Cooper's words left Noah momentarily stunned, forcing him to reassess the brother standing before him.
All these years abroad, Noah's memories of Cooper had been stuck in a loop—of the little boy who always trailed behind him. Even after being back for so long, he couldn't shake that lingering impression.
But in this moment, for the first time, he sharply realized that the little boy he'd left behind had grown into a towering tree, sheltering the entire Coldson Family—including Noah himself, the Coldson Family's deserter.
"No, for all this, what I should say isn't 'sorry,' but 'thank you,'" Noah finally said.
Cooper frowned slightly, watching him, waiting for him to continue.
"There's something I should've confessed a long time ago." Noah lowered his head. "Back then, on that island, it was me who led the kidnappers over."
Cooper remained silent, his expression betraying neither shock nor disappointment.