“Zayden’s mom shouldn’t have known your address, right?”
“Technically speaking, my mom, Zayden’s mom, and Tyson–none of them should know where I live.”
Eliza had never given her address to any of them.
Tyson, maybe–because of his connections to Claire University–could have found out somehow. But the others? It made no sense.
Eliza shook her head. The whole thing just kept getting stranger.
“And when Zayden’s mom kidnapped me today, she knew too much–clearly someone told her everything. Maybe…” Her voice dropped, “maybe someone pushed her to do it.”
Otherwise, there was no way Grace would have changed her attitude so drastically in a single day.
As Eliza continued to sort through the confusion in her mind, Nolan reached out and gently ruffled her
hair.
“Stop thinking about it. I’ll investigate.”
Eliza blinked, caught off guard.
“You must be hungry. What do you want to eat? I’ll order something.”
He was already reaching for his phone.
“No need to go to the trouble. I’ll just find something simple.”
She stood, meaning to get a glass of water.
But Nolan’s home was so meticulously clean that even the teapots looked more like decorative sculptures than anything functional.
She wandered over to the fridge.
Just as her hand reached for the door-
“Don’t!” Nolan turned sharply.
Too late.
The fridge door swung open, and a pack of instant noodles tumbled out.
The shelves inside were completely packed with ramen.
Eliza stared, dumbfounded. “You… live off of these?”
She remembered back when Nolan stayed at her place, he could cook anything–stir–fry, searing, soups— you name it. But here?
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Chapter 167 The Door She Shouldn’t Open
He was living like a college freshman.
No wonder the house was so spotless.
“…I’ll order you takeout,” he said, rubbing his temple like he couldn’t bear the embarrassment.
If it weren’t so late, he would’ve just gone to cook himself.
Finished
Eliza relaxed. After all, she hadn’t eaten anything before Grace grabbed her, and with the blood loss from her injury, her body was running on fumes. It was well past midnight by now.
Nolan turned on the TV while they waited. The only thing available at this hour was barbecue.
Soon, the food arrived.
Despite her injury, Eliza’s appetite was unaffected. She tore through skewers like she hadn’t eaten in days.
Nolan just watched her silently for a while.
As she gnawed on a chicken wing, she glanced up. “Why are you staring at me? Aren’t you eating?”
“I’m not hungry.”
He reached out to gently wipe the sauce from the corner of her mouth. “Slow down. No one’s taking it away from you.”
“I’m used to it.”
She pointed at a bowl of soup on the table. “Can you open that for me?”
“Sure.”
Nolan removed the lid.
Eliza could manage skewers just fine, but the soup was tricky. Her injured arm made it hard to lift the bowl without sloshing it.
Seeing her struggle, Nolan took the spoon and began feeding her, one spoonful at a time.
“Good?” he asked.
“Mm. Tastes great.”
Everything tasted good when you were starving.
When she was finally full, Eliza slumped onto the couch.
“No more. I’m going to pass out.”
“I’ll take you upstairs to your room.”
“Wait… Let me lie here just a little longer.”
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Chapter 167 The Door She Shouldn’t Open
She was stuffed and sleepy, and the couch felt too cozy to move.
Finished
“You know,” she said lazily, “your place is amazing. Why did you even bother living in that rundown little house of mine? Don’t tell me you were hiding from something.”
She spoke casually, teasing.
Then her tone shifted. “Also… what about that time you got stabbed? What really happened? Did you get mixed up in something dangerous?”
Nolan froze halfway through cleaning up.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t ask.”
“I’m just curious. If you don’t want to answer, forget it.”
“I…..”
He hesitated.
And then–a low rumble of an engine outside.
Nolan immediately hit a switch. The curtains snapped shut. The lights went out.
“What’s going-”
“Shh.” He clamped a hand over her mouth.
Outside, voices filtered in through the glass.
“Mom, he’s not inside. It’s really late. Let’s just go…”
“No–he’s in there! I know he’s in there! Go! Open the door! I’m going in!”
“Mom! Please calm down! You can’t just barge in!”
“Nolan! It’s Mom! Open the door! Please, open up!”
Mom?
Eliza’s eyes widened in confusion.
Nolan’s parents… weren’t they dead?
Then–who was this woman?
What the hell was going on?
And why did the whole house suddenly feel like a tomb?
