Leo stood in the garden, facing Mr. Daniel, his mind still processing everything he had just heard.
"Best friends…" Leo repeated quietly. "They built everything together… and then it all ended like that?"
Mr. Daniel nodded slowly.
"Yes, sir Leo. Back then, Mr. Miles and Seth's father trusted each other more than anyone else. They started from nothing… worked day and night… and slowly built their company into something powerful."
Leo listened carefully, his eyes fixed on Mr. Daniel.
"They shared the same vision," Mr. Daniel continued. "The same goals. They believed in each other."
There was a brief pause.
"But everything changed because of that one project."
Leo's expression hardened.
"The one he stole…" Leo said.
Mr. Daniel looked down for a moment before nodding.
"Yes… that was the beginning of the end."
Mr. Daniel continued explaining how Seth's father secretly took the project, erased Mr. Miles' name, and claimed everything for himself. He described how the betrayal shattered their trust and destroyed their friendship overnight.
Leo listened in silence, his fists clenched.
"And after that… they became enemies," Leo said.
"Yes," Mr. Daniel replied. "Nothing was ever the same again."
But something felt… incomplete.
Leo narrowed his eyes slightly.
"That's not everything, is it?" he asked.
Mr. Daniel froze for a moment.
"Sir Leo… that's all I know," he replied.
Leo didn't move.
He kept staring at him.
"No," Leo said slowly. "There's more."
Mr. Daniel avoided his gaze.
"You're hiding something."
There was silence.
Leo took a step closer.
"I can tell," he said. "The way you're speaking… you're leaving something out."
Mr. Daniel remained quiet.
"Tell me the truth," Leo insisted. "What really happened between them?"
But Mr. Daniel shook his head.
"…I'm sorry, sir Leo," he said softly. "I can't tell you everything."
Leo's expression shifted—from determination to frustration.
"Why not?" he asked. "You already told me so much. Why stop now?"
Mr. Daniel looked at him with concern.
"Because some truths… are not mine to tell," he said.
Those words hit Leo hard.
"So even you don't trust me…" Leo said bitterly.
"That's not it," Mr. Daniel replied quickly. "I just… don't want you to get hurt."
Leo let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
"Hurt?" he said. "I'm already hurt."
He stepped back.
"Everyone keeps saying the same thing," Leo continued. "But no one is actually telling me the truth."
Mr. Daniel didn't respond.
Because deep down—
Leo was right.
Without saying another word, Leo turned around and walked away.
His mind was in chaos.
Half-truths… lies… secrets…
"I don't understand anything anymore…" he muttered.
A few minutes later—
Leo was driving.
Fast.
Too fast.
The road blurred past him as his thoughts kept racing.
Why is everyone hiding things from me?
What is so dangerous about the truth?
His grip on the steering wheel tightened.
"I just want answers…"
Suddenly—
Leo slowed down.
Something caught his attention.
In the crowd on the side of the road—
A familiar figure.
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
"…Clair?"
He immediately stopped the car.
Without thinking, Leo stepped out and looked around.
There were people everywhere.
Students.
Crowds moving in different directions.
Leo searched through them.
But she was gone.
"…Where did she go?" he muttered.
Then he looked ahead—
A university gate.
She must have gone inside…
Leo quickly got back into his car and drove toward the university.
But this time—
He slowed down.
Careful.
Observant.
As he reached the entrance, he saw students coming out.
And then—
He saw her.
Clair.
She was walking out of the university, her expression calm, her presence quiet as always.
Leo stopped the car.
For a moment, he just watched her.
In the middle of all the chaos in his life—
She looked… peaceful.
Leo stepped out of the car again.
"Clair!" he called out.
But the crowd moved between them.
People passed by.
And within seconds—
She disappeared again.
Leo frowned and moved forward, searching for her.
His eyes scanned every face.
Every direction.
Then finally—
He saw her.
Standing a little distance away.
Leo stopped.
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
All the anger, confusion, and frustration inside him…
Suddenly felt heavier.
And somehow—
Seeing her made him realize just how lost he really was.
This time—
He walked toward her slowly.