Chapter 505

The dimly lit restaurant was silent.

Nolan sat at the best spot by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the night with a calm expression.

A line of waitstaff stood nearby, waiting for Nolan's orders, not daring to make a sound.

He was no longer the illegitimate son of the Brown Family that people looked down on. Now, he was the head of the Brown Group, and wherever he went, he looked down on others from above.

Those who once mocked and doubted him had long been dealt with.

He accepted all the privileges that came with his position, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked out the window.

He knew one thing for sure.

Tonight, Isabella would definitely come.

Twenty minutes later, the sound of a bell at the restaurant door announced the arrival of the evening's main guest.

When Isabella followed the waiter to Nolan's table, she noticed he had dressed up for the occasion.

A custom-tailored black suit, a watch worth millions, and a pair of silver glasses that matched his current status.

From a distance, Nolan looked every bit the aristocrat, his noble and sharp aura almost palpable.

It made people hesitant to look directly at him.

But Isabella couldn't find a trace of the gentle and considerate Nolan she once knew.

It made sense. Nolan had achieved everything he wanted.

Why would he still show a gentle side?

This calculating and ruthless Nolan was his true self.

As Isabella approached the table and began to sit down, she was surprised to see that Nolan was in a wheelchair.

The dim lighting had almost hidden the fact that he was sitting in a wheelchair.

But hadn't he recovered? Why was he still pretending to be disabled?

Was it to avoid suspicion that he was the mastermind behind the Brown Group's troubles?

But he had told her himself. She already knew. Why continue the charade?

Isabella found it odd but didn't want to dwell on it. She had other priorities tonight.

Before she could speak, Nolan beat her to it.

"Isabella, I knew you would come."

His voice was full of gratitude and emotion.

As if her presence tonight gave him immense courage.

Isabella didn't want to engage in pleasantries. She decided to get straight to the point.

"You know why I'm here. So, say what you need to say and let's not waste each other's time."

She was here to clear things up.

Their relationship no longer needed to be maintained.

Nolan seemed to have anticipated Isabella's attitude. Instead of getting angry, he just smiled as he used to.

He looked at her with a mix of indulgence and helplessness.

"I know your time is precious, but since you agreed to have dinner with me, you can't go back on your word, right?"

He handed her the menu. "Order whatever you like. Don't worry about the cost."

Nolan acted as if nothing had happened between them, treating Isabella with his usual gentleness.

She had never imagined that the mild-mannered, unassuming Nolan was actually so cunning and ruthless.

What did all those years of treating him like a brother mean to him?

Isabella smirked coldly, not responding, and took the menu.

She turned to the waiter and ordered her meal.

But her mind wandered back to what Nolan had told her before.

He said tonight would be their last meeting, and after tonight, he would leave Evergreen City?

Given his current relationship with the Adri Family, was he planning to return to Auroria?

Unable to hold back, Isabella asked, "What did you mean when you said you were leaving? You've been planning and waiting for so long to become the CEO of the Brown Group and take control. Why would you let it go now?"

Logically, Nolan should be using this opportunity to make the Brown Group his own.

Why would he let go of the Brown Group so easily?

Isabella couldn't understand.

Nolan chuckled softly, as if he had been waiting for her to ask this.

"Isabella, I thought you knew me. Have you forgotten the resentment and hatred in my heart? Now that I've achieved what I wanted, there's no point in staying."

Nolan's eyes were indifferent, as if this decision held no sentiment for him.

Isabella was even more confused. "Didn't you want the entire Brown Family?"

She didn't get it.

If this was such a hurdle for Nolan, why give it up so easily after achieving it?

If he could let go so easily, what was the point of all his years of planning and patience abroad?

This didn't match Nolan's usual approach.

And she couldn't believe that the bullying and grievances Nolan had endured could be erased just by taking over the Brown Group.

It couldn't be that simple.

Nolan nodded lightly. "You're right. I did want control of the Brown Group. But now that I have it, it doesn't mean much to me."

Seeing Isabella's disbelief, he took a sip of water and continued.

"When I wanted to prove my worth to the Brown Group, it was Grandpa who pulled me down from the heights and discarded me like a useless pawn, without any explanation."

"From that day, I vowed to myself that I would use any means necessary to get revenge and take back the Brown Group. Now that I've achieved my goal, I have no regrets."

"But..."

Isabella frowned, about to argue, but Nolan interrupted.

"I know what you're thinking. You can't believe I did all this just for a moment of satisfaction, right? But that's the truth. I never had any feelings for the Brown Family. Taking the Brown Group from Michael was just to show everyone that I'm no different from him."