The air inside Slither Ring was warm that night.
Blue neon lights glowed faintly from the ceiling, reflecting off the faces of people passing by. Max laughed, giving Luke's shoulder a light tap. "Come on, the concert starts in thirty minutes."
Luke glanced over his shoulder, just long enough for our eyes to meet, before turning back to answer her.
I didn't know why, but that look felt… off. Not sharp, not warm either. More like something caught between cautious and hiding something.
I just waved. "You two have fun."
They walked away, and were swallowed by the crowd. But my eyes stayed on Luke's back until he disappeared completely. Something about him felt wrong.
He got close to Max too quickly. He always showed up at the right time.
And for some reason, I couldn't shake the thought, was he really into her?
A voice broke my thoughts.
"Why are you staring at them like that?" Juno stood beside me, hands in her leather jacket pockets, expression half amused, half curious.
I shook my head slowly. "It's nothing. I just… hope Max doesn't end up getting hurt again."
Juno studied me for a moment, then raised an eyebrow, like she knew there was more behind that casual comment. But she didn't push it. Instead, she pointed toward the lounge at the end of the hall, where the long couch and round table were always cluttered with empty bottles and boxing gear.
"Come on. Need to talk."
I followed without asking questions. Inside, it was quieter.
The music from the ring was still audible, but distant, like a faint echo.
The air smelled of smoke and cheap alcohol.
Juno sat first, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees.
"Max and I decided something," she said quietly.
I looked at her, waiting.
"We're done. With the Rhys Tech thing."
I froze. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, we're not going to help you anymore, Val." Her tone was serious, none of her usual sarcasm. "I know why you can't let it go, but this has gone too far. Rhys Tech isn't just some tech company. The people inside it… they're not a good person. I'm not letting you sink any deeper."
I didn't say anything.
"So you're not helping anymore?" I asked softly.
Juno's gaze met mine. "It's not about not helping. Just—don't tell me you're still want to chase your father's killer?"
I swallowed hard. "I can't stop, Jun. I need to know."
She sighed, her expression softening. "Val… I just don't want to see you fall apart again. You remember how you were after he died? I can't let you go through that again."
I gave a small, strained smile. I wasn't even sure if this was the right choice anymore.
"I'm okay now, Juno. It's different. I can handle it."
"Handle it?" she echoed skeptically. "You're not just pretending to be fine, are you?"
I stayed silent. The room fell quiet except for the ceiling fan creaking softly above us.
Finally, I stood, leaning back against the table. "I don't want you or Max to worry. I know what I'm doing."
Juno exhaled through her nose. "Fine. But one condition."
I turned to her. "What is it?"
"If you're in again, promise me one thing, don't go back to working as Leonardo Rhys's secretary."
My brows rose. "Why?"
She held my gaze for a long moment before speaking quietly.
"Because that was my mistake. I was the one who told you to infiltrate that place. I thought it was the safest and fastest way to get information, but all I did was push you deeper into their game, and i'm sorry."
I went quiet.
Juno had been the one who built everything, fake ID, data, company records, even the background story.
Without her, Emily Hart wouldn't have existed.
And without Emily Hart, I never would've made it into Leonardo Rhys's life.
"Jun…" I said softly. "No one knows that it'll turn out like this."
She looked down, fingers tapping against her knee. "I'm sorry, Val. Just... if you ever need me, I'm still here. I just don't want you caught in that circle again."
I nodded slowly. "I get it."
A few seconds later, my phone buzzed on the table.
The name flashing on the screen made my heart skip.
Nathan.
I glanced at Juno before opening the message.
{Got a lead on Leo. Come to my place tomorrow. I'll show you what kind of man Leonardo really is.}
My grip tightened around the phone. What kind of man Leonardo really is?
My pulse spiked. If Nathan had found something related to my father,
If Leonardo had anything to do with it…
"Val?" Juno's voice pulled me back. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," I said quickly, standing up. "I just remembered something I need to do."
She narrowed her eyes. "At this hour?"
"It won't take long. I'll text you when I get home."
Juno still looked suspicious, but finally nodded. "Be careful."
I gave her a small nod and left the room.
The door shut behind me, and only then did I realize how fast my heart was beating.
For the first time in a long while, it felt like I was finally walking toward the truth,
even if that truth might be a trap.
LEONARDO'S POV
I had just lit a cigar when the doorbell rang, long and sharp.
It was 10 PM. Who the hell visits at this hour?
When I opened the door, my breath caught.
"Mom? Dad?"
Eleanor stood there in her white wool coat, that familiar sharp look in her eyes.
Jason was behind her, holding a small gift box.
"We thought you wouldn't mind if we dropped by," my mother said, smiling a smile far too polite to be genuine.
She walked right in without waiting for an invitation. My Father shrugged and followed.
The living room suddenly felt smaller.
I quickly snuffed out the cigar and hid the whiskey glass on the side table.
Eleanor looked around, then sat on the couch. "Where's Emily? I only met her briefly the other day."
I froze. My chest tightened as if the air had vanished.
"Emily… wanted some space. She needed time to clear her head."
Eleanor's gaze sharpened. "Space? Alone? You should be with her."
I exhaled.
"I tried," I said evenly. "She didn't want me around. I figured giving her room might be better."
Jason cleared his throat and muttered, "Are you planning to divorce her?"
The slap came instantly. Eleanor glared at him. "Jason!"
I closed my eyes for a moment, keeping my temper in check.
Unfortunately, Father wasn't entirely wrong.
Because I had already signed the papers, the divorce documents.
They just hadn't been filed yet.
Not delivered to Emily.
"Answer me, Leo," Eleanor pressed, her tone softer but firm. "Are you really leaving her?"
I looked at my mother, searching for words that wouldn't make things worse.
But all I could see in my head was Nathan leaving Emily's apartment earlier that day.
Nathan, with that smug look in his face.
Nathan, who always seemed to know something I didn't.
Maybe Emily had met him.
Maybe they were working together.
Maybe this was all part of something bigger.
Finally, I said quietly, "No. I'm not divorcing her."
Eleanor sighed in relief while Jason patted my shoulder with a grin.
"Good. I knew you weren't that stupid."
I gave a faint smile, but my mind was already spinning.
If Emily truly was involved with Nathan, keeping her close wasn't about pride anymore, it was about control.
The sound of my phone vibrating on the desk cut through my thoughts.
Sebastian.
I stood up. "Excuse me. Important client call."
I slipped into my office, closed the door, and answered. "Sebastian?"
His voice came low and heavy. "Leo… it's not Emily."
My brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Emily doesn't exist. She lied to us."
I froze. For a second, the world stopped moving.
Sebastian continued, firmer this time. "She's not the woman you think she is. Her name's Valerie."
My throat went dry. "Are you sure?"
"One hundred percent. I got confirmation from a person I found at Slither Ring."
"Oh, so you've got a mole now?" I asked flatly.
My hand tightened around the phone until my knuckles turned white.
Valerie. The name felt strange yet hauntingly familiar.
Everything started falling into place, the glances, the reactions, every small lie I never questioned.
Sebastian spoke again, his voice breaking slightly. "She lied, Leo. From the start… she…oh, damn…"
I stared at the window, my own reflection staring back at me.
Emily Hart. Valerie. Whoever the hell she was.
A cold smile tugged at my lips.
"Well then," I murmured,
"It's about time I learn more about my wife."