[2]

Jupiter’s study felt unfamiliar to Venus now.

The room was usually warm—the rich scent of black coffee lingering alongside the sweet aroma of cookies she often baked. Dim lights. A large desk where they used to talk until late into the night. But now, everything felt cold and hollow.

Venus sat on the floor beside the dark leather sofa.

Her tears finally broke free.

The sobs she had been holding back spilled into broken sounds of grief, her chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. She covered her face with her hands, as if trying to hide from the reality that had just shattered her life.

“I didn’t know,” she whispered through her sobs, her voice barely audible. “I truly didn’t know.”

Her tears kept falling.

She wasn’t crying only because Jupiter wanted a divorce—but because of a truth that was far crueller: the love she had been holding onto was built upon a horrific tragedy caused by her own father.

It took a long time before Venus could finally stand.

Her legs were still weak, her head spinning. But there was one thing she needed to do. She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, staring at the screen for several seconds before pressing the one name that had been echoing in her mind all along.

Mom.

The call connected after the third ring.

“Venus?” Joana’s voice came through warm and familiar, just like always. “Why are you calling so late at night? Is something wrong?”

Venus swallowed hard. “There’s nothing you need to worry about, Mom.” She tried to speak while forcing a smile, as if her mother were right there in front of her, watching her closely.

“Then what is it?” Joana asked. “What’s going on?”

“I want to ask you something.”

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“Dad…” Venus asked carefully, “what kind of work did he used to do?”

There was silence on the other end of the line for several seconds. “Why are you suddenly asking about that?” Joana finally said. “Don’t you already know everything?”

Venus closed her eyes. “I just… suddenly thought about him.”

“Are you sick?” Joana asked suspiciously. “Or are you having problems?”

“No,” Venus replied quickly. “I just want to be sure.”

Joana let out a long breath. “Venus, I don’t know whether he’s changed or not. Back then, your father was drunk. A gambler. Violent. He often hit both you and me, remember? That’s why I left him.”

Venus tightened her grip on the phone. “Yes. I know.”

“I left when you were ten,” Joana continued. “From then on, I raised you myself. During all the years I lived with him, your father never had a steady job. His life revolved around gambling and alcohol.”

“So… Mom doesn’t know anything beyond that?” Venus’s voice trembled.

“What do you mean by that?” Joana asked, concern creeping in. “Venus, what’s going on?”

Venus shook her head, even though she knew her mother couldn’t see it. “It’s nothing, Mom. I was just asking.”

“But that question feels very strange.”

A mother’s instincts couldn’t be fooled so easily. The realization forced Venus to steady herself. “Really, it’s nothing. I was just curious how he made a living. Even though I know what he did, sometimes I still wish he could’ve lived a normal life—like other fathers.”

At the other end of the line, Joana laughed softly. “There’s no need to expect anything ‘normal’ from your father, Venus.”

Venus tried to smile.

“If anything, ever happens, tell me,” Joana said gently. “You’re not alone.”

The call ended.

And one thing became painfully clear to Venus—her mother didn’t know anything about the dirty work her father had been involved in out there. Venus stared blankly at the wall, her chest tightening even more. If even her mother didn’t know… then who could possibly explain all of this?

Meanwhile, Jupiter drove at high speed toward his grandmother’s house.

The city lights streaked past the windshield, but his mind was far more chaotic than the night roads. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his jaw clenched. Every time the image of Venus collapsed on the floor of his study flashed through his mind, pain stabbed at his chest.

He hated Venus’s father. But he also hated himself—for hurting the woman he loved.

Jupiter’s car came to a stop in the courtyard of the Shaw family’s grand residence. Several servants greeted him with furrowed brows—it was unusual for the young master of the Shaw family to arrive alone.

“Where’s Granny?” he asked without preamble.

“She’s still in the dining room, Young Master,” one of the servants replied.

Jupiter quickened his steps. The dining room lights were still on. The moment he entered, the dinner atmosphere froze.

“Jupiter?” Marta Shaw turned in surprise. “Why are you here so late? Where’s Venus?”

All eyes shifted to him. Uncles, aunts, and cousins, everyone fell silent.

“What’s going on?” one of his uncles asked.

Jupiter pulled out a chair and sat down but waved off the servant who tried to serve him dinner. “I didn’t come here to eat.”

The tension thickened instantly.

“I’ve filed for divorce from Venus,” Jupiter said flatly.

Marta’s spoon slipped from her hand and clattered against the plate. “What?” Her eyes widened in disbelief. “What did you just say?” Her voice rose.

Jupiter met his grandmother’s gaze. Doubt still lingered within him, but the moment he remembered that day, his anger surged back. “I just found out who Venus’s father really is.”

The room fell deathly silent.

“What… do you mean?” Marta asked carefully.

“His name is Baron Gustavo,” Jupiter continued without hesitation. “He’s the man who murdered Dad and Mom.”

Gasps erupted from every direction.

“That’s impossible,” one of his aunts whispered.

“No matter how long it’s been, I could never forget him,” Jupiter said. “The damned thing is—he’s still a fugitive. Even now, he hasn’t been caught!” He slammed his hand on the table, furious. How could the police—and even the private investigators he had hired—have failed to track that man down?

Marta stared at her grandson, tears pooling in her eyes. “Jupiter…”

“I can’t live with that truth,” Jupiter continued. “I love Venus. But I can’t forget what her father did.”

Several family members exchanged uneasy glances. And among them, Ferdinan Shaw—Jupiter’s uncle—curved his lips into a faint smile. “Then you’ve made the right decision,” Ferdinan said at last.

All eyes turned to him.

“You can’t gamble your position and your future on a woman with that kind of background,” Ferdinan went on. “The Shaw family name is far too big to take such a risk.”

Marta shot him a sharp look. “Ferdinan, watch your words!”

“I’m just being realistic,” Ferdinan cut in. “If you want, I can recommend the best lawyer. This divorce needs to be handled quickly and cleanly.”

Jupiter lifted his gaze. “I didn’t ask for your advice, Uncle Ferdinan.”

“But I’m certain you’ll need it,” Ferdinan replied calmly. “The longer these drags on, the more dangerous it becomes for you. I’ll contact my associates.”

Marta slammed her palm against the table. “That’s enough!”

Silence fell over the room once more.

Marta looked at Jupiter for a long moment. “Do you know what you’re doing?”

Jupiter nodded slowly. “I do.”

“This isn’t a trivial matter, Jupiter. Are you sure?” Marta asked again. “What about Venus?”

“I’m sure, Granny. And why are you asking about Venus?” Jupiter replied, his voice tightening. “Why aren’t you asking how I’m supposed to live with the fact that the woman I love is the daughter of the man who killed my parents?”