It was late at night when Mr. Miles finally returned home.
The house was quiet, almost asleep.
Leo, however, was still awake in his room.
As he sat on his bed, lost in thought, he heard the main door open. His attention immediately shifted.
He's back…
Outside, in the hallway, Mr. Miles walked in slowly. His steps were heavy, his shoulders slightly lowered—he looked exhausted.
Mr. Daniel quickly approached him.
"Sir, you look very tired," he said with concern. "Should I bring your dinner to your room?"
Mr. Miles gave a faint shake of his head.
"No," he replied calmly. "I already had dinner with a client. There's no need."
Leo, listening from inside his room, narrowed his eyes.
Client…?
He already knew who that "client" was.
Seth… and his father.
"I see," Mr. Daniel said. "Then please take care of yourself, sir. Good night."
"Good night," Mr. Miles replied quietly before walking away.
Inside his room, Leo sat in silence.
"So… it was them," he muttered.
He leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling.
The files.
The contracts.
The photos.
Everything kept replaying in his mind.
Leo got up and walked toward the window. It was midnight. The city lights flickered in the distance, but his mind was far from peaceful.
"I don't understand…" he whispered.
"If they knew each other in the past… then what really happened?"
His thoughts grew heavier.
"What about my father…?" Leo continued. "Did he know that Mr. Miles and Seth's father were once connected?"
He clenched his fists.
"And if he knew… then why didn't he support Seth's father? Or did he know something… something dangerous?"
Leo's breathing deepened.
"Back then, when my father was alive… he protected our company from Seth's father," he said. "He called him a traitor."
His eyes darkened.
"He betrayed us once… and now again."
Leo turned away from the window.
"Then why… why is father working with someone like him now?"
The question echoed in his mind again and again.
"It doesn't make sense…"
He paused.
Then another thought struck him.
"…Werren was right," Leo said quietly. "They were never trustworthy."
Leo ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
"This is all connected… father is hiding something from his past… something related to Seth's father."
He looked down, his expression filled with confusion and determination.
"But how do I find out the truth…?"
For a moment, there was silence.
Then suddenly—
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
"There is someone who knows," he said.
Mr. Daniel.
Leo lay down on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Tomorrow… I'll ask him everything."
The next morning—
Leo woke up early, his mind already set.
He stepped out of his room, ready to find Mr. Daniel.
But as he walked toward the hallway, he stopped.
Mr. Miles was already at the dining table, having breakfast.
Leo hesitated.
This isn't the right time…
He walked over and sat down quietly.
The atmosphere was tense.
Neither of them spoke.
Only the faint sounds of cutlery filled the silence.
Leo didn't even look at Mr. Miles.
And Mr. Miles… didn't try to start a conversation.
After finishing his breakfast, Mr. Miles stood up.
"I have to leave," he said simply.
Leo didn't respond.
Moments later, the sound of the car leaving echoed outside.
Leo exhaled slowly.
"Now…" he said under his breath.
He stood up and began searching for Mr. Daniel.
"Mr. Daniel?" he called out.
No response.
Leo stepped outside into the garden.
There—
Mr. Daniel was standing near the pathway, looking at the plants.
Leo walked quickly toward him.
"Mr. Daniel, I need to ask you something," Leo said.
Mr. Daniel turned to him.
"Yes, sir Leo," he replied politely. "You can ask me anything."
Leo hesitated for a second.
But then he spoke.
"Mr. Daniel… I want to know about Mr. Miles… and Seth's father."
Mr. Daniel's expression changed immediately.
"Sir Leo… why do you want to know about them?" he asked carefully. "I don't think you should get involved in this."
"It's important," Leo said firmly. "I've already seen things… things you don't know."
Mr. Daniel remained silent.
"I saw their old photos," Leo continued. "They were together. Not as enemies."
Mr. Daniel's eyes widened slightly.
"And I saw the files," Leo added. "The agreements. The signatures. I know something is going on."
He stepped closer.
"So please… don't hide anything from me. Do they know each other from the past?"
There was a long pause.
Mr. Daniel looked at Leo… then looked away.
He took a deep breath.
"…Alright," he said quietly. "If you already know this much… then I can't hide it anymore."
Leo's heart began to race.
Mr. Daniel looked back at him.
"Years ago…" he began, "before all of this… before they became enemies…"
He paused.
"…Mr. Miles and Seth's father were not rivals."
Leo's eyes widened.
Mr. Daniel's voice grew heavier.
"They were close," he said.
"Very close."
Another pause.
"They were… best friends."
Leo stood frozen.
His mind went blank.
"Before everything changed…" Mr. Daniel continued, "before the betrayal… before your father, Mr. Bernard, got involved…"
He looked directly at Leo.
"Mr. Miles and Seth's father trusted each other more than anyone else."
Silence filled the garden.
The truth had finally begun to surface.
And it was far more complicated than Leo had ever imagined.