L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 131

What... did I just hear?

Ashley couldn’t believe his ears. What the hell had Koi just said? Frozen in place, unable to speak, Ashley heard Koi’s muffled sobs through the phone.

“...Koi.”

When he finally opened his mouth, only a hoarse voice came out. Ashley coughed awkwardly to clear his throat and forced himself to continue.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? Did something happen? Koi, was there an accident?”

— No, no. It's not that.

Koi rushed to deny it, exhaling shakily. The exaggerated sound of his breathing from the other end made Ashley tense up instinctively. Then, with a pause between them, Koi finally confessed.

— My father... he's sick.

His voice came in broken pieces, trembling between breaths.

— It's cancer... They say he has six months at most. There's nothing they can do.

Ashley stood there blinking, speechless. What did that have to do with anything?

“...I’m sorry to hear that.”

That was all he could say. He couldn’t understand—what did that have to do with Koi not coming here? Anxious, he opened his mouth again, but Koi spoke first, with a deep breath in between.

— They say he doesn’t have long to live... He's dying.

“I know that.”

Ashley couldn’t hold back his frustration as he blurted out his response.

“But so what? Why does that mean you can’t come? It has nothing to do with you.”

Koi fell silent. Only his ragged breathing came through the phone, pressed tight against Ashley’s ear. Ashley clenched and unclenched his free hand, his nerves rising. After what felt like forever, Koi finally spoke.

— He’s my father...

Ashley furrowed his brow. What the hell was Koi trying to say? When he still didn’t respond, Koi repeated the same thing.

— My father has cancer, he doesn’t have long—half a year at best.

“And I’m asking you, so what?”

Ashley’s tone turned sharper, more frustrated.

“He’s in the hospital, right? Then he’s being taken care of. There’s nothing you can do for him there, so why can’t you come?”

Koi hesitated, as if his voice had caught in his throat.

— There’s... nothing I can do... but...

Ashley cut him off.

“And now what? What do you think you’re going to do at this point? Did he even apologize after beating you like that? Did he cry and beg for forgiveness?”

Koi fell silent again. Ashley let out a scoff of disbelief.

“So what, he apologized now, and that’s enough? That’s it? You’re not coming? Fine. I’ll go to you. What hospital is it? I probably can’t catch the last train, but I’ll head to the next station and—”

Ashley grabbed the handle of his suitcase and moved in a rush. He had to get back to the car. He had to see Koi. If he missed this chance—if he didn’t see him now—

From the other end, he heard soft sobbing. Then came the trembling voice.

— I’m sorry, Ash. I can’t go.

Ashley froze mid-step, stopped in place. Then Koi continued.

— I can’t leave him alone... I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.

“Koi.”

Ashley cut off the repeated apology without mercy. Even his own voice was starting to shake faintly.

“Do you even know what you’re saying right now? ...You’re saying you’re giving up on leaving with me? Because of that man?”

Koi didn’t answer. But Ashley already knew what that silence meant. He took a shaky breath and didn’t bother hiding the rage trembling in his voice.

“You’re staying for the man who beat you like a damn animal? Are you serious? Are you saying you’re leaving me?!”

— I’m sorry...

“Cut the bullshit!”

Ashley snapped, his voice sharp. He couldn’t understand—couldn’t accept it. Koi wasn’t coming? He was giving up on Ashley because of him? Now, of all times? Seriously?

“There’s still time before the last train.”

Ashley continued quickly.

“Even if you miss it, it’s fine. Just get a ride to the next station and take the first train in the morning. I’ll wait for you. No matter how long it takes. Just leave now. Take an Uber. ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Don’t worry about the fare—I’ll cover it. Got it?”

— Ash...

“I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Ashley ended the call without waiting for a reply. Silence fell instantly. The train station was nearly deserted, the quiet almost oppressive.

He let out a long breath and returned to his seat. Burying his face in both hands, he rubbed it harshly before finally lifting his head with a deep breath.

He’s coming.

Ashley told himself that like a promise.

Koi will come. He’s just running late.

Any moment now, Koi would come running through that entrance, calling Ashley’s name. He’d cry, apologize, and fling himself into Ashley’s arms. And Ashley would say it was okay.

He’d scold him gently, say it wasn’t like him to joke around like that, tell him not to do it again—but he’d be smiling the whole time. He’d wrap his arms around that slender body and kiss him. And then they’d leave together, just the two of them. Yes. That’s how it would be.

Because Koi wouldn’t abandon him.

Ashley kept glancing toward the entrance, his face filled with anxious hope. Time passed. Night fell. The last train left the station.

Ashley was still sitting alone in the waiting area.

*

The sound of the door opening made Koi turn his head. A nurse entered, gave him a brief nod, and crossed the room to check the IV line before glancing at the machines connected to his father. Koi silently watched as she checked his father's condition.

“...Um.”

Just as she was about to leave, Koi hesitated, then spoke. The nurse paused and turned back. Koi struggled to find his words.

“Is my father... okay? I mean, he seems like he's sleeping so deeply...”

“The IV has sedatives mixed in.”

The nurse answered simply.

“His condition hasn’t changed, so don’t worry too much. He’ll wake up soon.”

She offered a small, reassuring smile before leaving the room. Koi turned his gaze back to his father. He didn’t know how much time passed like that. Then, his father’s brow twitched, and slowly, his eyelids lifted. Koi waited quietly for him to recognize him.

“...Koi.”

His father turned his head, spotted his son, and gave a faint smile. Koi saw his father’s dry eyes slowly fill with moisture.

“...You stayed... by my side...”

He couldn’t continue, his lips trembling as tears slid down his cheeks. Koi pulled out a tissue and gently wiped his father’s face.

“Get some more sleep.”

Koi spoke quietly.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“There’s still time until morning. You can rest a bit more. I’ll... I’ll be right here.”

Koi stopped talking. He had nothing more to say. But that alone seemed enough—his father gave a faint nod and a smile.

“...Thank you, Koi.”

He whispered in a fading voice and reached out his hand. Koi took it without a word. Only then did his father seem at peace and closed his eyes again.

Soon after, his breathing grew calm as he drifted back to sleep. Koi sat still in his seat, staring quietly at him.

Outside the window, the sky was slowly beginning to brighten.

The sun was rising.

*

The rising sun filled the waiting room with light. Bathed in sunlight streaming through countless windows, Ashley sat listlessly, blinking with vacant eyes. It was still early, and aside from the occasional passing station staff, the waiting room was empty.

Loud footsteps echoed in the distance. A group was approaching, but Ashley didn’t move an inch. A woman stopped a few steps away and spoke.

“It’s time to go back now, Mr. Ashley Miller.”

Ashley didn’t react for a few seconds. When he slowly turned his head, he saw his father’s secretary standing there with the same expressionless face as always. Her tone was just as cold and professional.

“You knew, didn’t you? That Connor Niles wouldn’t come.”

Ashley turned back to face forward. His eyes were empty.

...Ha.

A short, breathless sigh escaped his lips like a dry laugh. More and more people were trickling into the station with the sunlight. But the face Ashley had waited for all night wasn’t among them. He knew that now.

Ashley silently stood from his seat and stretched his back. As he took his first steps, the secretary gestured to one of the guards, who quickly retrieved Ashley’s suitcase.

He didn’t say a single word as they left the waiting room and headed back to the estate.

*

Dominique Miller was eating breakfast in the nook. Sitting on a dining chair by a small wooden table, bathed in gentle sunlight, his peaceful posture felt almost out of place.

When he set down his fork and brought a black coffee to his lips, footsteps approached and stopped not far from him.

“The junior has returned.”

“I see.”

Dominique set the cup down and dabbed his mouth with a napkin. The secretary, watching his mechanical, precise movements, finally spoke.

“...If Niles had manifested, would you have allowed it?”

Dominique turned to her for the first time. His face, utterly devoid of warmth, remained cold as he replied.

“He didn’t.”

The secretary fell silent immediately. She had clearly crossed a line. Dominique turned away, letting the quiet return.

“I expected them to break up eventually, but I didn’t think he’d come back this soon. Not even able to run away, huh.”

With a cold smirk, Dominique raised his wine glass as if in a toast.

“My poor son. Abandoned.”

The secretary said nothing more. She just looked at him quietly.

Dominique Miller’s private jet left for the East that afternoon.

And the estate was left empty.