Bound by lies, Trapped by Desire - Chapter 113: Chapter 113

Elena’s POV:
Haruki, who had been listening intently, finally spoke, his gaze meeting mine with a reassuring steadiness.
“I’m sorry. Let me explain my situation first, Elena,” Haruki interjected His voice, though calm and measured, held a subtle undercurrent of worry that hadn't been present before. He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on the table, his gaze earnest.
“As a lawyer focusing on rape and assault cases, my work requires me to travel quite extensively, all over the world. I’m barely ever home, to be honest.” He paused, a fleeting look of weariness crossing his features. “My only other remaining family is my younger brother… Shinichiro. He recently lived in the university dorms, but there were some… complications when the other students there found out about his sexual orientation.” His words hung in the air, and a wave of understanding washed over me.
The casual cruelty of intolerance was something I knew all too well, albeit in a different context. My initial surprise at his living situation faded, replaced by a somber understanding.
“I see,” I said softly, my voice filled with a genuine empathy. The shift in Haruki’s demeanor and his honesty made me listen more clearly and with a newfound seriousness.
“When I found out about how he was being treated… well, I couldn’t leave him there. I pulled him out of his current school, and he’s been incredibly upset with me because of it. He refuses to call me, refuses to communicate in any way, actually. It’s not like Shinichiro to throw tantrums or make a scene; he just… shuts down completely, retreats into himself. He’s currently living in a three-bedroom condo of mine, a place that should be comfortable and safe for him, but he refuses to answer my calls. I get worried, especially since I’m not home to be aware of his whereabouts, or if he’s eating properly, or if he gets sick. Things have been going on like this for many months now…” His voice trailed off, the worry evident in his eyes, and my frown deepened at his words.
“I see… my condolences on your situation, Haruki,” I said sincerely, my heart going out to him. The helplessness he must be feeling resonated with my own.
“But I don’t quite understand why you’re telling me all of this,” I admitted, even though a part of me had already begun to piece together where this conversation might be heading. I just didn’t want to make any assumptions, didn't want to jump to conclusions and have yet another fantastical-seeming offer crumble before my eyes. My life lately felt like a bizarre series of unlikely events, and a healthy dose of skepticism had become my default setting.
“I’ve been wracking my brain, Elena, trying to figure out what to do. He just shuts down any surveillance cameras I try to put up – he’s surprisingly tech-savvy for his age, in that rebellious sort of way. But your words just now, about needing a place to stay, suddenly gave me an idea. What if…” he paused, looking at me with a hopeful intensity, “What if I offered you a room to stay in that condo? And you, in return, could just give me occasional updates on my brother’s life? Just let me know if he’s okay, if he’s eating… basic things that would ease my worry when I’m away.” He finished, and I frowned, completely taken aback by the unexpected proposition.
I swallowed, my mind reeling. “I understand what you mean, Haruki. However…” I hesitated, considering the implications, “will your brother be okay with it? If he suddenly sees some random stranger in his house, won’t he instantly know that it’s because you wanted to keep an eye on him? That would just make him more upset and withdraw further, wouldn’t it?”
He nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. “It might, initially. But… you’re a woman, Elena. You’ll have your own job to go to at Legacy. You also seem to be… expecting,” he said, his gaze flicking briefly to my abdomen, “so I imagine his guard won’t be as high against someone like you. Especially if I tell him that you’re a friend who I’m trying to help out, someone who needed a temporary place to stay.” He finished, and I just gaped at him, my surprise evident.
“Wait. No,” I said, turning to Malakai, a look of mild accusation on my face. “Did you tell him?” I asked, and Malakai immediately pulled his hands up in a defensive gesture, shaking his head vehemently. “I didn’t say a word, Elena, I swear!” He exclaimed. I turned back to Haruki, my initial suspicion now directed at him.
“How did you know I was pregnant?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. He frowned slightly, a hint of apology in his eyes. “Was it supposed to be a secret? I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped. As a lawyer, I’ve become rather proficient in reading body language. I just… noticed a few things about the way you carried yourself.”
I swallowed, a wave of self-consciousness washing over me. Had it been that obvious? I nodded slowly after a long moment. “Alright. Okay. I see. But can you please, please keep this a secret? I don’t want anyone else to know just yet.” I said, my voice pleading, and he frowned slightly, but nodded in understanding. Maybe it was going overboard. But already four people knew about my pregnancy. At the rate things were going it would take no time for Nikolai to figure things out with his constant surveillance.
Then, I took a deep breath, trying to process this bizarre turn of events. “I appreciate your offer, Haruki… and as you’re clearly doing this with the best interests of your brother at heart… I will definitely think about it. However,” I added, “I will still have to pay rent, of course. Could you tell me how much you’ll be charging?”
Haruki shook his head. “You really don’t have to pay rent, Elena, not as long as you just keep me updated on Shinichiro. That would be more than enough payment for me.”
“Shinichiro is your brother’s name?” I asked, confirming the unfamiliar name. He nodded.
But I shook my head firmly. “I’m sorry, Haruki, but I can’t accept that. I can’t just freeload off of someone, no matter how kind the offer. It would make me feel incredibly guilty and indebted.” I paused, considering the ethical implications. “Not to mention, this would essentially make what you’d be telling your brother a lie. It’s better if you charge me rent, otherwise, I can’t accept.” I finished, taking a sip of the apple juice that Malakai had seemingly ordered for all three of us earlier.
The table went quiet for a long moment, the sounds of the cafeteria fading into a distant hum as Haruki considered my words. Finally, he spoke up, his gaze thoughtful. “Alright then, Elena. I understand your perspective. I’ll charge you $500 per month.”
I frowned, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Isn’t that… too low? For a three-bedroom condo in this area?”
He sighed softly. “$1000 then?” Haruki countered, then added, a hint of sincerity in his voice, “To be completely honest, such a small amount wouldn’t make a difference for me, nor do I need it. But this would more than cover your share of the electricity, water, and cleaning bills. I really don’t see the need to charge you more than this, especially when you’ll also be keeping an eye out for Shinichiro for me.”
I sighed, considering his words. His reasoning was sound, and his genuine concern for his brother was evident. “Alright then,” I conceded, a small smile touching my lips. “One thousand dollars per month it is.”
He nodded, a look of relief washing over his face. “To finalize things, it would be best to go see the condo sometime tomorrow, if you’re available, and also write up a proper agreement, just to make everything official and comfortable for both of us. May I give you my number, Elena?” He asked, and I nodded, pulling out my phone and holding it up for him to take.
Just then, as Haruki reached for my phone, a notification banner popped up on my screen, and his hand seemed to freeze mid-air. His eyes flickered away from my phone to me, a sudden look of discomfort, almost alarm, crossing his features.
I frowned, my curiosity piqued by his strange reaction. I glanced down at the notification that had just popped up, and my own eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
“So you’re really going to be sending the divorce papers?”