"Whoever did this is unbelievable. The damage is massive."
"This is a huge loss for the company."
"I hope they catch whoever's responsible."
I heard my colleagues murmuring as we walked toward the burned factory. Several workers were already there, hauling out large twisted pieces of metal from the destroyed section of the building.
I couldn't help but freeze when I finally saw the burned area in full. It was enormous—nearly half of the building had been consumed by the fire. Whoever did this was a complete monster. My hands clenched into fists as a single name surfaced in my mind. I didn't understand how anyone could go this far. With damage this extensive, there was no doubt it would deeply affect the people who worked here.
"This way, Ms. Gianna."
One of the staff members led us to Mr. Leron's office. When we arrived, he was holding an iPad. We greeted him and took a seat on the sofa.
He immediately walked over and handed me the iPad. I understood right away and pressed play. By the time the video ended, all of us were wearing the same expression.
"Do you have any idea who could've done this, Ms. Gianna?" Mr. Leron asked as he sat beside me.
I took a deep breath before looking at my companions.
"Could you please check outside? You can handle things there," I said.
They understood at once, standing up and leaving the room.
I turned back to Mr. Leron, my expression serious.
"Mr. Jim," I said with certainty.
He didn't look surprised. I told him everything Nayumi had shared with me during our last meeting.
"Does Sir Francis know about this?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"I'll be the one to inform him," Mr. Leron said. "For now, we'll gather solid evidence linking Mr. Jim to this."
He stood, then added with a smile, "It's almost lunchtime. I'd like to invite you to our home, if that's alright with you."
I didn't see any reason to refuse, so I agreed.
A few minutes later, my colleagues excused themselves and headed back to the house we were staying in, while Mr. Leron invited me to come with him.
I climbed into the van and took my seat, closing the door behind me. I thought we were about to leave when Ken suddenly got in and sat at the back. Thankfully, he didn't sit next to me—he was far too noisy. Mr. Leron entered and sat beside the driver. Then the door to my right opened, and out of all the people in the world, the last person I wanted to see that day stepped inside.
I immediately looked away when our eyes met. My unease only grew when he sat beside me. I had no choice but to stare out the window and retreat into my thoughts. But when I turned my head again, his face was suddenly right there—so close that I almost stopped breathing.
"I-is there… is there a problem—" My words trailed off when he suddenly leaned down, and in that moment, I realized I had forgotten how to breathe.
Fear rushed through me—until I saw him simply reach for the seatbelt beside me and fasten it across my body, never once looking into my eyes.
"I've been calling you, but you didn't seem to hear me. Safety first," he said casually before returning to his seat as if nothing had happened.
I gripped the seatbelt as the vehicle started moving. I swallowed hard and turned back to the window. I didn't understand why something strange fluttered in my stomach, nor why my cheeks felt warm. I brushed the feeling away at once.
We arrived at a modest but well-kept house—just right for a small family. It was a two-story concrete home. As soon as I stepped out, I noticed the variety of vegetables growing around the yard. There were flowers too, their scent noticeable even from a distance.
Just as we reached the door, an elderly woman greeted us. She was tall with a fuller figure. I immediately knew she was Mr. Leron's wife when she kissed his cheek before warmly introducing herself to us. She ushered us inside, saying the food was already waiting.
There were three of us—Ken, Francis, and me.
Not long after, the food was laid out. I was surprised—it wasn't extravagant at all, especially knowing that they were well-off. The dishes were simple: cooked vegetables, chicken, and fish.
"You haven't visited in months, Sir Francis," Mr. Leron's wife said with a smile. "So I prepared all your favorites."
"Thank you," Francis replied.
I didn't know why, but seeing him smile made me feel lighter. His eyes reflected genuine delight as he looked at the simple dishes before him. A part of me couldn't believe this side of him existed.
I must have been staring for several seconds because Ken nudged me, snapping me back to reality. I simply shook my head in response. I was about to scoop rice for myself when I suddenly froze—two scoops of rice were already being handed to me by the two men who were now standing.
I looked at them. They were both staring at me.
What was wrong with them? I could serve myself just fine.
I ended up feeling embarrassed when I noticed the couple watching us because of the men's behavior.
"T-thanks," I muttered.
I was about to get some viand when they spoke at the same time.
"Do you want this?"
"Sis, would you like this?"
They each lifted a dish, offering it to me. Seriously—what was their problem? Annoyed, I ignored them and took some vegetables instead, quietly starting to eat.
Mr. Leron cleared his throat, prompting the two men to finally sit down. The atmosphere suddenly felt awkward, especially since I could feel his wife watching me—with a knowing smile on her lips.
After the meal, Mr. Leron's wife took me to their vegetable garden. The produce was impressive—large, healthy, and clearly well cared for.
I was examining the crops when Aling Lena suddenly spoke from behind me.
"Do you like one of the two of them?"
I turned to her with a frown.
"Pardon? Who do you mean?" I asked, confused.
She smiled widely.
"You know, Gianna, you're kind and beautiful. I'm not blind—I can see how my godsons look at you."
"Godsons?"
"They're not my godsons by blood, but I treat them as such. I know them very well."
"Oh—no, you must be mistaken—"
"My dear, I'm an expert when it comes to these things. Don't worry—I won't tell them which one you like."
I waved my hands quickly in denial, letting out an awkward laugh.
"No, really. I promise—there's no one. I'm here purely for work. Nothing else."
She chuckled softly and patted my shoulder.
"Eyes never lie, hija," she said with a smile.
I was about to respond when the sound of a car horn signaled that it was time to leave. Aling Lena simply smiled at me once more before walking away.