Daniel downed the rest of his drink and stared silently out the window into the dark.
"That night… still feels like yesterday. Maison Langley's New York opening party."
He spoke like he was rewinding an old film, memories unfolding one by one.
"Thirteen years ago. The Grand Hotel ballroom. The room was filled with partners from all over the world—designers, press, investors... and Noah. He was there too. Came with his parents, like us. Both journalists—big names in their field."
Daniel set his glass down and slowly turned to Jinwoo.
"That night, behind the hotel…Noah saw me and Celeste kiss."
"What?! You kissed her?!"
Jinwoo jerked his head up in shock.
Daniel scoffed with a crooked grin.
"Relax. I was ten years ahead of you. If anyone's allowed to be mad, it's me—you little thief."
Jinwoo scratched the back of his neck.
"So that's why you've been kinda salty with me, huh? Look… it's in the past. Can we maybe not dwell on it?"
Daniel let out a dry laugh.
"Wow. Shamelessness really is a gift."
Jinwoo shrugged, mumbling,
"First loves rarely work out anyway."
"That's it. You keep snarking like that, and I'll kick you out. Don't test me."
"Okay, okay. I'm quiet now. Please, continue."
The corner of Daniel's mouth lifted, but his tone turned low again.
"After that night…Noah kept watching us."
He laced his fingers together, resting them under his chin.
"Before my parents passed, we were just… young and careful. Like any innocent couple at that age."
Jinwoo stayed silent, eyes wide.
"Then after I was adopted into the Langley family, Noah showed up—with photos."
Daniel gave a bitter chuckle.
"He never said he'd go public or threaten us. He just laid them out. One by one. Didn't need to say a word—we both knew it was blackmail."
"…Was it for money?"
Jinwoo asked carefully.
Daniel tilted his glass and stared into it.
"He said it started as curiosity. But in the end… yeah. It was about money."
He gave the whiskey a gentle swirl.
"Celeste used her ability on him once. Tried to get through. But—"
His mouth twisted.
"Nothing. He just frowned and asked what the hell she was doing."
"…Seriously? It didn't work?"
Jinwoo blinked, disbelieving.
"Not even a little. That was the first time we realized…he's completely immune."
Daniel stared into the air for a moment, then sighed.
"Then one day, Noah disappeared. No warning. No calls. Didn't show up to school, nothing."
He paused.
"Eventually we heard he'd moved to the UK. With his parents."
"So… that was it?"
"No."
Daniel shook his head and picked up his drink.
"A few weeks after he disappeared, an envelope showed up for me. Plain white, just like the one you saw today—same tidy lettering, same damn initial."
"…What was inside?"
Daniel gave him a look.
"Come on, don't be gross. We were just kids—junior high. But the photos... there were a lot. Some I'd never even seen before. Moments I didn't even realize he'd been watching."
The room fell quiet, save for the faint sound of breathing.
"And now, he's back. Just like then."
Daniel looked straight at Jinwoo.
"Being with her…means carrying all of this too."
He raised his glass and took one last sip.
"…Are you ready for that?"