Confession

Chapter 148: Confession

"The Patriarch is in the master meeting room on the second floor. He hasn’t left the estate these past few days," the maid answered respectfully.

Upon hearing that, Lucy broke into a radiant smile and pouted with the natural charm of a young girl. "That war maniac actually didn’t go out with Logan and the others."

"But that’s even better. We can have some time alone together."

She was eagerly about to head upstairs when she suddenly seemed to remember something. She turned around on the spot, showing off her figure and outfit, then asked the maids, "Do I look all right today?"

The two maids nodded rapidly. After showering her with praise, seemingly aware of what Lucy cared about, they added, "The Patriarch will definitely like it when he sees you."

"That’s good." Lucy lightly patted her already rather full, perky chest and let out a slightly nervous breath.

Her already flawless, delicate face now wore light makeup, paired with a professional outfit. She looked less like an innocent, lively girl and more mature and intellectual.

"Then I’m going to the second floor. Bring up some red wine and snacks later," Lucy instructed. Before the maids could respond, she lifted her skirt and hurried upstairs at a jog.

Second floor of the estate, master meeting room.

Lucy lightly knocked on the wooden door. A calm, magnetic male voice came from within. "Come in."

She quickly opened the door and stepped inside. Her beautiful eyes followed the light across the spacious room before locking onto a blond young man dressed in casual clothes.

With his back to the door, he stood beside an antique window. His tall, sturdy frame blocked most of the light, leaving those who entered with only a straight-backed, cold silhouette.

"Kyle," Lucy murmured lovingly. She jogged over, wrapped both arms around the young man’s strong waist, and pressed her chest fully against his broad back.

"Lucy, you’re back," Kyle said softly, reaching behind him to take her hand and hold it in his palm.

"If I don’t come back here, where else would I go?" Lucy giggled, playfully sticking out her pink tongue before quietly complaining, "If you hadn’t insisted on making me manage the Karl family’s finances, I wouldn’t have had to go to New York to study economic management."

"How’s the studying going?" Kyle asked with rare interest.

"Compared to the medical courses I used to take, it isn’t that difficult. And while working at Stark Industries Tower, many colleagues have looked after me and taught me professional knowledge," Lucy said gently.

"There are still plenty of good people around." Kyle chuckled and shrugged.

Of course they looked after her. Although Howard had stepped behind the scenes to become a full-time researcher, he was still the public-facing boss of Stark Industries, and Lucy had been personally recommended by Howard for a temporary position at Stark Industries…

Connections as solid as vibranium.

"Stark Industries can operate independently and remain autonomous. The Karl family’s other businesses haven’t expanded yet, so there isn’t much financial income or expenditure. It’s still very easy to manage," Lucy said confidently.

"That’s good. Then I’ll be able to rest easy in the future…" Kyle narrowed his eyes and looked out at the bright scenery beyond the window. His words suddenly trailed off, and he said no more.

"Rest easy about what?" Lucy raised her head in confusion and pressed him.

"It’s nothing." Kyle seemed to want to brush aside the subject, but the more deliberately he hid it, the more keenly Lucy sensed that something was wrong.

"It’s not nothing. You’ve been acting strange today. Ah, Kyle, your hand!" Lucy exclaimed in shock, tightening her grip on his large hand. Only then did she realize that it was somewhat cold, far from its former furnace-like warmth.

"Kyle, you’re even hiding things from me. What happened?"

After Lucy anxiously questioned him again and again, Kyle sighed softly. He took a deep breath as if preparing himself, then turned around to face her directly.

"Your hair…" Lucy’s beautiful eyes widened. Her entire body trembled violently at the unbelievable sight as she reached out to touch Kyle’s temples, where his blond hair had already turned silver-white.

That was right. The dazzling golden hair that had once seemed like sunlight made tangible had naturally turned silver-white at his temples, as though it had lost the vitality of youth.

"Lucy, let’s sit on the sofa. I’ll tell you everything," Kyle said calmly.

When he woke that morning and discovered that his hair had turned silver-white, he knew he could no longer hide it from the members of the Karl family, especially Lucy.

Although Venom’s camouflage could still barely conceal it, his condition was worsening by the day. There was no longer any need to keep hiding it.

It was time to tell the Karl family about his genetic mutation and his plan to leave Earth soon.

Kyle wiped the tears from the corners of Lucy’s eyes, held her trembling body close, and carried her to the long sofa in the meeting room.

"It started in Tokyo, Japan…"

Kyle no longer concealed anything. He told Lucy every detail about his genetic mutation and his plans for the future.

"The genetic mutation directly threatens my life. I probably have a little more than six months left, but I don’t have much time remaining on Earth. In about a month, I will… leave Earth and head into the universe!"

By the time Kyle finished, Lucy was already crying her heart out in his arms. Tears fell like pearls, soaking his clothes.

"Why did you hide something so important from us?" Lucy sobbed angrily, her chest heaving rapidly.

"Because I didn’t want you to know that the Patriarch who seemed capable of anything had become a terminally ill genetic patient," Kyle said with a smile.

If news of his physical crisis had been revealed some time ago, the Karl family likely would not have been able to get on track so quickly.

Being too concerned with gains and losses was a habit Kyle could not change.

Lucy wiped the tears from her face and stared directly at Kyle with reddened eyes. She asked urgently, "If you leave Earth and go into the universe, are you confident you can find a way to cure yourself?"

"I can’t say. The universe is too vast, and there are too many dangers. This path may well be a near-certain death."

Kyle voiced his concerns with a bitter smile. Then he clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination. "I’m afraid of dying, so I’ll fight until the very last moment. I absolutely won’t die so easily!"

Lucy smiled through her tears. After thinking for a moment, she asked again, "If you survive and cure your body, how long will it take before you can come back?"

"I don’t know either. Maybe ten years, fifty years, or even a hundred years."

As Kyle spoke, he saw Lucy’s eyes dim and added, "But no matter what, as long as I’m alive, I’ll definitely come back!"

"I believe you." Lucy nodded, her face more serious than ever as she looked solemnly at Kyle. "After you leave, I’ll wait here for you to return."

"Whether it’s fifty years or a hundred years, I’ll keep waiting—until I die!"

The young girl spoke with unwavering determination.