Chapter 133: Eclipse Chairman
The atmosphere inside the black SUV had become unusually quiet.
Nobody spoke. Even the sound of the engine seemed distant after everything Toma had remembered.
The painful memories she had locked away for years had finally returned. She slowly lowered her head, staring at her trembling hands.
Aiden silently watched her from the seat beside her. He knew this moment would come eventually.
After taking a deep breath, he finally broke the silence. "...That’s what happened." His calm voice echoed through the car. "I wanted to tell you the truth many times...but every doctor told us the same thing."
He looked outside the window before continuing. "They said forcing those memories back could hurt you even more."
Toma remained silent. She remembered everything now. The florist shop, the old colony, the truck, the terrified girls, the files and the police...Everything. A few tears rolled down her cheeks. "So..." She spoke softly. "So that’s why..." She looked at Aiden. "That’s why you were hiding such a painful part of my past."
Aiden smiled bitterly. "It wasn’t because I wanted to hide it. It was because I wanted to protect you. If remembering meant you’d have to relive that fear again...I couldn’t do it."
Toma lowered her eyes once more. "I think..." She placed a hand over her chest. "I think I remember almost everything now."
Small flashes continued appearing inside her mind. Little Aiden running beside her. Playing in the old neighborhood. Buying ice cream together. Laughing without a care.
Then...
Everything turning into a nightmare. She quietly wiped away her tears. "I’m sorry."
Aiden blinked. "...For what?"
"I forgot all of you. You carried those memories alone while I lived peacefully without remembering any of it."
Aiden shook his head. "No. You don’t need to apologize. You were the victim. If anything... I should apologize. I couldn’t save you before they caught you."
Toma immediately shook her head. "No. You were only a child."
Nobody watched the emotional exchange from the back seat. Inside his head... "Dang... That’s seriously depressing. I wonder did those things actually happened or the higher being just feeding those memories into her mind. Poor Toma... She doesn’t even know those memories may also be fake memories."
For once...
But Nobody knew for Toma the situation was as tragic as a real life situation... He understood this wasn’t the time to joke about anything.
The System remained unusually silent as well. No notifications. No sarcastic comments.
After several moments...
Aiden finally continued. "You know, the files you found that day.... They changed everything."
Toma slowly looked toward him.
"The police arrested many people because of them. The entire trafficking organization collapsed. They rescued many girls before they could disappear forever."
Toma’s eyes widened. "...Really?"
Aiden nodded. "You unknowingly became the biggest witness in the entire investigation. The evidence you protected exposed years of crimes."
Nobody folded his arms. "So that file wasn’t just some random papers."
Aiden nodded. "No. It contained names, money transfers, transportation routes, connections, everything. The criminals never imagined a little girl had mistakenly given crucial evidence to the police."
Nobody with a smile said, "Dang! Toma, you sure were like an ideal female lead type kiddo."
Toma couldn’t help smiling a little.
Even during such a serious conversation, Nobody somehow managed to lighten the atmosphere.
Aiden smiled as well. "After that incident... Our families stayed close. My father promised your parents we’d always look after you. But..." He sighed. "You lost your memories. So everyone agreed never to mention that day again."
Toma quietly nodded. "It makes sense now. No wonder everyone always looked at me strangely whenever East Harbor was mentioned. They weren’t hiding something from me because they didn’t trust me. They were trying to protect me."
Nobody leaned against the seat. "Well... The mission failed successfully. Because now she remembers everything."
Toma gave him an annoyed look. "Well... all happened for good. At least now I know."
Nobody grinned. "I know. At least now you don’t have to stay unknowledgeable about your past."
Even Aiden chuckled. The heavy atmosphere became slightly lighter.
Outside...
The city continued moving normally. People walked along the sidewalks. Cars filled the streets. No one knew that inside this vehicle, three people had just uncovered memories buried for more than ten years.
...
Meanwhile, far away from them....
Inside a maximum-security prison, a prison guard slowly walked down the long concrete corridor carrying several official documents. Metal doors echoed one after another.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
The guard finally stopped in front of a familiar prison cell.
Inside...
A man in his early forties sat quietly on his bed. Eight years of imprisonment had changed him. His neatly groomed appearance had disappeared. Dark circles rested beneath his eyes.
Yet one thing had never changed. The hatred inside them.
The guard unlocked the small food hatch. "You’ve got a visitor report."
The prisoner slowly stood. "...Visitor?"
"No." The guard shook his head. "A message."
The prisoner frowned.
The guard handed him a folded piece of paper before locking the hatch again. Without saying another word, he walked away. The prisoner unfolded the note.
Only one sentence had been written.
"The girl has started remembering."
His eyes instantly widened. "...Remembering?" For several seconds, he simply stared at those words.
Then...
A twisted smile slowly spread across his face. "So, Toma finally remembered." His breathing became heavier.
Eight years. For eight years he had imagined this moment.
He slowly crumpled the paper inside his hand. "I hope you remember every single second." His voice echoed inside the empty prison cell. "You ruined my life. You and that little boy." His expression became darker. "But now... You’ll remember who I am." He quietly laughed to himself. The sound carried throughout the corridor.
Several nearby prisoners glanced toward his cell. None of them said anything. Because everyone knew, the man had never truly accepted his punishment.
...
At that very moment...
Across the city...
A black luxury sedan silently entered the underground parking area of an enormous corporate building.
The company logo stood proudly at the entrance.
ECLIPSE HOLDINGS.
The rear door opened. A dignified elderly man stepped out. His gray hair was perfectly combed. His expensive black suit showed not a single wrinkle.
Every employee who passed immediately lowered their heads respectfully. "Good afternoon, Chairman."
The elderly man acknowledged them with only a slight nod. His expression remained calm and unreadable. He entered a private elevator alone. The doors closed.
Moments later...
The elevator opened directly onto the top executive floor.
A secretary immediately approached. "Chairman. The information from the prison has arrived."
The old man accepted the folder without saying a word. He opened it.
Inside...
Only a single report had been placed.
Subject: Toma
Memory Recovery: Confirmed
He quietly closed the folder. "So it has finally begun."
The secretary remained silent. She knew better than to interrupt him.
The old man slowly walked toward the massive window overlooking the city.
Far in the distance, Nathan Industries stood proudly among the skyline.
His cold eyes remained fixed on it. "For eight years... I’ve been waiting. I’ve moved my pieces. I’ve erased every trace. I’ve built everything necessary." He gently rested one hand against the glass. "And now... The board is finally complete."
The secretary cautiously spoke. "Chairman... Should we begin?"
The old man answered without turning around. "Not yet. Hatred without patience creates failure. That was my son’s mistake. He acted recklessly. I won’t."
The secretary nodded. "Understood."
The chairman’s gaze never left Nathan Industries. "When the time comes... I won’t simply destroy their company. I’ll destroy everything they believe in." He smiled. One far more frightening than anger. "Tell everyone...The preparations for Project Eclipse will continue. No mistakes. No unnecessary movements. No attention."
The secretary lowered her head. "Yes, Chairman." She quietly left the office.
The old man remained alone. The city lights slowly began to appear as evening approached. He looked toward Nathan Industries one final time. "Enjoy your peaceful days, because they are coming to an end."
.....
The black SUV slowly entered the underground parking area of Nathan Industries. The engine stopped.
For a few seconds, no one moved.
The emotional conversation during the drive had exhausted both Aiden and Toma. Although the painful memories had returned, Toma no longer looked lost. There was sadness in her eyes, but there was also determination.
Aiden unbuckled his seatbelt. "We’re here."
Nobody stretched his arms with a loud yawn. "Finally. Sitting in a luxury SUV for this long is surprisingly tiring."
Toma couldn’t help smiling. "You complain about everything."
"It’s one of my many talents."
The three stepped out of the vehicle.
Nathan Industries’ headquarters towered above them, its glass exterior reflecting the afternoon sunlight.
Employees entering the building immediately bowed politely. "Good afternoon, President."
Aiden gave a small nod before turning toward Toma. "I have a board meeting in about twenty minutes." He looked at Nobody. "Hey, Nobody."
"Hmm?"
"Would you mind staying with Toma for a while?"
Nobody shrugged. "Sure. I’ll keep her out of trouble."
Toma crossed her arms. "Excuse me? Who says I’m the one that gets into trouble?"
Nobody pointed at her. "The person who accidentally exposed a human trafficking organization when she was a kid."
"..." Toma was speechless. "...Okay, that’s a fair point."
Aiden laughed. "I’ll see both of you after the meeting." With that, he entered the private executive elevator.
Outside...
The city continued its ordinary routine. No one realized, that after eight years of waiting...
The next move in a much larger game had finally begun.