Zane's POV
As we stepped inside, the place was alive with music and laughter — people dancing, drinking, and partying.
I moved ahead, set Nilo and Nico down on a chair, and glanced around, searching for someone.
Just then, a man came out from behind the bar, and our eyes met.
"Shark! No—I mean, Zane! What are you doing here?" His words stumbled, but then he noticed Nilo and Nico. Quickly, he came out from behind the counter and knelt to admire them.
I told him everything that had happened. His expression darkened with concern, but he offered us fruit juice with a warm smile.
"Man, your family and fiancé are trash. That bitch Arin should die — I wish it — and more than that bastard who got you pregnant. If I find him, I'll kill him."
I took a sip. "Can you help me? I need a bank account to transfer my income into, and a new ID with my real surname — my mother's."
He nodded and handed me the newly opened bank account details. I sat at the counter with the laptop, opened my old account, and transferred all my one hundred million into the new one.
As soon as I was done, I felt a pair of eyes on me. I glanced around, but no one nearby seemed to be watching.
Then I looked up. On the second floor, a group of men sat around a table. One of them — blond hair, piercing blue eyes — was staring down at me. He sipped his beer with one hand, while the fingers of his other hand tapped slowly against the table, like a silent rhythm meant only for me.
"Ken, who's that man sitting on the second floor?" I asked quietly.
"Oh, him? He's a big shot. Often comes here to drink with his friends," Ken replied.
Once I finished, I knew Ken would send me my new ID soon. I gathered my things and packed them up.
"Babies, we're going to leave soon," I said.
I helped both of them down from their chairs. They were clearly tired — it was already past their bedtime.
"Let's go, babies. We'll head to our house now."
"You mean only we three will live there from now on?" they asked at the same time.
I nodded firmly.
But as I turned, I suddenly bumped into someone. A chest met mine and a large hand landed on my shoulder.
"See where you're going, or you'll fall," a voice said. I glanced ahead — it was the same man who'd been sitting on the second floor. Now he was standing right in front of me.
I tried to ignore him and move away with my kids, but before I could leave he grabbed my wrist. I froze and looked back.
"What are you doing? Let go of my hand." My voice trembled.
"Don't bully our dad — let go of his hand right now!" Nilo shouted.
The man chuckled and released my wrist, though he planted himself in our path.
"This isn't a place to bring kids. Don't you know that?" he said, looking down at us.
My eyes sharpened. "Yes — that's why we're leaving. Don't stand in our way." I pulled my sons closer, ready to walk past him.
He didn't move from where he stood, so I gently pushed him aside and walked away. He was such a strange person, but for some reason, seeing him stirred an odd familiarity in me. I couldn't place it, but it felt like I had seen him somewhere before.
From there, we went straight to our new home — the one I had just bought moments ago. I chose this place because it seemed perfect for raising the kids. Our apartment had been good too, but this felt like a fresh start.
After arriving, I took a quick bath, then lay down with both of my sons on either side of me. Before long, we all drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of the doorbell. Carefully, I moved Nico off my chest and onto the bed, then went to answer it. Standing at the door was a delivery man with the packages of clothes and other items I had ordered.
After signing for them, he left. I brought everything inside and was just about to close the door when, suddenly, someone grabbed it from outside. I looked up—and there he was. The same man I had seen last night.
"You? What are you doing here? Don't tell me you've been following us since last night!" I demanded.
He smiled, then used his strength to gently push the door open a little wider, looking at me with that same confident grin.
"What are you saying? I'm your neighbor. I didn't even know you lived here. I just came by to say hello after seeing your face," he replied, still smiling.
I grabbed the door firmly. "You've said hello. Now leave."
But he didn't let go. I glared at him, and finally, seeing my expression, he released the door.
"Hey… do you want to be an actor?" he asked casually. I didn't answer—I just closed the door in his face.
He was such a bastard. And just as I was thinking that, I suddenly heard a small voice.
"Dad, what are all these things?" I glanced back and saw Nico standing there, rubbing his eyes with his tiny hands.
I picked him up in my arms and gave him a peck on his cheek.
"These are our clothes and some useful things. Will you help me unpack all of this?"
He nodded eagerly. Together, we unpacked everything and settled into the house. Nilo was still asleep at first, but he woke up sometime during the process.
After finishing everything, I served breakfast—milk and bread—for Nilo and Nico, then went to take a bath. I stayed under the water longer than usual, trying to relax.
But as I stepped out of the bathroom, a voice reached my ears—a man's voice. Whose voice was that? And were those Nico and Nilo's giggles?
Someone had come inside while I was bathing. Heart racing, I quickly rushed out of the bedroom and froze. The same man was sitting on the sofa, and both Nico and Nilo were playing with him as if they had known him forever.
"What are you doing here?" I rushed over to them.
"What? I came to apologize, but your sons invited me in. These two are gentlemen," he said, his words making both of them beam with pride.
"Nilo, Nico, come here quickly," I said, trying to pull them away.
But the two boys refused to leave the man they had just met.
"Didn't you hear me?" I shouted, frustration rising.
"Hey, calm down. They're just kids, and it's my fault for coming inside. You can call me Viktor," he said calmly.
Despite this, both Nilo and Nico came to me, wearing sad faces. I didn't understand why they were acting like this all of a sudden.
"Dad, you don't like Viktor?" Nilo asked.
"Yes, Dad, Viktor is a nice person," Nico added.
"Babies, I don't hate him, but we don't know him, so we can't trust anyone," I said gently.
Viktor stood up from the sofa and walked to stand in front of me.
"Your face is beautiful—anyone could mistake you for a girl," he said, but my eyes didn't leave his.
My expression remained unreadable, and I folded both arms across my chest, silent and still.
"Okay, fine. I'll leave now," he said, and with that, he walked away.
As he left, both Nico and Nilo waved goodbye, their faces filled with sadness.
When I looked more closely, I noticed something striking—Viktor's hair was the same blonde as Nico's, and Nilo had the same blue eyes as Viktor. Could it really be a coincidence? Or… was this the same man who had been with me that night?
"How can you both let a strange man inside our house?" I scolded gently.
"But Dad, he was handsome, and he seemed rich. Instead of Dante, he's perfect for you," Nico replied.
That explained why both of them were being so friendly with him. I knelt down and hugged them tightly.
Just then, Ken came home. Since I needed to leave, he was going to stay with the kids.
"Be good with Uncle Ken, okay, babies?" I said, giving them one last squeeze before leaving.
My destination was Light Entertainment Company—the biggest company where Arin had become an actor. Years ago, I had received an offer from the company myself, but my family had convinced me to send Arin instead, and he had become successful there.
One of the staff members had given me his number, saying that if I ever changed my mind, I could call.
I had messaged the staff member, and he said he was still open to helping me. He called me to the company and even sent an online appointment for me to visit later.
In the meantime, I reached the company and approached the main counter.
"Hello, how can I help you?" asked the girl sitting there.
"Actually, I'm here to see Adam. I also have an appointment letter," I replied, mentioning the name the staff member had given me.
The girl extended her hand. "Show me," she said.
I opened the image on my phone and handed it to her. She examined it carefully, then suddenly looked up.
"Where is the appointment letter?" she asked, a small smile playing on her lips.
When she returned my phone, I noticed the image was gone. It must have been her who deleted it—I realized that immediately.