Noah wouldn't do something like that.""Stella, you don't know what he's capable of when it comes to protecting his empire," Kai said, his tone firm but not unkind. "I know he's your... whatever he is now, but you have to be careful."She shook her head, trying to process. The Noah she knew wasn't ruthless, wasn't cold. But then again, hadn't she spent years convincing herself that she didn't know him anymore?"Thanks for the warning," she said stiffly, standing up. "But I can handle myself, Kai.""Stella—""I'll be fine," she interrupted, her voice softening. "Just... trust me, okay?"Kai looked unconvinced but didn't press further. "If you say so. Just keep your eyes open."Later That DayNoah was waiting for her outside her building when she returned, leaning casually against the sleek black car that always seemed to make him look like he'd stepped out of a movie. His sharp jawline and dark eyes softened when he saw her, but Stella couldn't shake Kai's words."Hey," he greeted, pushing off the car. "Thought I'd surprise you. You okay?""Yeah," she said, forcing a smile. "Just tired."He studied her for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "Want to go for a drive? Clear your head?"She hesitated but eventually nodded. "Sure. Why not?"During the DriveThe car glided through the snowy streets, the city lights casting a warm glow on the frost-covered sidewalks. Noah had one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the gearshift, his focus occasionally drifting to her."You seem distracted," he said finally."I could say the same about you," she replied, her tone sharper than she intended.He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching in amusement. "What's that supposed to mean?""You're hiding something, Noah," she said bluntly, crossing her arms. "Something about your business. Kai mentioned it, and now I'm starting to wonder."His grip on the wheel tightened slightly. "Kai has no idea what he's talking about.""Then explain it to me," she pressed. "Because I'm not interested in playing guessing games."For a moment, he said nothing, his jaw clenching as he stared at the road ahead."There was a deal," he said finally, his voice low. "A merger I was working on. Things got messy, and someone tried to pin the fallout on me. It wasn't true, but the rumors stuck. I've spent the past year cleaning up the damage.""Why didn't you tell me?""Because it doesn't define me," he said, glancing at her. "And because I didn't want you looking at me like you are right now."Her chest tightened at the vulnerability in his voice. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he wasn't the man Kai had implied he was."Okay," she said finally. "But if there's more, I need you to tell me, Noah. No more half-truths."He nodded, his gaze softening. "I will. I promiseLater That NightBack at her apartment, Stella couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She double-checked the locks on her doors and windows before curling up on the couch, her laptop open in front of her.Her inbox pinged with a new email, the sender listed as "Unknown."Subject: "Ask him about RISE Systems."Her blood ran cold.She stared at the email, her mind spinning. RISE Systems was a name she hadn't heard in years—a small tech startup that Noah had invested in early in his career. It had been a success story, at least publicly.Her phone buzzed with a text from Noah:"Did you make it home okay? Thinking of you."She hesitated before typing back:"Yeah. Made it back safe."She didn't mention the email. Not yet. First, she needed to figure out what it meant—and who was sending these messages.Flashback: Two Years AgoIt was late at night, and Stella had just walked out of a bar after one of Kai's work events. Noah had been waiting outside, his tie undone and his jacket slung over one shoulder."Need a ride?" he'd asked, his voice warm despite the cold.She'd hesitated but eventually nodded.During the drive, he'd opened up about RISE Systems for the first time, mentioning how proud he was of their success. "It was one of my first big wins," he'd said, a rare smile lighting up his face.Now, as she sat alone in her apartment, that memory felt tainted, like a thread in a web of lies she hadn't realized she was caught in.Stella closed her laptop and stared out the window, the snow falling softly outside.Whatever was happening, it wasn't over. And she wasn't sure who she could trust anymore.