Ren was late again.
"WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME?!"
He rushed into the office—tie crooked, shirt half tucked, hair completely messed up.
THAP!
"…Late again."
"…Traffic."
"…You live 10 minutes away."
"…Emotional traffic."
Silence… and then the entire office burst into laughter.
"Bro, your excuses are evolving."
Ren dropped into his chair, exhausted. Two laptops in front of him—one running trading charts, the other filled with office work.
"…Two kids… no past… no mother…"
He rubbed his face.
"…What kind of life is this…"
His phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Inspector Arjun.
Ren's expression changed instantly as he picked up the call.
"…Hello?"
"Ren… I found something."
He stood up immediately.
"…Tell me."
A short pause came from the other side.
"The woman you're looking for… she's not normal."
Ren frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
"She's rich. Very rich."
Silence.
"…How rich?"
"The kind of rich… where information disappears."
Ren's grip tightened around the phone.
"I checked hospital records… surveillance… identity databases…"
"…And?"
"…Nothing."
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
"…That's impossible."
"…Not if you have power."
Ren leaned against the wall slowly.
"…And the children?"
"They were raised properly. Educated. Protected."
"…Then why send them to me?"
"…That's what I can't figure out."
Ren's voice dropped.
"…And the letters?"
"…Forget it."
"…What?"
"They can't be traced either."
"…Not even handwriting?"
"…Nothing reliable."
Silence fell.
"…So I'm chasing a ghost…"
"…Exactly."
The call ended.
Ren stood there quietly for a moment.
"…Who are you…"
"…And why me…?"
He checked the time.
"…School ends in 20 minutes."
Without thinking, he grabbed his coat.
"I'm leaving."
His colleague looked confused.
"…Work?"
"…Kids."
"…You've changed, bro."
Ren smirked slightly.
"…I didn't have a choice."
Soon, he was standing outside the school gate, watching children run out with laughter and noise.
"…Why do I feel more nervous than them…"
"DAD!!"
Aanya came running at full speed and jumped straight onto him.
THUD!
"I MISSED YOU!"
"…It's been six hours."
"…That's long!"
Ren couldn't help but smile a little.
"…What did you do today?"
"I talked, played, ate, laughed!"
"…Of course you did."
Then Kaito walked out slowly, calm as always.
"…How was school?" Ren asked.
"…Fine."
"…You always say that."
"…Because it is."
Ren sighed.
"…At least lie sometimes."
No response.
As they started walking, Aanya grabbed Ren's hand tightly. Kaito walked beside them—not holding his hand, but not distant either.
Ren noticed.
"…Slow progress…"
They walked in silence for a moment before Aanya suddenly spoke.
"Dad…"
"…Hmm?"
"Mom used to say… one day you'll come."
Ren stopped walking.
"…What?"
"She said you would come take us."
His heartbeat skipped.
He slowly turned toward Kaito.
"…Is that true?"
Kaito stayed quiet.
"…I don't remember."
But his eyes shifted for just a second.
Ren noticed.
"…So you do know something…"
Kaito said nothing.
By the time they reached home, Aanya jumped onto the sofa.
"I'M HUNGRY!"
"…Of course you are."
Ren walked into the kitchen.
"…Let's see what I can burn today…"
"DON'T BURN IT!!"
"…I HEARD THAT!"
Kaito sat quietly, watching him.
This time, though, there was no distance—just silence.
Ren glanced at both of them.
"…Whatever this is…"
"…I'll figure it out."
Even if the truth was hidden behind money, power… and a woman who didn't want to be found.
❓ What do you think?
If their mother knew Ren would come… then why did she disappear completely?