The smell of butter and sugar filled the narrow kitchen of Juno's apartment. The oven was still off, trays were scattered everywhere, and both our hands were covered in dough. Max's birthday was tonight, and since Juno was too stingy to buy an expensive cake, we decided to bake one ourselves.
"I swear, Val," Juno grumbled while stirring the super-thick chocolate batter, "if this cake ends up flat, I'm gonna blame you for the rest of my life."
I chuckled a little. "Even if it's flat, Max will say it's good. She's too sweet."
Juno squinted. "Sweet my ass. She's only sweet to you." She stared at me for a long time. Too long. Then her lips curved, but her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You sick, Val?"
I blinked. "Huh? No. Why?"
"You've been spacing out since earlier, like you're thinking about debt."
I quickly put on the brightest smile I could force. "No, seriously. I was just thinking… Maybe the sugar is too little?"
"Valerie." Juno's voice lowered, not joking this time.
I fell silent. The wooden spoon in my hand stopped moving. My throat suddenly dried. My chest tightened, but I kept pretending to be busy with the dough.
Juno didn't buy it. She gently pulled the spoon from my hand and set it into the bowl. "Okay. Spill."
I looked down. "I… miss him."
"Who?" Juno asked softly.
I needed a few seconds to answer, and when it came out, it was barely audible.
"My dad."
The atmosphere instantly shifted. The kitchen had been warm and noisy, now it felt like an empty room.
Juno didn't say anything. She just walked around the counter and sat on the barstool next to me. She waited. She was always like that, Juno never forced me.
"It's like… everything came back all at once," I said. "That house. His voice. The way he called me."
Juno took a small breath. "You want me to go with you to his grave?"
I shook my head quickly. "No. Not now." I gripped the end of my apron, my hands trembling a bit. "I was just thinking… After the event later, I might go home. To the house."
"Your house?" Juno clarified.
The house I hadn't touched in years.
I nodded slowly.
Juno stayed quiet for a long time, long enough that I could feel her worry. "You sure? Want me to sleep over there with you?"
"No," I said quickly. "I… just need to be alone."
She stretched a little, clearly not satisfied with my answer, but finally nodded. "Okay. But tell me if anything happens. Don't disappear like you usually do."
I forced a smile. "Yeah. I just miss him, that's all." I stood up, dusting my hands. "Come on, let's continue. The batter's ready for the oven, right?"
"Hmm… we're missing one thing." Juno tapped her chin. "We need candles."
"Okay. I'll go buy them."
"You sure?"
"Sure," I said while grabbing my hoodie. "I'll get some air anyway."
I didn't wait for her to protest. I needed to get out. I needed to breathe.
~~~~~
Avellyn was cold that evening. The wind carried the damp smell from the Slither Ring sewers just a few blocks away from Juno's apartment. I walked quickly toward the minimarket near the corner… until my feet turned on their own.
In a different direction.
Toward the place I hadn't dared approach in years.
The streets started to change. From rundown, to slightly cleaner. Streetlights were brighter. Buildings no longer looked fragile. I even remembered every crack on the pavement, even though the last time I stepped on it was before everything fell apart.
And suddenly, I stopped.
That house. Our house.
The ceiling paint was peeling. The left window was dirty. The grass…
…the grass was tall. Wild. Untended.
My chest felt like something was pulling from inside.
I was about to step closer, only to spot something.
Someone.
A man was squatting in the front yard. His back was facing me. His head bowed slightly, one hand digging into the soil, the other holding something I couldn't see clearly from where I stood.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Who was that?
Was he planting something? For me?
I stepped closer, daring myself to peek from behind the rusty low fence.
His hair.
His shoulders.
The way he moved.
I almost couldn't breathe.
It was…
It was Leonardo.
I froze. My brain immediately sprinted with paranoia.
Why is he at my dad's house?
Does he know I'm Thomas Kessler's daughter?
Did he come here to silence me?
Did he—
My hands shaking, I grabbed my phone. I turned on the camera. Zoomed in, trying to get a good angle.
I pressed the shutter.
CLICK.
The sound was loud.
Too loud.
Shit.
Shit shit shit!
Leonardo snapped his head up.
I shoved the phone into my pocket and walked away fast without making noise, my breath uneven, nearly running.
Just a few more meters and I could get away when…
"Emily?"
I froze.
Sebastian stood about twenty meters from the house, his face shocked. He wore a dark gray hoodie, his hair messy from the wind.
"Emily… what are you doing here?"
He really sounded confused and worried.
I turned slightly, but my body instinctively moved back when he approached. A reflex to avoid touch. Maybe from all the fear piling up, or because I still didn't know if Sebastian was also my enemy.
He stopped, realizing my reaction.
"Okay," he said softly, raising both hands in surrender. "I won't touch you."
And before I could answer,
"What's going on here?"
Leonardo was already standing behind me.
I shivered. Not because his voice was loud or angry, he spoke quietly, but the chill in it seeped into my bones.
~~~~~
The three of us finally sat in a small coffee shop at the end of the street. A bright place with lots of people, safe, at least technically.
But the atmosphere was unbelievably awkward.
I sat in the corner, head down, hands gripping my hoodie. Leonardo sat across from me, but he turned his face away like the wall was more interesting than mine. Sebastian sat between us, but his seat was pulled forward a bit, like he was a shield between two ticking bombs.
The sound of the espresso machine was the only thing audible.
Until Sebastian spoke first.
"Emily… Leo and I want you to return to work at Rhys Tech."
I snapped my head up. "Huh?"
Leonardo looked at Sebastian with the expression of "seriously what the hell did you just say." His brows furrowed hard.
"I… I don't know," I answered, confused, my heart still racing.
Sebastian sighed, then without warning, he grabbed my hand and Leo's hand, and put them together on the table.
I jolted. Leonardo did too.
Leo even glared at Sebastian like he wanted to murder him.
Sebastian spoke firmly, "Leo wants to apologize. He—"
"What the hell," Leo muttered quietly, annoyed.
That's how he apologizes? Using Sebastian? Seriously?
I pulled my hand back quickly. Leo immediately looked at me, his gaze flickering before he turned away again.
He exhaled heavily.
Then slowly, almost inaudibly,
"Sorry."
I went stiff.
Sebastian patted my shoulder lightly, signaling me to listen.
Leo added, "What I said last time… it was too much."
I still averted my gaze.
Leo's voice was soft, flat, but there was something. Pain? Regret? I didn't know.
"I'm busy," I finally said. "I can't join whatever game you two are playing."
I stood and headed for the exit, but Sebastian quickly got up and blocked the door.
"Emily."
His voice cracked a little. "What do you mean 'game'?"
I didn't answer. I turned my body and walked away.
Sebastian followed again, his steps quick. "Wait. Listen to me."
I stopped, but didn't turn around.
"Emily," he said again, softer this time. "You can be angry at Leo. He was wrong. His words hurt. His behavior too. But don't hate me as well."
I slowly turned.
Sebastian looked… tired. Not physically, but mentally tired from dealing with two stubborn adults.
He continued.
"Losing that baby… hit Leo harder than you think."
I flinched.
Sebastian lowered his head a bit, choosing his words.
"Maybe you don't know, but Leo likes kids. His friend used to have a daughter. That friend left a letter saying if he disappeared, Leo must find the girl immediately, but Leo couldn't find her anywhere."
Sebastian looked at me deeply. "Leo is someone who feels a lot. He's just too good at hiding it."
I swallowed.
"No one noticed when he cried that day," Sebastian continued.
"He has this habit… when he cries, he wipes his nose a lot."
Silence.
I remembered how often Leo wiped his nose at the hospital.
"Believe me, Emily," he said quietly. "No matter how cruel his words sound… he didn't mean them."
I stayed quiet.
Because I knew I was also at fault. I had said things, intentionally, that were sharp.
Sebastian added, "Maybe something triggered him. Did you… say something that hurt him?"
I lowered my head.
Yes. I did.
Finally, I whispered, "So what do I do? He fired me. He wants to divorce me."
Sebastian smiled faintly. "Give me your hand."
I hesitated, then placed my hand in his.
He gently pulled me back to the table where Leo was sitting.
Leo looked up, a bit surprised to see me return.
Sebastian sat down and motioned at Leo.
Leo sighed again, longer this time.
"I…"
He paused, searching for words he clearly wasn't used to.
"I'm sorry again. And I'm not divorcing you."
I froze.
Leo added, "About the job… it's your choice. Whether you return or not, it's up to you. But our marriage… I want us to continue."
I really didn't expect that.
My chest tightened. There was anger, confusion, and suspicion. But also… a chance.
"I'll think about it," I finally said.
Leo gave a small nod. He didn't push. Didn't pressure.
It was strange and somehow made me even more suspicious.
Eventually, Sebastian and Leo stood up first. They had a meeting at the office.
Leo reached for the table, grabbing his wallet and phone.
As he slipped everything into his pocket, something fell.
A small paper. A photo.
Falling right under the table.
Leo didn't notice
I quickly moved my foot, covering it with my shoe so he wouldn't see.
Leo and Sebastian said goodbye and walked out of the coffee shop.
Once the door closed, I bent down and picked up the photo.
My heart stopped.
The photo was…
Thomas Kessler.
And a little girl on his lap.
Me.
Heat rushed to my head.
Why does Leo have this?
Since when?
For what?
My hands shook violently.