The hallway remained completely silent.
Only the emergency red lights continued flickering slowly across the walls of the tower.
Under that crimson glow, Adrian stood motionless.
"…Tell them who really started the fire."
The mysterious man's words echoed through the building like a curse that refused to disappear.
Lila felt pressure building inside her chest with every passing second.
Because for the first time—
She began to feel like everything she believed for years might have been wrong.
And that possibility terrified her more than anything else.
Adrian stood there quietly, avoiding her eyes.
His expression was unreadable.
Ryan finally broke the silence.
"…Adrian."
"Is he telling the truth?"
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Then Adrian slowly lifted his head.
And for the first time that night—
The coldness in his eyes seemed weaker.
Instead, he looked exhausted.
Like someone carrying years of regret alone.
"…I did not start the fire."
Lila stopped breathing for a moment.
The mysterious man smiled faintly from the shadows.
"But you opened the door."
Adrian's jaw tightened immediately.
Lila looked confused.
"…What door?"
Nobody answered her.
At that exact moment, thunder echoed outside the tower.
The sound made something flash inside Lila's mind.
Fire.
Smoke.
Someone screaming.
And a locked door surrounded by flames.
She suddenly pressed her hand against her head.
A sharp pain spread through her memories.
Maya immediately rushed closer.
"Lila?"
Ryan looked worried.
"Are you okay?"
Lila closed her eyes tightly.
"…I remember a door."
The moment those words left her mouth—
Adrian looked at her instantly.
And for the first time—
Real shock appeared on his face.
The mysterious man slowly clapped his hands.
"Interesting."
"Looks like her memories are finally returning."
Nearby, Ethan leaned closer toward Maya and whispered nervously—
"…Can everyone stop talking like movie villains for five minutes?"
Even Maya almost laughed despite the situation.
But the tension returned immediately when the entire building suddenly shook violently.
"WARNING. LOCKDOWN ACTIVATED."
Ryan quickly pulled out his laptop.
His fingers moved rapidly across the keyboard.
"…No no no…"
Maya's face turned pale.
"What happened?"
Ryan stared at the screen seriously.
"Someone activated the internal security system."
"All exits are locked now."
Ethan slowly leaned against the wall dramatically.
"I knew rich people buildings were evil."
Unexpectedly—
Adrian gave a faint smile.
Very small.
Almost invisible.
But enough for Lila to notice again.
And every time she saw that expression—
She became more confused.
Because Adrian no longer looked like the monster she spent years hating.
He looked like someone broken.
Someone hiding the truth for a very long time.
Suddenly the mysterious man stepped closer into the red light.
This time, his face became fully visible.
And Lila's chest tightened instantly.
Because now—
She recognized him clearly.
Her father's former business partner.
Victor Hale.
Lila stared at him in disbelief.
"…You."
Victor lowered his head slightly with a calm smile.
"At last."
"Someone remembers me."
Ryan looked shocked.
"Victor Hale?"
"You were declared dead years ago—"
Victor laughed softly.
"Dead people are very useful."
Then his eyes shifted slowly toward Adrian.
"And Adrian learned that before anyone else."
Adrian's expression darkened immediately.
"Enough games."
Victor smiled faintly.
"Games?"
"Adrian, this entire family survived because of games."
Lila felt her thoughts becoming more chaotic every second.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Not Adrian.
Not Victor.
Not the fire.
Then suddenly Adrian looked directly at her.
His expression softened slightly.
"…Lila."
"Your father trusted me."
The words instantly triggered anger inside her.
"Then where were you?!"
"Where were you that night?!"
The entire hallway became silent again.
Adrian didn't answer immediately.
Because the guilt inside his eyes already said enough.
And somehow—
That silence hurt Lila more than any lie ever could.
Then Victor quietly spoke from the shadows again.
"He tried to save them."
Everyone turned toward him instantly.
Victor's smile faded slightly.
"But he was too late."
Lila completely froze.
Because this was the first time anyone openly admitted Adrian tried to save her family.
And if that was true—
Then who was the real villain?
Victor slowly stepped backward into the darkness again.
Then he spoke one final time.
"If you want the complete truth…"
"…come back to the Noir mansion."
Suddenly the hallway lights shut off completely.
Darkness swallowed the entire floor.
Several seconds later, the lights returned.
But Victor was gone.
Completely vanished.
Ethan looked disturbed.
"…I officially hate disappearing villains."
Meanwhile Ryan was still staring at his laptop screen.
"…Guys."
Everyone turned toward him immediately.
His expression had become serious again.
"Someone just opened the top floor security gates."
Silence filled the hallway once more.
Then slowly—
Footsteps echoed from somewhere deep inside the tower.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Adrian's expression changed instantly.
And this time—
There was real danger in his eyes.
"…We need to leave."