Chapter 17
"Sir, everything is ready. You can come now."
Nehan's secretary, Kerine, informed him.
"Alright. You may go now."
A satisfied smile appeared on his face.
As soon as Kerine stepped out of his office—
"Don't you think sir looks especially handsome today, Ana?" she asked with a teasing smile.
"He always does," Ana replied, blushing. "Honestly, it must be so nice living with him and seeing him every day. Even if I were offered the position of secretary, I'd still choose to be his housemaid."
"Oh... I see."
Kerine smiled to herself. She had gotten the answer she was looking for.
"Look, sir is coming. I have to go now. Bye, Ana. It was nice talking to you."
"Bye! It was nice talking to you too."
---
A few moments later...
Inside Nehan's car—
"Sir," Kerine said carefully, "now that you've finally found the girl you've been searching for all these years... what are you planning to do?"
Nehan looked at her.
"That is none of your business. Learn to mind your own business, Miss Kerine."
His voice was calm but strict.
Kerine immediately straightened her posture.
"I understand, sir. I apologize. It won't happen again."
"Good."
Silence filled the car.
A few minutes later—
"Sir, we've arrived at the mall," the driver informed him.
"Alright. Park the car and wait here. I'll go inside alone."
He had come to buy a birthday gift for his beloved sister.
---
A few days later...
Nehan arrived at the University of Law.
"Excuse me," he asked the receptionist, "could you tell me where Genya Senoria's room is?"
"It's Room 7 on the second floor, sir."
"Thank you. And please don't tell her I'm here."
"Of course, sir."
Nehan nodded and walked upstairs.
"Why does it have to be so far away..." he muttered to himself.
Just then—
Bump.
"Oh..."
He had accidentally walked into someone.
"You? Here again? Can't you watch where you're going?" Nehan said.
"Y-you...?"
Lerah looked equally surprised.
Both spoke at the same time.
After a brief silence, Nehan asked,
"Aren't you Lerah's friend?"
"Yes," Lerah replied cautiously. "But why are you here again? I'm telling you—she didn't do anything. Don't even think about hurting her."
Nehan looked genuinely confused.
"Why would I kill her?"
He paused.
"And why do you think I'd do something like that?"
Then his expression changed.
"...Don't tell me."
He looked directly into her eyes.
"You know the whole truth, don't you?"
Lerah hesitated.
"Huh...? Never mind."
Inside her mind, however—
Don't tell me... he never wanted to kill me? Was my whole life a lie?
The thought completely stunned her.
Nehan sighed.
"Forget it."
Then, after a moment, he asked seriously,
"Don't you think that, as a law student, you should stand with the truth?"
Lerah met his gaze without fear.
"I do stand with the truth, Mr. Nehan Senoria."
She continued calmly,
"But no one truly knows what the truth is... until they see it with their own eyes."
Silence.
Nehan said nothing.
Her words seemed to strike something deep inside him.
For several long moments, they simply stared at each other.
A serious silence.
Finally, Nehan broke the eye contact.
"Could you show me where Room 7 is?"
Lerah glanced toward the corridor.
"It's straight ahead. Just keep walking."
She smiled faintly.
"I would take you there myself, but I'm already late for class."
"I understand."
Nehan nodded.
"Thank you, Miss."
A brief pause.
"It was nice meeting you."
Lerah froze.
She watched him walk away, unable to move.
"...What?"
She stood there in complete shock, wondering why those simple words affected her so deeply.
End of Chapter 17