Mr. Miles stood silently, looking at Werren.
He didn't interrupt.
He simply listened.
Werren's voice grew sharper as he continued,
"Do you even know what Seth has done, Dad?" he said, anger clear in his tone. "I know you don't want to hear this… but I'm still going to say it."
Leo watched nervously, sensing the tension building.
"Seth took our project files," Werren continued. "And now he's claiming that it was his idea."
He stepped closer.
"Now tell me, Dad… what do you have to say about that?" Werren demanded. "Do you still think he's trustworthy?"
Leo couldn't stay silent anymore.
"Werren, I want to—"
"Leo."
Mr. Miles stopped him.
"Let Werren say what he wants to say."
Leo hesitated. "But, Father—"
Mr. Miles shook his head slightly, signaling him to stay quiet.
Werren looked between the two of them.
"Fine," he said, taking a breath. "If you don't have anything to say… then listen to me."
His tone became firm.
"I need Leo to come with me tomorrow to the company. I can't handle everything alone anymore."
He turned to his father.
"I need your permission."
Leo stood there, confused and caught off guard.
Mr. Miles was silent for a moment.
Then he spoke calmly, "Alright. Leo can go with you tomorrow."
Leo looked at him in surprise.
"But Father… what about you?" he asked. "Who will help you?"
Mr. Miles gave a faint smile.
"I'll handle things on my own," he said. "Don't worry about me."
Werren said nothing. He simply turned and walked away toward his room, still carrying his frustration.
Leo watched him leave, then turned back to Mr. Miles.
"Father… why didn't you tell him the truth?" Leo asked quietly. "You already know everything about Seth… then why stay silent?"
Mr. Miles sighed.
"Leo… I wanted to hear what Werren truly felt," he said softly. "I didn't trust him before… and for that, I feel ashamed."
Leo listened carefully.
"That's why I stopped you," Mr. Miles continued. "He deserved to say everything without being interrupted."
Leo nodded slowly.
"I understand…"
But then he hesitated.
"Still… I don't think I should go with Werren. You need help too."
Mr. Miles shook his head.
"No, Leo. I want you to go with him."
Leo looked confused.
"Werren is the type of person who takes everything on himself," Mr. Miles said. "I don't want him to carry all the responsibility alone."
There was a pause.
"…So please, help him."
Leo looked down for a moment, then nodded.
"…Alright. I'll go."
That evening, Leo went to Werren's room and told him he would come along.
Werren simply nodded, but his expression still held disappointment… especially toward his father.
Leo noticed it clearly.
"He's still upset…" Leo thought.
Later that night—
Leo stepped outside and walked along the quiet street.
The streetlights glowed softly, and a cool breeze passed by.
He sighed deeply.
"Why does everything feel so complicated…" he murmured.
After a few steps, he stopped.
"Still… I'll go with Werren," he thought. "I'll help him… and Mr. Fred too."
As he walked further, his eyes suddenly caught someone.
It was Claire.
She was standing near a small store, about to head home.
Leo froze for a moment.
"…It's her."
He watched her quietly, his expression softening.
Without thinking, he began to follow her.
"She hasn't changed at all…" he whispered to himself. "Still the same…"
Claire walked calmly, unaware that someone was behind her.
Leo kept a small distance, not wanting to be noticed.
His eyes stayed on her.
"Why… do I feel like this?" he wondered.
Soon, Claire reached her house.
She stepped inside and closed the door.
Leo stopped outside, standing in front of her house.
Silence surrounded him.
Then suddenly—
"What am I doing…?" he muttered.
He ran his hand through his hair.
"I shouldn't be following her like this… this is wrong."
He turned around to leave.
But just then—
The door opened again.
Claire stepped outside.
She looked around, noticing someone standing nearby.
"…Who is that?" she thought.
For a moment, her eyes lingered on Leo… but from a distance, she couldn't recognize him clearly.
"Maybe… someone new moved here," she murmured softly.
She shook her head and went back inside.
Leo stood frozen.
"…Did she see me?" he whispered.
Then he sighed.
"Even if she did… she wouldn't recognize me," he said to himself. "I'm just overthinking."
But still…
His gaze returned to her house.
"…Why am I always like this when it comes to her?"
There was no answer.
Later, Leo returned home.
He sat on his bed, feeling restless.
"I shouldn't have followed her… that was wrong," he muttered.
He lay down, trying to sleep.
But the moment he closed his eyes—
Claire's face appeared in his thoughts.
Leo quickly opened his eyes.
"…What is wrong with me?"
He turned to the side, frustrated.
"Why… am I thinking about her again?"
The night grew quiet.
But Leo's thoughts didn't.