"It's probably because she's gotten in touch with Roy. But considering Miss Alice's status, we can't exactly snoop through her messages."
The Blood Wolf Mercenary Corp—an organization founded abroad by the so-called 'Son of Destiny.' Not exactly a major power, but on the chaotic lands of Africa, it had carved out its own territory.
Roy, the founder of the mercenary group, had a fearsome reputation. He held the power of life and death in his hands.
But of course, that was overseas.
Back here? No matter how fierce a tiger he might be out there, back home he'd better lie low. Even a dragon had to hide its claws.
A mercenary group?
Without access to their firearms, the Blood Wolf Mercenary Corp was a toothless beast in this country. At best, their members were no stronger than special forces soldiers relying solely on physical combat—hardly a threat.
And yet...
There were still more than half a month before Roy's expected return. The mercenaries shouldn't have shown up in Veyport City this early. Could it be that his meddling had changed the timeline—and Roy would be coming back sooner?
"Let's head back. And about Pousen—tell him..." Veil began calmly issuing his next set of instructions.
A few days ago, after getting a thorough beating from Veil, Pousen had been trying every possible channel to apologize—offering to do anything in the name of redemption.
Well, now he needed someone from a real estate company. If he could squeeze some use out of Pousen, why not?
No, scratch that.
With Veil's status, it wasn't called taking advantage—it was called giving Pousen a chance to redeem himself!
"Still not enough people..." Veil leaned back into the seat and let out a long breath, gazing out the window.
Even Roy had his Blood Wolf Mercenary Corp, while he only had Kai and a few dozen bodyguards.
He needed more people—much more.
The night was deep, starlight scattering across the sky like diamonds.
Alice wore a sleek black dress with a high-waisted belt, the thin fabric contouring her elegant figure perfectly.
She walked alone, heading toward the orphanage, her mind a tangled mess.
Roy had returned—and in his message, there was something... different. Something that matched up exactly with what the young master had predicted.
Not only that, he had already sent someone to meet her.
Should she go?
On one side was the younger brother she had protected all her life. On the other, the young master who invaded her dreams night after night.
Both meant too much to her. She couldn't bear to choose.
Sure, Roy's tone carried certain implications—but maybe she was just overthinking it?
She could explain when they met again. Make it clear she'd always seen him as a little brother, nothing more.
With that thought, a faint smile returned to Alice's face. She muttered to herself, amused, "Roy that brat. Got some success now and his guts grew with it. Used to call me 'Sis'—now he dares just call me 'Alice'?"
She quickened her steps, a little curious about why the orphanage director had sounded so anxious over the phone. What could be so urgent this late at night?
But when she arrived and took in the scene before her—Alice was stunned.
Rubble lay scattered everywhere. The already-cramped orphanage had been reduced by half, its outer walls torn down completely.
The rainbow-colored welcome sign that once stood proudly above the gate—now split clean in two, abandoned on the ground like garbage.
What happened here?
Was the orphanage... forcibly demolished?
"You people—who are you?! What do you think you're doing?! Who gave you the right to tear down the orphanage?! This is illegal!"
Alice ran up and grabbed a foreman by the arm, her voice trembling with outrage.
She'd long known a real estate company had its eye on the land. But negotiations over compensation had stalled—the company's offer wasn't even enough to build half a new orphanage.
If the place was torn down, where would the children go?
"Who the hell are you? Can't you see we're working?" The worker snapped impatiently. "Don't yell at me—I'm just following orders. If you've got a problem, take it up with the boss. This was ordered by Mr. Lancaster."
Mr. Lancaster?
"Which Mr. Lancaster?!" Alice demanded, refusing to back down.
This orphanage held her childhood—her dreams.
She'd wanted to give back to the director, to earn enough money to donate, to make sure no child would ever be left without a home again.
But now, looking at the ruins before her—her dream had crumbled into dust.
The worker rolled his eyes. "Lancaster Investment. Veil Lancaster. Now get out of the way, will you?"
Alice stumbled back, dazed.
That name rang in her ears like a death knell.
The young master—with that ever-gentle smile—was the same man who had ordered the destruction of the orphanage?
"Young master? No... it can't be...!"
She dropped to her knees, trembling, tears spilling from her eyes and soaking the dusty ground beneath her.
Grief. Helplessness. Despair.
All of it crashed down in a tidal wave, leaving her breathless and broken.
Why?
Why did it have to be him?
Had he never cared about the orphanage at all?
Were those conversations they'd shared—his concern, his curiosity—just rehearsals for this cruel betrayal?
Her chest tightened with unbearable pain.
It hurt.
So much.
If it had been any other boss, she might've just been furious, ready to fight back.
But now that she knew it was Veil—the agony was too much to bear.
Betrayal? Deception?
Or had it all just been a cruel game of cat and mouse from the very beginning?
"Young master Lancaster..." Her whisper drifted into the air.
She looked up through tear-blurred vision—only to see Veil emerging from the apartment complex behind the orphanage.
Same face. Same elegance. But now, to her, he was a stranger.
And in that moment—her heart, once full of hope, shattered completely.
Without thinking, she ran toward him.
"Alice? What are you doing here? It's so late—why did you come?"
Veil's expression shifted to panic as he spotted the half-demolished orphanage and shot a glare at the worker who had just called his name aloud.
Alice's face was still streaked with tears. She stared at him, hollow-eyed.
He hadn't expected her to show up tonight, had he?
Otherwise, why would he look so... rattled?
There is no greater sorrow than a heart gone cold.
She had never wanted to believe that Veil was this kind of heartless businessman—but the truth was right in front of her.
"You're crying? Who did this to you?" Veil reached out, trying to wipe away her tears.
Alice flinched, caught between the sting of betrayal and the remnants of her trust. Her thoughts tangled into a whirlwind of pain.
The fury in Alice's heart had been boiling for a long time, suppressed to the brink. She had made up her mind to claw at Veil in rage—but now, standing face to face with him, all she could do was vent her overwhelming grievances through her fists.
"Why? Why was it you?! Why did you tear down the orphanage? Those children finally had a place to call home—why would you destroy that just to snatch up some land?!"
With tears streaming down her face, Alice threw herself into Veil's chest. Her small fists pounded against him like raindrops in a storm, relentless and trembling. Under the harsh glow of the demolition floodlights, her tears shimmered like tiny diamonds.
"You're a bad man! A terrible man! My coworkers were right! Rich young masters like you treat people's lives like playthings! Why are you bullying me? Why?!"
Veil, showing a surprising hint of masochism, stood there motionless. He didn't stop her—didn't even flinch. Instead, he pushed out his chest slightly, as if inviting the blows.
Go ahead.
Hit me.
Use all your strength.
The harder you strike, the more guilty you'll feel once you know the truth.
When Alice's arms finally began to tremble from exhaustion, Veil gently grabbed her delicate wrist, his voice low, his expression conflicted.
"Alice... what are you talking about? What do you mean I seized the orphanage land?"
Alice's face was flushed, not just from anger but from the emotional storm raging within her. Her tear-stained cheeks, coupled with the sight of the man before her—so close, just like in her dreams—only made the pain worse.
She pointed toward the ruins behind him. "The orphanage is already half gone! The truth is right there! What more do you need to explain?
From the start, when you told me to stay, you'd already made up your mind, hadn't you? To take the land by force!"
And who could blame her for thinking that way?
Back when she'd broken that vase, the very first thing Veil had asked was for her to convince the director to sell the orphanage land at a low price.
In the end, he was still a businessman.
When persuasion failed, force was the next step.
Even the director's frantic call to her earlier—cut off abruptly after saying there was nothing to worry about—it all made sense now.
She'd only wanted to protect Alice from getting caught in Veil's crosshairs.
Everything was clear now.
Veil said nothing. He stood there silently, taking her anger, letting her lash out without a word in his defense—even as she jabbed a trembling finger at him.
Only when Alice had exhausted her rage did he speak again, his brow deeply furrowed, pain etched across his face. He let out a bitter, self-mocking chuckle.
"Alice... is that really how you see me? In your heart, am I nothing more than a selfish liar who'd trick you just to profit off a piece of land?"
Alice's heart twisted.
For a brief second, guilt surged up in her chest—as if she were the one who'd done something wrong. She almost softened.
But then her gaze flicked back to the broken remains of the orphanage. That moment of weakness hardened again into steel.
"And aren't you?" she snapped. "Still trying to deny it even now?"
Their argument had drawn the attention of nearly every worker on-site.
Just then, an elderly woman with silver hair emerged from the residential complex nearby.
"Alice? Why are you here?" The orphanage director's face lit up with a warm smile at the sight of her. But as she walked closer and sensed the tension in the air, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Young Master Lancaster? Alice? What's going on? Did you two... get into a fight?"
"Director, don't be afraid. We're in the right. Even if it spreads, we don't need to fear him!" Alice grabbed the director's rough, calloused hand and stepped protectively in front of her, biting her lip with determined resolve.
Her eyes burned with fierce defiance—just like that day when she had stood between Veil and Pousen and taken a slap to the face.
She wasn't afraid.
Because there was no guilt in her heart. Because she knew what she was doing was right.
"Afraid? Of what?" The director chuckled bitterly. "Alice, what nonsense are you spouting now? You make it sound like Young Master Lancaster is some kind of villain."
Alice blinked, her confidence shaken. She pointed at the demolished orphanage. "Isn't he? The orphanage was forcibly torn down!"
The director rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh, come on. Alice, you're being ridiculous. What do you mean 'forcibly'? The building was old, practically a safety hazard. Demolishing it was only natural."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a property deed, handing it to Alice with a kind smile.
"Young Master Lancaster already bought an entire building inside the Starlight Community to serve as the new orphanage. It's four or five times the size of this place! Every child will have their own little room now."
She turned to Veil with a grateful expression.
"Sir, your help is a blessing to our orphanage. But this deed... it's too valuable. We can't possibly accept it. Fifty million! Even if you tore down ten orphanages, it wouldn't be worth that much.
Business is business. How could we let you take such a loss?"