Chapter 32: The Boy Who Became Nick
The silence between them broke slowly…
Valley Lily's voice came out first.
"…who are you?"
The man standing before them exhaled deeply.
Not like someone hiding anymore—
But like someone who had waited too long.
"You really don't remember me…" he said softly.
A small, broken smile appeared on his face.
"…Charlie."
The name hit.
Not clearly—
But like a distant echo.
Silent Duchess's eyes widened slightly.
"…Charlie…?"
The man nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
"But the world doesn't call me that anymore."
He straightened slightly.
"My name now…"
A faint, almost ironic smile—
"…is Nick."
At the same time—
Far away—
Leo froze.
Leo's eyes darkened.
Because of the transmitter.
Back at the Estate — Truth Unfolds
Valley Lily stared at him.
"No… that's not possible."
Nick let out a soft breath.
"It is."
A pause.
"And you were the only two who knew the truth about me."
Their silence gave him permission to continue.
Flashback Begins
The sound of a café bell echoed.
A warm, small place.
Wooden tables.
Soft lights.
A simple name written outside—
"Truth."
Valley Lily stood behind the counter, annoyed.
"Why do we have morning shifts every time?"
Silent Duchess rolled her eyes.
"Because you complain every time."
A boy leaned casually near the counter—
smirking.
"You both complain too much."
Valley Lily glared.
"And you talk too much."
The boy laughed.
That boy—
was Charlie.
"I'm telling you," he said, lowering his voice,
"If the owner finds out, I'm dead."
Silent Duchess crossed her arms.
"Then don't lie."
Charlie grinned.
"Too late. I already told him I'm eighteen."
Valley Lily scoffed.
"You're literally fourteen."
Charlie winked.
"But only you two know that."
Moments Passed
They worked together.
Laughed together.
Shared food when they were tired.
Three broken lives—
finding peace in one small café.
But that peace…
Was fake.
Silent Duchess noticed it first.
The strange men.
The late-night meetings.
The owner's hidden calls.
One night—
Her expression changed.
"This place isn't safe," she whispered.
Valley Lily frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Silent Duchess looked at the back room.
"…we're being watched."
But she didn't tell Charlie.
Not yet.
Days passed.
The danger grew.
Until one night—
Her instincts screamed.
"We're leaving," she said firmly.
Valley Lily didn't argue.
She trusted her.
But—
Charlie wasn't there.
"Where's Charlie?" Valley Lily asked.
Silent Duchess hesitated.
Just for a second.
"…we don't have time."
And they left.
The Night Everything Burned
The café—
"Truth"
Was attacked.
Men stormed in.
Destroying everything.
Searching for something.
Charlie ran.
Heart pounding.
Fear choking him.
He didn't understand.
He just knew—
He had to survive.
A man grabbed him—
pulling him away from the chaos.
"Come with me if you want to live," the man said.
Charlie struggled.
"Who are you?!"
"No time!"
They ran.
Through fire.
Through screams.
Only to be stopped—
by enemies.
A fight broke out.
Fast.
Brutal.
Charlie watched in fear.
The man—
fighting for him.
Blood.
Hits.
Pain.
And then—
Silence.
The man collapsed.
Charlie rushed to him.
"Hey! Get up!"
The man smiled weakly.
"…listen…"
Charlie shook his head.
"No, don't talk!"
But the man held his collar.
"Your name…"
A pause.
"…is dangerous now."
Charlie's eyes filled.
"From today…"
The man coughed.
"…you are… Nick."
A final breath.
Silence.
Charlie was gone.
Nick was born.
Aftermath
A group of men found him.
Cold.
Powerful.
Different.
"What's your name?" one asked.
The boy hesitated.
Fear in his eyes.
"…Nick… sir."
They exchanged looks.
Later—
The truth came out.
The real Nick—
Was a kidnapped boy.
Connected to the café owner.
Dead in an accident while trying to escape.
This boy—
Charlie—
fit perfectly.
So they took him.
Raised him.
Trained him.
Years passed.
At twenty—
He became one of the best riders.
Fast.
Silent.
Precise.
And that's when—
He met Leo.
Present — Estate
Silence filled the room.
Valley Lily couldn't speak.
Silent Duchess looked away.
"…we left you," Valley Lily whispered.
Nick shook his head slowly.
"No."
A pause.
"You survived."
His eyes softened.
"That's all I ever wanted."
Silent Duchess finally spoke.
"…and now?"
Nick looked at them—
Not as enemies.
Not as strangers.
But as the only people who ever knew him before he became someone else.
"Now…"
A small pause.
"We finish what was started at 'Truth.'"
The air had gone completely still.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
The past had already done enough damage.
Nick stood quietly, watching both of them.
Not like an enemy.
Not like a stranger.
But like someone who held a truth too dangerous to say out loud.
Then—
His gaze slowly shifted.
From Silent Duchess…
To Valley Lily.
Something changed in his expression.
Softer—
But sharper at the same time.
"You know…" he said quietly,
"I'm the only one who knows who you really are now."
Valley Lily's body stiffened.
Nick tilted his head slightly.
A faint smirk—
But his eyes were still kind.
"Or should I say…"
A pause.
His voice dropped.
"Miss… R—"
"Stop."
Valley Lily cut him off instantly.
Her voice cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
For a moment—
It didn't feel like fear.
It felt like protection.
She stepped forward slightly.
"What do you want?"
Nick looked at her.
Really looked at her.
And even now—
There was no hatred in his eyes.
Only understanding.
But Valley Lily didn't soften.
She held her ground.
Like she was ready—
To become a threat.
Even to him.
"What now?" she asked again.
A small silence passed.
Then—
Nick laughed.
Not loudly.
Not mockingly.
But like someone who already knew how this game would play out.
"You haven't changed," he said softly.
Then his expression shifted.
Serious.
Calculated.
"The café owner…"
A pause.
"…is still alive."
Both of them froze.
"What?" Silent Duchess whispered.
Nick nodded slightly.
"He survived."
Another pause.
"And he didn't stop."
Valley Lily's eyes narrowed.
"He's built a new café," Nick continued.
"Different name. Different place."
A faint smile—
"But same darkness."
Silence fell again.
Heavy.
"He's dangerous," Nick said calmly.
"…for all of us."
Then—
He took a step back.
Creating distance.
"So here's the deal."
Valley Lily didn't move.
Didn't blink.
"I keep your secret…"
His eyes locked with hers.
"…and you keep mine."
A pause.
"No past."
"No names."
"No truth revealed."
Another step back.
"Deal?"
Silence.
Neither of them answered.
But neither of them refused.
That was enough.
Nick turned.
Ready to leave.
But then—
He stopped.
Just for a second.
And said—
Almost casually—
"By the way…"
A pause.
"…you haven't met Leo in the last two… four months, right?"
Valley Lily frowned immediately.
"What are you talking about?"
She crossed her arms slightly.
"I met him just two days ago."
A small smirk appeared.
"You were there, remember?"
Nick didn't turn back.
But he smiled.
A quiet—
Knowing—
Smile.
"I wasn't talking to Valley Lily."
Silence.
Then—
Without another word—
He walked away.
Leaving behind—
Not answers—
But a question far more dangerous than truth.
Silent Duchess slowly turned her head.
Looking at Valley Lily.
Valley Lily didn't move.
Because for the first time—
That statement didn't feel like confusion.
It felt like—
A warning.