Luna couldn't sit still anymore.
"People who don't exist on records…?" she repeated slowly.
Ethan nodded. "Your father worked in a hidden network. Off the grid. No official identity, no traceable work."
Her chest tightened. "That sounds like… criminals."
"Not exactly," Ethan said. "But not innocent either."
Silence fell.
"My whole life…" Luna whispered, "was a lie?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Because the truth was—
Yes.
Luna turned away, running her hand through her hair. "No… there has to be a mistake. He wouldn't hide something like that from me."
"He didn't hide it from you," Ethan said quietly.
She turned back.
"He protected you from it."
That hit differently.
Luna's eyes softened for a second… then filled with confusion again.
"Then why do I feel like I was part of it too?"
Ethan's expression changed slightly.
Because that question—
Was dangerous.
"You were around it," he said carefully. "That's enough to leave an impact."
"But Adrian…" she whispered. "He looked at me like he knew me."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"He did."
Her heartbeat picked up again.
"Then tell me clearly," she stepped closer. "What was I to him?"
Silence.
Ethan looked at her—long, steady.
"…You trusted him more than anyone."
That felt wrong.
Deeply wrong.
"No," she shook her head. "That doesn't make sense."
"It doesn't have to," Ethan replied.
"But it happened."
Her breathing became uneven again.
Fragments started pushing forward—
A faint laugh.
A shadow walking beside her.
A hand reaching out—
"Careful."
Luna flinched slightly.
"…He used to stay close," she murmured.
Ethan's eyes sharpened. "What did you remember?"
"Nothing clear…" she said, pressing her fingers to her temple. "Just… a feeling."
"What kind of feeling?"
She hesitated.
Then—
"…Safe."
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Silence.
Heavy.
Ethan's expression hardened almost instantly.
"Safe?"
Luna looked confused herself. "I don't understand it either…"
But Ethan did.
And he didn't like it.
At all.
"That feeling is wrong," he said coldly.
She frowned. "You don't know that."
"I do."
His tone was sharper now.
For the first time—
There was irritation.
Real emotion.
"Ethan…" she said slowly, "why does it bother you?"
He didn't answer.
Because the answer—
Wasn't something he wanted to say.
Luna stepped closer again.
"Why?"
Silence stretched.
Then—
"Because he's not who you think he is."
"And you are?" she shot back.
That stopped him.
For a second—
Everything froze.
Her words hit deeper than she expected.
Ethan looked at her, something unreadable flashing in his eyes.
"…At least I'm not lying to you," he said quietly.
That made her pause.
Because despite everything—
He wasn't wrong.
She exhaled slowly.
"This is too much…"
Her voice dropped.
"I don't even know who to believe anymore."
Ethan's tone softened slightly.
"Then don't believe anyone."
She looked at him.
"Not me. Not him. Not your memories."
A pause.
"Just focus on what's in front of you."
Her brows furrowed. "And what is that?"
Ethan stepped closer.
Close enough that her breath slowed.
"Me," he said.
Silence.
That word—
Simple.
But heavy.
Luna's heart skipped slightly.
Because for the first time—
It didn't feel like a contract.
It felt real.
Too real.
But before she could respond—
Ethan's phone vibrated.
The moment broke instantly.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
Serious again.
"What is it?" Luna asked.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"He's still nearby."
Her heart dropped.
"…Adrian?"
"Yes."
Silence filled the room again.
But this time—
It wasn't confusion.
It was fear.
Because this wasn't just about the past anymore.
It was happening now.
And whatever her father left behind—
Hadn't ended.