Author's Pov....
The party had finally ended, but the storm inside Ren's heart hadn't calmed. His parents left after exchanging pleasantries, and Evan's family stayed behind, chatting about random things. Ren thought it was over—that today, at least, would pass without more chaos.
But just as he was about to sneak away to his room, Evan's mother gently grabbed his wrist. "Come with me, child," she whispered, her eyes soft, but firm.
Without protest, Ren followed her through the long halls of the mansion, her grip tight, as though afraid he would run away. They walked through twisting corridors Ren had never seen before until they stopped in front of a small, hidden door covered in an embroidered curtain.
She pushed it open, and a soft click echoed in the silence.
Inside, the room was bathed in warm sunlight slipping through the sheer curtains. Dust danced lazily in the golden beams. The room was surprisingly cozy, unlike the grandeur of the rest of the mansion.
Ren's breath hitched.
Photos. Paintings. Old school notebooks.
The entire room was filled with memories of…him.
His face stared back from every frame.
There were school photos, candid shots of him laughing with his friends, drawings—some childish, some beautifully detailed—that were unmistakably him. In the corner sat a dusty shelf filled with old sketchbooks and carefully preserved ticket stubs, as if every moment he had ever lived had been collected and treasured here.
"W-What is this…?" Ren's voice trembled.
Evan's mother smiled, but there was a glimmer of sadness in her eyes.
"This is his treasure room. He is been collecting memories of you since you were children."
Ren took a shaky step forward, his fingers grazing one of the photo frames. "Why? Why would he…?"
She sighed, sitting down on the little sofa at the corner. "Evan had always liked you, Ren. From the moment you two met. But he never dared to tell you. And after he developed his personality disorder, he believed even more that someone like him—a man with so many… versions—would never deserve you."
Ren's heart twisted painfully.
"He thought you would leave him if you knew. He convinced himself you would think he is broken, unlovable. So he stayed away. That's why, even after the marriage was arranged, he slept in a separate room. He wanted to keep his distance."
Ren sank to his knees, staring blankly at a hand-drawn portrait of himself. "But… the debt… our families—"
"That was my lie." Her voice trembled but remained firm. "There was no debt. I made it up. I manipulated your family into agreeing. I didn't want to risk you falling for someone else. I knew it was selfish. But….I wanted my son to have at least one chance to be happy."
The weight of her confession pressed heavily on Ren's chest. He should feel angry. He wanted to be angry.
But somehow, he couldn't.
"I watched him, Ren," she whispered, her hands clutching tightly at her dress. "I saw him watching you come home from college, how his eyes softened only for you. I saw his jealousy when you laughed with other people. And no matter how many personalities appeared… they all, without exception, wanted you. They chose you."
Ren swallowed the lump in his throat.
"All of them knew?"
She nodded. "They know. Every single one of them. Even when he doesn't, they do. Because at the core of all those personalities… is Evan's unwavering love for you."
Ren's vision blurred as he desperately fought back tears. His mind raced through every chaotic moment—the CEO, the butler, the cop, the plumber, the soldier—each one had been overwhelming, sometimes terrifying, but they all shared one thing:
They never wanted to hurt him.
They just wanted to keep him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ren's voice cracked.
"Because…would you have accepted him if you knew from the beginning?" she asked softly.
Ren couldn't answer.
He genuinely didn't know.
Evan's mother stood up, gently placing her hand on Ren's head like he was her own son. "I'm sorry I tricked you. I just wanted to protect him. I didn't expect him to stay away from you after the marriage… but I should have known. He was always so afraid of rejection."
Tears slipped down Ren's cheeks as he gritted his teeth. He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. But deep down… his heart ached not out of betrayal, but out of something much more painful.
Regret.
"…What do I do now?" he whispered.
Her hand lingered on his shoulder, warm and comforting. "That's for you to decide. But please… don't give up on him. I believe you are the only one who can bring all of Evan… back together."
Ren sat there, his emotions a tangled mess as the weight of the truth slowly settled over him. He didn't know if he could forgive her completely, but he knew one thing—he couldn't bring himself to walk away.
Not anymore.