"Why do you want to know?"
Ukraine smiled as he asked it, masking the jolt that had just run through him.
Leo's question hadn't been casual. There was weight behind it—something sharp, deliberate. The way Leo looked at him, steady and unblinking, made it clear this wasn't curiosity.
It was scrutiny.
Leo didn't rush his answer.
"I have every right to be concerned about Kro," he said. "We're family."
There was a pause.
"And I also have the right to warn you."
Ukraine's smile didn't falter, but something in his chest tightened.
"Warn me?" he repeated. "You came all the way here to warn me?"
"Yes."
Leo took a step closer.
"I'll say this once. If you have any ulterior motives toward her, stop now. It's for your own good."
Ukraine let out a small breath through his nose.
"Or what?"
Leo shook his head.
"Oh no. I won't do anything," he said calmly. "It's Kro who will."
There was no arrogance in his voice—just certainty.
"As someone who knows her better than anyone," Leo continued, "I'm just hoping your intentions are pure."
Ukraine held his gaze.
Then he shrugged lightly.
"I'll correct you there," he said. "I don't—and I never will—have feelings for Kro."
Leo didn't react.
"I'm just a friendly person," Ukraine went on. "I like making friends with people I admire. That's all this is. Nothing more, nothing less."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Ukraine's phone rang.
The timing couldn't have been more perfect.
"Excuse me," he said, stepping aside as he pulled it out.
Misaki.
He answered immediately.
"What's up?"
Her voice came in low—almost a whisper.
"Come back to the office. We have a big problem."
That was all she needed to say.
Ukraine didn't ask questions.
He hung up.
"I have to go," he said quickly, already moving toward the elevator.
Leo watched him leave, his expression unreadable.
The doors slid shut.
And whatever tension had lingered between them remained unresolved.
...
The Ministry of Archaeology was quiet that afternoon.
Inside his office, Minister Akeshi sat behind his desk, fingers laced together, waiting.
When the door opened, the man he had summoned entered without hesitation.
"Good afternoon, sir."
"Afternoon," Akeshi replied. "Thank you for coming."
"I always have time for you, sir."
Akeshi studied him for a moment before speaking.
"Misaki came to see me last weekend."
The man—Deus—remained still.
"She said something… painful," Akeshi continued. "She told me she doesn't trust me anymore."
His voice dropped slightly.
"Do you know what that feels like?"
Deus nodded once.
"I do. Though I can't compare."
Akeshi leaned back in his chair.
"There's someone involved. A girl named Karina."
Deus's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Misaki believes I sent her," Akeshi said. "But I've never even heard that name before."
Silence stretched between them.
"I want to know everything about her," Akeshi continued. "You can do that for me, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"If Misaki thinks she's dangerous," Akeshi added, "then she is."
Deus tilted his head slightly.
"What is your goal?"
Akeshi's expression softened.
"I want my daughter to trust me again."
Then it hardened.
"And I want to make sure this Karina doesn't ruin that."
Deus stood.
"You have my word."
He left the office.
And Akeshi remained behind, staring at the door—waiting for things to fall back into place.
...
At Krosmetics Headquarters, everything fell apart.
Sue's worst nightmare walked through the door in broad daylight.
The woman stood tall in a sharp green suit, her grey hair neatly styled, glasses perched on her nose. But nothing about her appearance softened the hostility in her presence.
The entire marketing department felt it. The air turned heavy.
Sue stood frozen.
Her mother-in-law had found her.
"Let's talk in my office," Sue said quickly, forcing calm into her voice. "We shouldn't disturb the team."
The woman ignored her.
"Where is she?" she demanded. "Where is Zoe?"
Sue swallowed.
"What are you talking about?" she said, forcing confusion. "You've had Zoe all this time. You even moved her to another school—how would I know where she is?"
"I'll ask again," the woman snapped, stepping closer. "Where is my granddaughter?"
"I don't know!" Sue shot back. "I haven't seen my daughter in two years!"
Her voice shook—but only for a moment.
"Now I'll ask you," she continued. "What did you do to her?"
"Sue, you better—"
"No," Sue cut her off.
Something shifted.
"I'm done being your punching bag."
The room went silent.
This wasn't acting anymore.
This was real.
"You better find my daughter," Sue said, her voice trembling with anger, "because if you don't—"
"You're not in a position to threaten me," the woman snapped. "So I'll ask one last time—where is Zoe?"
They stood inches apart. Neither one backing down.
Then the door burst open.
Ukraine rushed in, stopping short at the sight.
Everyone else was just… watching.
That alone unsettled him.
He stepped forward quickly.
"Excuse me," he said, placing himself between them. "This isn't the place for this."
The woman turned her glare toward him.
"And who are you?"
"Ukraine."
"This is none of your business," she snapped. "Why are you interfering?"
"I understand you're upset," he said calmly. "But this is a workplace. If this continues, Sue could lose her job."
Her eyes narrowed.
"It seems you know her well."
"Stop this," Sue interjected. "Let's talk in my office—or leave."
But the woman's attention had already shifted.
"You," she said, pointing at Ukraine. "You're involved, aren't you?"
Ukraine frowned.
"You helped her steal my granddaughter."
"What?"
"No one else had the courage to step in," she continued. "But you did."
Her lips curled.
"What are you? Her boy-toy?"
"Ma'am, enough—"
"I guess everyone here thinks I'm the villain," she said suddenly, smiling.
Sue's heart dropped.
She knew that smile.
It meant destruction.
"You all think I treated her badly," the woman continued. "But you're wrong."
"Please—let's go outside—"
"You were all here when my son died, weren't you?"
The room grew still.
"What you don't know," she said, pointing directly at Sue, "is why he died."
Sue's breath caught.
"This woman killed my son."
The words exploded through the room.
Gasps.
Whispers.
Shock.
Sue felt like the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.
Ukraine looked at her.
At her face.
And for a split second—he understood.
But he didn't move away.
Instead—
He stepped forward.
Grabbing the woman's wrist, he began pulling her toward the door.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" she screamed.
"We don't tolerate this behavior here," Ukraine said firmly. "If you can't be respectful, you'll be removed."
He dragged her to the door and opened it.
"Get out."
She turned, furious.
"HOW DARE YOU—"
Her hand shot up.
A slap.
Fast.
Sharp.
But—
It never landed.
A hand caught hers mid-air.
Firm.
Unyielding.
Kro.
She stood there, gripping the woman's wrist, her gaze calm but deadly.
"You don't get to hit him," she said quietly.
"Not on my watch."
***