"Absolutely not!"


    She could recognize that kid even if he turned to ashes. When Leonard made it clear he wasn''t going in, M stopped pushing. Ignoring the stares from strangers, she stood outside the restroom and called out, "Eugene, I see you. If you have something to say,e out and talk to me. If you keep hiding, I''ming in after you!"


    With that, she stepped closer and called again, her voice rough and ragged, the metallic taste of blood spreading in her mouth.


    "I''ming in to find you."


    Worried she''d hurt her throat, Leonard stopped her and was about to go in himself when a teenager in ck sweats and white sneakers finally emerged from the restroom. The moment Eugene met M''s eyes, he looked away, guilt written all over him, and his own voice came out hoarse.


    "Hey, sis."


    After a quick rundown of what happened-turned out Eugene had gotten drunk and thrown the first punch-M didn''t argue. She simply paid for the damages to the bar at market value and led Eugene out.


    The car ride back was silent.


    They pulled up outside the small vi Jade kept in the city. M got out with Eugene and headed inside.


    Leonard didn''t follow. He just stood there watching the boy trail after M, a frown creasing his brow. What trouble was Eugene getting into now?


    Inside, M found the first-aid kit and had Eugene sit on the couch. She cleaned and treated the shallow cuts on his hands and face, her expression stern. "Why were you drinking? And why did you get into a fight?"


    God knows how shocked she was to see, from the security footage, that it was him who started it. The kid who''d always been gentle and obedient with her- she''d never imagined he had this side to him. The whole drive home, her faith in him had been shaken, and she''d barely spoken.


    "Hey, sis."


    Eugene''s eyes darted away from hers, but when he caught sight of the bruise on her neck, he froze. Hisshes dropped, hiding the sudden storm in his eyes, and his tone shifted. "Who did that to you? The mark on your neck..."


    "Oh, that?" M waved it off. "Just ran into some lunatic. It''s nothing. Right now, we''re talking about you!"


    "A lunatic?"


    Eugene''s gaze darkened.


    "Let''s stay on topic. Why the drinking and the fighting? Did something happen recently?" M couldn''t help but cough after speaking a few words.


    "Don''t talk anymore, sis."


    Noticing her scratchy throat, Eugene tried to stop her, but then hesitated. "But could you... not ask about my business?"


    "What?" M frowned.


    "Listen, sis."


    Eugene bit his lip, finally making up his mind. Something''s happenedtely. I''ve been in a bad ce, drank too much, and messed up. I promise it won''t happen again, but... can you please just let it go?"


    M studied him for a long moment before quietly asking, "...Is it something I''m not allowed to know?"


    "It is."


    Eugene hung his head. "I don''t want to lie to you. I can only promise-when I''ve figured it out, you''ll be the first person I tell."


    "I''m sorry, sis."


    "There''s nothing to be sorry for!" M, whose mood had been in tatters all day, suddenly broke into a genuine smile. Her eyes crinkled with both relief and worry as she ruffled his slightly curling hair.


    "If you don''t want to talk, you don''t have to. Everyone has secrets they''d rather keep. I get it-I''ve been there too. But if you really can''t handle it, you have toe to me. I''ll help you however I can."


    "Okay!"


    "But I''mying down thew here." M coughed again. "Try not to solve things with violence, alright? Hurting others won''t fix anything-it just makes things worse for everyone."


    "Got it." Eugene grabbed her hand. "Sis, you really shouldn''t be talking. Go rest, okay? Whatever else we need to discuss can wait until tomorrow."


    "Alright."


    M started up the stairs, then paused. "It''ste. Don''t run off-just stay here tonight, in the same room you used before."


    Eugene had stayed here before, back when he and M and Jade had spent holidays together in this vi.


    He remembered too, and gave her a small smile.


    Once M had gone upstairs,


    Eugene rubbed his tired eyes. He''d spent more than a day at the bar, and hadn''t removed his contacts the whole time-now his eyes ached, but he didn''t dare take them out He headed upstairs, ordered a cleaning kit for his lenses from a specialty store, and after a while, finally clenched his teeth and dialed a


    number. His entire expression


    hardened.


    The call connected quickly. A young man''s friendly voice came through the line, full ofughter. “Eugene, little brother! Calling me now-does that mean you''ve made up your mind?"


    "I still don''t trust you," Eugene replied coldly. "And stop calling me little brother." "Alright, alright." The man''s tone didn''t change, still light. "So what can I do for you?"


    "I want to know everywhere my sister went today, and everyone she met. All of it," Eugene said, his voice icy.


    "Your sister?" The man sounded confused for a second, thenughed quietly as realization dawned. "Oh, her. Sure, but why should I help you? What''s in it for


    me?"


    "I''ll meet him." Eugene''s hand clenched into a fist as he forced out each word. "Johnnie, I''ll meet your boss. Just once."