*Who's My Eternal*
*Three Weeks Later — Harkwell Mansion, 3 PM*
Elian was used to it now.
The marble. The quiet. The way Mrs. Chen left coffee outside his door at 6 AM sharp.
Mr. Harkwell paid him. Weekly. Into an account Elian barely checked.
More money than he'd ever seen before the diamond.
And Harkwell was a businessman. Elian knew that now.
Shipping meetings. Video calls to Tokyo. Stocks. Real estate.
Not mafia. Just… big.
But still, Elian wondered.
_Why bring me here?_
_Why pay me to live in a mansion and read books in the library?_
_When's the "something great" coming?_
He was in the library when one of the staff came down.
"Mr. Eldridge? Mr. Harkwell is asking for you. In his room."
Elian closed the book. Nodded. "Thanks."
Walked up the stairs. Second floor. End of the hall.
Knocked.
No answer.
He pushed the door open. "Sir?"
Mr. Harkwell was in bed.
Sleeping. Or pretending.
Oxygen tube by his nose. Blanket pulled up. Chest rising slow.
And the briefcase.
Open.
On the floor by the nightstand.
Money everywhere.
Bundles of it.
U.S. dollars. Canadian. Euros. Yen. Some currencies Elian didn't even recognize.
Scattered like someone spilled it. Like someone forgot.
Elian froze in the doorway.
No cameras. He checked.
No bodyguards.
No Mrs. Chen.
Just him.
And Mr. Harkwell, asleep.
And more cash than his whole barangay made in a year.
His heart beat fast.
_Take one bundle. He'd never know._
_Lola needs a new roof._
Run away from there
_No one would know._
The thought came. Fast. Ugly.
Then left.
Because he heard Cherry
Because he remembered Lola quotes
And he wasn't that.
Not anymore.
Elian walked in. Quiet.
Didn't look at Mr. Harkwell.
Knelt down.
Picked up every bundle. Neat. Slow. No counting. Didn't touch more than he had to.
Stacked them back in the briefcase.
Closed it.
Clicked the locks.
Looked around.
Then walked to the closet.
Opened it. Suits. Shoes. Safe in the back.
He put the briefcase on the shelf. Behind the suits. Where it belonged.
Closed the closet.
Looked at Mr. Harkwell one more time. Still "sleeping."
And walked out.
Closed the door soft.
Didn't tell anyone.
Went back to the library.
Opened his book.
Hands steady.
*Inside the Bedroom*
Arthur Harkwell opened his eyes.
Watched the door shut.
Sat up. Slow. Oxygen tube hissing.
Walked to the closet.
Opened it.
Briefcase was there.
Locks still clicked.
He opened it.
Counted.
Every bill. Every currency.
All there.
Not one missing.
Arthur Harkwell closed the briefcase.
And smiled.
First time in five years, it reached his eyes.
He picked up the phone by his bed.
"Mrs. Chen," he said. "Cancel my 4 PM. I need to draft something."
"Something, sir?"
"A contract," Arthur said. Looked at the door.
"For Elian Eldridge."
*Text to Cherry, 3:47 PM*
*Elian:* _Old man left money everywhere today._
*Elian:* _Like, everywhere._
*Cherry:* _ELIAN._
*Cherry:* _DID YOU—_
*Elian:* _I put it back, Pink. Relax._
*Elian:* _I'm not stupid._
*Cherry:* _...good._
*Cherry:* _That's why I love—_
Three dots.
Then deleted.
*Cherry:* _That's why you're not servant boy anymore._
Elian stared at the message.
At the word she didn't send.
And smiled at his book.