Chapter 5: Hidden Secrets

As time passed, the relationship between Liora and Kaelan remained in a delicate balance. She had not completely let go of her obsession with Kaelan’s cold indifference, but she had gradually come to realize that this man was far more complicated than she had initially thought. Every time she tried to get closer to him, it felt as though she was facing an impenetrable wall. Behind that wall, however, seemed to lie a secret that no one knew about.

One evening, Liora sat on the sofa in the study, flipping through a document her father had just handed to her. Her eyes would occasionally glance out the window, but her focus was hard to maintain. She realized that she could no longer ignore the strange things about Kaelan.

Since the crisis, Kaelan's attitude seemed to have shifted subtly. He no longer remained as cold as before but would occasionally show a hint of unconscious concern, especially when she was in danger. Yet, despite this, his heart remained closed off like an isolated island, unwilling to allow anyone to approach.

Liora recalled the small details she had recently noticed about him—his past, his indifference, and those wounds that seemed to always be just beneath the surface. All these things left her confused. She believed Kaelan was hiding something, and that secret's weight might be heavier than anyone could imagine.

"Who exactly is he?" Liora silently asked herself.

Her gaze returned to the document in her hands, but her thoughts were already drifting far away.

Liora quietly got up when the house was silent, deciding it was time to act. She knew that Kaelan's room contained many things he preferred not to reveal. She had wanted to investigate for a long time but never had the courage. Tonight, she decided to break free from her restraints and conduct her investigation in secret.

She softly pushed open the door, whispering to herself, "Tonight, I will find the answers."

Kaelan’s room, as usual, was simple and sparse. The space was nearly devoid of decoration, with only a large bed and a few pieces of simple furniture. Liora’s eyes quickly landed on a black leather wallet sitting on the desk. She knew that inside that wallet might be some clues about Kaelan's past.

She carefully walked toward the desk, reaching out to take the wallet. Her heart raced as her mind replayed all the suspicions she had—why did Kaelan always seem like he didn’t belong to this world? Why was he so strong, yet there was an overwhelming sense of untold pain around him?

Taking a deep breath, Liora opened the wallet. Inside, there were several photos, some paper documents, and a report labeled "Operation Report." Her eyes quickly scanned the words on the report, and she was stunned when she saw a name that shocked her—"Elliot Blackthorn."

She had never heard this name before, but soon she realized that the report seemed to involve a dark secret mission. She carefully pulled the document out and began reading it.

"Elliot Blackthorn" was the name of an assassination organization, and Kaelan’s true identity was closely linked to this group. In the report, Kaelan's code name was listed as “Cyan,” a ruthless executor who specialized in carrying out near-impossible tasks. The tasks included the assassination of politicians and businessmen, as well as a series of secret operations involving high-level government officials.

Liora’s heart skipped a beat. She had never imagined that the cold, unfeeling bodyguard standing before her had such a terrifying past. She recalled Kaelan’s chilling gaze and the air of detachment around him—could this be the result of the shadows of his past?

She continued flipping through the document and found several old photos. In the pictures, Kaelan appeared younger and filled with murderous intent, with no trace of warmth in his eyes. The background of these photos showed a ruined cityscape and scenes of executed missions. A shiver ran down her spine. It turned out that Kaelan had lived in such a merciless world, performing a job stained with blood.

Liora gently placed the document back into the wallet, her mind in turmoil. She knew that Kaelan’s past was far more complicated than she had seen. And why did he hide all of this? Why did he maintain his coldness toward her yet still save and protect her in critical moments? What kind of story was hidden behind all of this?

She understood that she could no longer continue living under the illusion of his façade. She needed to confront the real Kaelan—the man no one knew. And no matter how he tried to conceal his past, she was destined to uncover the truth.

Just as she prepared to quietly leave the room, she suddenly heard footsteps outside the door. Her heart raced, and she quickly returned the wallet to its place, hiding herself in the corner.

"Liora?" Kaelan’s deep voice called from outside.

Liora held her breath, her eyes fixed on the doorknob. She didn’t make a sound or move, just waiting silently.

The footsteps outside grew louder, and Kaelan seemed to pause for a moment at the door. After a brief silence, he finally turned and left without entering.

Liora exhaled in relief, but the unease in her heart only grew stronger. She knew that although her investigation had not been discovered, her understanding of Kaelan was just the tip of the iceberg. She realized that this exploration was not just about uncovering his past but about the inevitable intertwining of their destinies.