Because of Tony Stark, Nolan managed to make another fortune.
Of course, the money hadn't hit his account yet.
But right now, Nolan held a significant amount of Stark Industries' stock, something Tony had witnessed with his own eyes.
The moment Tony learned about it, he stormed straight into Nolan's villa. The smugness radiating from him that day was something Nolan rarely saw in his entire life. Every word out of Tony's mouth dripped with scorn.
"If I were you, I could never stoop to doing something like this. You're supposed to be a company head, a so-called genius inventor. And yet here you are, buying up shares of Stark Industries while my company struggles. You might as well sit back and count your profits while you can."
Tony's tone was brimming with arrogance, and he looked so very pleased with himself.
Nolan, however, maintained his composure. His lips curved into a calm smile.
"Indeed. While others may not believe in you, I still do. As long as you're around, Stark Industries will never collapse."
It was praise on the surface, but the weight of his words lingered oddly in the air. Then Nolan added with an almost cheerful tone,
"Besides, I still have plenty of money on hand. I don't really need to use it right now. Once your stock bounces back, I can always sell and walk away with a tidy profit. Oh, by the way "
His eyes glinted with amusement.
"Not long ago, I developed a prototype for a combat exoskeleton suit. It greatly enhances human strength and agility. I expect it's going to make me a fortune."
Nolan's grin widened as he spoke, clearly enjoying Tony's reaction.
Tony Stark's face twisted as though he had just swallowed something foul. Though Nolan's words were polite on the surface, Tony couldn't help but hear them as mockery, especially that last part.
Was he showing off? Absolutely!
Tony scoffed and sneered, "An exoskeleton suit? You think that compares to my Mark II armor?"
Nolan chuckled softly.
"Of course not. But it doesn't need to. What it will do is make me a lot of money."
No matter how Tony ridiculed him, Nolan stayed perfectly composed. He never rose to the bait, which only made Tony angrier.
The truth was, Tony's mindset had changed ever since his return from Afghanistan. At first, he only cared about money. Now he had realized how misguided his old ways had been. To him, wealth had become nothing more than numbers on a screen.
So when Nolan beamed with delight at the mention of money, Tony found himself irrationally annoyed.
He had come brimming with energy, expecting to prove a point, but left Nolan's villa in utter frustration.
That was the outcome of his visit: arriving triumphant, leaving defeated.
Night settled in, thick and heavy.
Tony Stark sat alone in his villa, restless.
He didn't want to believe Obadiah Stane could be the one betraying him. Yet deep down, he couldn't shake the suspicion.
Inside Stark Tower, Pepper Potts carefully slipped into Obadiah Stane's office. Her hands trembled slightly as she searched his computer for files.
Within minutes, her eyes widened in horror.
The data she found confirmed her worst fears. Without hesitation, she pulled out a flash drive and began copying everything. Each file was proof proof that could ruin Obadiah forever.
Her heart pounded violently. When the last file finished downloading, she exhaled in relief and prepared to leave.
But then a deep voice froze her in place.
"Pepper, what are you doing here?"
Obadiah Stane had returned. His expression was filled with suspicion.
Pepper forced a nervous smile and raised a folder in her hand. "Oh, nothing unusual. Tony just asked me to grab some files."
Obadiah narrowed his eyes, but after a moment, he nodded and dismissed her explanation. Pepper kept her composure until she was out of sight, then immediately quickened her pace, almost running.
Back in his office, Obadiah sat down at his desk, and slowly, his face hardened. Something was off. His things had been tampered with.
A chill glinted in his eyes. He didn't know if Pepper had found the evidence, but he couldn't afford to wait any longer.
Outside, Pepper pulled out her phone the moment she left the building.
"Tony," she whispered urgently, "Obadiah has been hiding so much from you. I even found records of weapons shipments to Afghanistan!"
Tony's face darkened instantly.
After a long silence, he replied heavily, "I'll talk to him first. Maybe… maybe he has an explanation."
Pepper nearly lost control of the wheel. "Tony, are you serious? He might be connected to the terrorists who kidnapped you! He could be planning to kill you! We need to take this to the police right away!"
Tony said nothing. His chest tightened.
Obadiah wasn't just a business partner he was Tony's godfather. That word carried a weight outsiders couldn't understand. Nolan had once spoken about Charles, his own godfather, who tried to kill him. Now Tony was facing the same bitter truth.
Tony let out a hollow laugh.
"Nolan was right all along. He said his godfather Charles tried to kill him. And now, it seems Obadiah wants to kill me. Looks like we're both cursed in the same way."
His humor was bitter and self-mocking. Then he added, more firmly,
"You're right, Pepper. Call the police. No wait. I have a better idea."
One name flashed in his mind: S.H.I.E.L.D.
When the call ended, Tony collapsed onto the sofa. His thoughts were a storm of betrayal, regret, and despair.
Moments later, the sound of the front door unlocking echoed through the villa.
Obadiah Stane walked in, smiling warmly.
"Tony, just the man I wanted to see. We need to talk."
Tony forced a smile of relief. "Perfect timing. I wanted to talk too."
But before he could say more, Obadiah calmly produced a sonic paralyzer. A piercing vibration filled the air. Tony's body froze instantly. He could barely breathe.
"Relax," Obadiah said coldly, "just breathe."
Tony's eyes widened in disbelief. His godfather his mentor was attacking him.
"I won't kill you," Obadiah continued. "Not yet. I just need what's in your chest. This Arc Reactor… it's the last golden egg you'll ever lay. And I intend to take it."
With a sharp click, Obadiah ripped the glowing core from Tony's chest.
Without it, Tony would die.
Desperation consumed him as Obadiah left the villa. His gaze drifted toward the old prototype reactor, encased in glass across the room. That was his only hope.
The distance was barely ten meters, yet it felt like an endless canyon.
His vision blurred, his muscles stiffened, his body refused to move. Several times, his phone rang, but he couldn't even lift a finger to answer.
At last, after what felt like an eternity, he reached the glass case and knocked it to the floor. The reactor rolled within reach.
But by then, his strength was gone. His hand twitched uselessly. His chest heaved. He was moments from death.
Just when despair swallowed him whole, a sharp voice cut through the silence.
"Red Queen, try to seize control of the villa systems! No… forget it. I'll handle this myself!"
Glass shattered as someone burst inside.
A warm hand gripped Tony's own.
And a familiar voice, tinged with amusement, rang in his ears.
"Well, Tony… you look absolutely miserable."
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