Richard's POV"I'm sorry, Mr. Richard, but I don't think this is the right time. I hope you can be patient a little longer. Regarding the person you mentioned, I will recommend someone soon. When do you want this new person to start working?" asked Shawn."The sooner, the better," I said firmly. Shawn nodded in understanding. He excused himself while carrying our leftover trash.After Shawn left, I resumed my investigation. I started to experience the first deadlock since I started investigating.I didn't give up, continuing to investigate patiently and diligently. Unfortunately, patience and perseverance were insufficient to solve my problem this time.For a week, I struggled with my laptop, only sleeping for 5 hours every night. My investigation just kept going in circles. When I thought I was almost there, I was back to square one.All of this was stressing me out. Not to mention having to continue working with Jeremy in an awkward atmosphere. Jeremy always trying to talk with me

Richard's POV"Blake wouldn't do that. Trust me," Nikkie said, trying to calm me down. I didn't react; my frustration with Blake, which had subsided, was now peaking again.Honestly, the only person I trusted was Sharon. Blake was the chef hired by Krystal. Just as Krystal had recommended Jeremy, Blake might have been also Krystal's loyal dog.Nikkie released our embrace and then turned her body so we could face each other. She held both sides of my face with her hands, making our gazes lock. My annoyance instantly disappeared. My heart was beating twice as fast as usual. "Listen. If Blake were that sneaky, he would have reported you to Krystal immediately since he accidentally saw your car being watched outside the apartment."My eyes rounded in shock. "What?"Nikkie nodded vigorously. So Blake had known from the start?"Blake told me that fact yesterday. It was when he accidentally saw Sharon folding your shirt that was left here. Blake asked if you had come to this place, and we

Nikkie's POV"Showering... together?" I said as I looked around the room. I think I saw something like a shower earlier. Wait, why did I see a shower when I hadn't entered the bathroom?Sure enough, I wasn't mistaken. In one corner of the room, there was a transparent bathroom stall that I had only seen on TV.I glanced at Richard behind me, forgetting that the distance between us was thin. The result was predictable; my lips crashed into Richard's thick lips.I froze briefly, my brain failing to process what had just happened. When I finally regained consciousness, I quickly broke free from Richard's embrace and ran to the bed."Since when have you been behind me? Since when have you been hugging me? Why, why ...." my sentences were garbled. I didn't dare to look at Richard. I held my hot face with both hands. Stupidly, does that count as a kiss?Wait, wasn't that an accident? Then it doesn't count as a kiss! So why am I panicking like this? I took a deep breath, trying to calm myse

Richard's POV"Good night, Nikkie." That was all I could say in return. I kissed Nikkie's head while hugging her to my chest. Nikkie nodded, then started to close her eyes.I let out a long breath. Nikkie had succeeded in destroying the little happiness she had previously given me.For some reason, I wouldn't say I liked Nikkie's hope that my relationship with Krystal would be as good as before. It wasn't easy. When I found out that Krystal had cheated on me, it felt like my world was shattered.I could forgive Krystal's many shortcomings, even if one day I found out that Krystal had killed someone. I can forgive her. I can forgive anything as long as it's not infidelity. The wound I thought had healed reopened when I learned about Krystal's affair.It was all because I grew up feeling abandoned. Amid my unhealed wounds, I saw how my father cheated on my mother in front of my eyes.My conversation with Nikkie couldn't help but remind me of that traumatic incident. When I almost drown

Richard's POV"Don't look! Go to your room, Richie!" suddenly, my eyes were covered by a hand. That voice was Aunt Karina's.I still felt confused. In the darkness of having my eyes covered by Aunt Karina, I could still distinguish people's voices."Get Richie out of here! Hurry!" Aunt Karina called out again, who knows who.Even though I rarely saw my mother and even more rarely talked to her. But I recognized my mother's voice. Just now, it wasn't my mother's voice.A moment later, I felt someone carrying me away from my parent's room. There were sounds of arguing and screaming from a strange woman who wasn't wearing any clothes. When I came out of my shock, I realized that I wasn't in my room. This room was smaller than mine, and I had never seen it before.I was sitting on a relatively small single bed. Someone was in front of me, one of the maids in our house. Her face looked a bit unfamiliar like she was a recently hired maid."Are you all right, Mr. Richard?" asked the