Chapter 587
Chapter 587
Aria halted abruptly, leveling Flynt with an icy stare. “You actually expect me to answer just because you asked? Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Exactly,” Owen murmured in agreement.
Flynt’s face visibly darkened. He gazed intently at Aria, his eyes both icy and complex.
Aria didn’t buy for a second Flynt’s excuse about inviting her to the experiment, but she still couldn’t figure out what he was really scheming.
Flynt’s piercing gaze remained locked on her for what felt like an eternity, until Owen finally snapped and stepped between them.
“You don’t deserve her,” Flynt turned his cold gaze to Owen, driving the point home.
Owen chuckled instead of getting angry. “That’s the second time you’ve said that.”
“Whether I deserve her or not, Aria is my girlfriend.” He paused deliberately, then added with a smirk, “Or are you suggesting you’re more deserving, Mr. Hartley?”
Flynt didn’t answer directly. “I’ve known her longer than you,” he said coldly.
This confirmed they had indeed met before, long ago.
But apparently, Aria didn’t remember him at all.
“Madelyn, did you know him before?” Owen turned to ask.
“Nope. Never met him,” Aria replied without hesitation.
A flicker of emotion crossed Flynt’s face, so subtle it was barely noticeable.
Owen’s grin widened as he looked at Flynt. “You heard her, right? She didn’t know you before.”
With a breezy tone, Owen said, “Just a word of advice, Mr. Hartley-you’re just some random guy. Don’t overestimate your importance, and stop trying to make yourself the center of attention everywhere.”
Flynt’s eyes flashed with mockery. “So, you really don’t remember me, huh?”
Flynt thought, ‘Even if she remembered, it wouldn’t change a damn thing about the current standoff.
‘She’s changed, yet somehow, she’s still the same.
“The last trace of innocence she once had has now multiplied four or fivefold.
‘I just can’t get why she’s changed so much, or what drew all these people to her.
‘People like us… We’re supposed to be the same kind, after all.
“My goal remains unchanged.” Flynt locked eyes with Owen, his voice icy. “Sooner or later, she’ll come with me.”
“Dream on,” Owen sneered.
Flynt said, “We’ll see about that.”
With all pretenses dropped, neither of them held back anymore.
1/9
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IC of us.
Aria stepped beside Owen. Flynt’s gaze locked onto her, a sinister grin twisting his lips. “Aria, one day you’ll understand- standing atop the summit, looking down on the struggling masses, watching them squirm like insects… that’s the greatest joy this world has to offer.”
For the first time, he showed his true colors before them-a dangerously unhinged lunatic.
Aria replied coolly, “Get your insanity treated.”
Flynt said, “I’ll haunt your lives-every moment, every day.”
With those words hanging in the air, Flynt turned on his heel, strode to his car, and drove off without a backward glance.
A murderous glint flashed in Owen’s eyes.
Owen had always played by the rules, but this was the first time he’d ever wanted someone to just disappear.
Aria poked the back of his hand. “Hey, snap out of it. Time to go.”
Owen gently took her hand. “You really don’t remember Flynt at all?” he asked. “That banknote he gave you-it must have been a deliberate hint.”
Aria thought, ‘The Torrenian backnote… This suggests that we met in Torrenia before.
Suddenly, a vague figure flashed through her mind.
“Did anything come to mind?” Owen turned to ask.
“The pitiful boy I remember is gone-now Flynt Hartley’s eyes gleam with malice, his mind teems with schemes, and he stoops to criminal acts. He’s changed beyond recognition,’ Aria thought.
Owen gently smoothed her furrowed brow. “Don’t dwell on it,” he said softly. “He’s just a stranger-nothing worth worrying about.”
Aria’s expression grew complicated. She hesitated, then said, “He might be… that guy.”
“Who exactly?” he asked.
“I mentioned him to you before,” Aria said.
Owen asked, “You mean the boy you met on your mission?”
“Must be,” Aria said.
The banknote clue clicked into place.
