Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the orphanage brimmed with a different energy.
The courtyard was buzzing with laughter and chatter as staff guided children to their morning activities. Inside the main office, the air stilled when a tall figure walked through the gates.
"Tae Hyun?" Mariam, the senior caretaker, gasped in delight, her lined face breaking into the widest smile. She hurried to him, clasping her hands.
He bowed respectfully. "It's been a while, Mariam-ssi."
She chuckled, giving his arm a light smack as though scolding him for his politeness. "A long while! My goodness, look at you. Taller, stronger… and so handsome too! Where's that little boy who used to chase after stray puppies in our yard?"
Tae Hyun laughed softly, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Gone, I guess. The years moved faster than I thought."
Mariam's eyes softened with nostalgia. "How's your aunt? And your father? Jihaan Kim… still as busy as ever, I suppose?"
"Yes, Father is as buried in work as always," Tae Hyun said, with a touch of weariness in his voice. "Aunt's doing fine. She always asks about this place, you know."
The orphanage staff, overhearing bits of the conversation, began whispering among themselves like bees in a hive.
"Do you see him?" one woman whispered, fanning herself with a clipboard. "That's Tae Hyun Kim."
"Kim Jihaan's son—the mayor's son!" another chimed in, eyes sparkling. "And such a famous racer too… even after his accident, he's still dazzling. Look at those eyes, that jawline—he's like he walked out of a drama!"
They giggled behind their hands, their voices carrying down the hall.
At that moment, Sita stepped out of the washroom, still patting at the damp stains on her clothes. Her irritation hadn't fully faded, but as she rounded the corner, the sound of those whispers froze her in place.
She tilted her head, curiosity pushing past her annoyance. Her eyes followed the direction of their stares…
And there he was.
Tall, broad-shouldered, his black hair glinting under the orphanage lights. His presence was commanding, yet his smile was soft as he spoke to Mariam. The very image of strength and charm.
But Sita's world tilted violently the moment recognition struck her. Her vision blurred, her heart stopped.
No… .no, it can't be him.
She blinked rapidly, but the face didn't change. The same man. The same eyes. The same voice she had heard groaning in pain that night on the roadside.
The accident.
Her hands grew cold. Her stomach twisted. Buddha, save me. Of all the people in this vast world, why him? Why here?
Sita staggered back a step, clutching the wall for support. He's here… at the orphanage? Why?
Her mind spun in circles, guilt crashing into fear. She remembered the screech of tires, the blood on his face, his broken body. The way her hands trembled when she reached for him.
It's my fault. He almost died because of me. And now he's standing here, smiling, while I… I can't even breathe.
She bit her lip hard, trying to steady herself.
Unaware of her turmoil, Tae Hyun finished speaking with Mariam. She placed a hand on his arm with motherly affection. "It's good you're back here. The children will look up to you. Maybe… you'll finally find the peace you've been running from."
He gave a small nod, though a shadow flickered in his eyes. "I hope so."
Then he turned, striding down the corridor toward the office reserved for him.
As he passed, the staff parted in awe, whispers trailing after him like shadows. "He's even taller in person… so handsome… can you believe he's working here?"
But Sita remained pressed against the wall, her breath uneven, her mind screaming.
Out of everyone… why did fate bring him here?
Her knees felt weak. She whispered to herself, almost in prayer: "Please, Buddha… don't let him recognize me. Don't let him remember me."
Yet deep down, she knew the truth. Fate had already drawn its line. And there was no running from it.
After arriving at the orphanage, Tae Hyun wasted no time. His tall frame and sharp aura immediately made the place feel smaller, as though every corner of the building had to straighten itself before him. He stepped into the director's office, the staff following behind nervously, their whispers floating like dust in the air.
"That's him... Jihaan Kim's son."
"They say he's a famous car racer, did you see those shoulders?"
"Ah, if I see him every day, my life is complete..."
But Tae Hyun paid no attention. His eyes were already on the stacks of documents laid across his desk. He flipped open the first folder, scanning rows of numbers with the precision of a hawk.
Donations. City grants. Sponsor funds.
The money flow was solid. Yet the city's orphan population was rising every year. The contradiction gnawed at him.
He tapped the edge of the paper with his pen. It doesn't add up. Either someone's stealing funds... or something much darker is happening in Velaria.
He leaned back in his chair, arms folded, deep in thought.
After several minutes, he pressed the intercom button. "Send in the staff. One by one."
The interrogation began.
Caretakers, teachers, and helpers walked into the office, each one trembling under his sharp questions. He asked about budgets, food quality, maintenance costs, even small day-to-day routines. His voice wasn't loud, but the weight behind it made people sweat.
Some left relieved. Some left pale.
Finally, it was Sita's turn.
She sat outside the door, her palms clammy, her knees bouncing uncontrollably. Her mind wasn't in the present—it was trapped in fear, replaying the worst possibility.
What if he remembers the accident? What if he knows it was me? What if he ruins everything I've built here?
Her heart thundered in her chest. She forced herself to knock.
"Come in."
The sound of his voice made her breath hitch. She pushed the door open and stepped insideand she saw....him.
TO BE CONTINUED...