She avoided my gaze, pulled away from my embrace, and straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes before looking toward the door.

It wasn't until a car approached from the distance that she spoke again, her voice cold and distant. "If you still remember the times I helped you, don't let anyone know about our relationship.

"This way, it's better for both of us."

Sean leaned out of the car window, waving enthusiastically at me. "Leon! Leon! My brother-in-law's taking us out for king crab! It'll be my first time trying it!

"Come on, get in! Don't just stand there!"

I slid into the backseat while Sean, ever the chatterbox, kept up a steady stream of conversation the entire ride.

I glanced down at my phone, its reflection showing my somewhat pale face.

I felt empty inside.

Hollow, even.

It was a feeling I only got when visiting my parents' graves.

In the front seat, Julia chimed in to whatever Sean was saying, laughing along with the young man in the driver's seat. The warm, lively atmosphere made me feel even more out of place.

This must be what it feels like to be shut out of the world.

I remember feeling like this during the year after my parents passed away, which was why I visited their graves so often, just to talk to them.

Julia would always follow me, trying to coax me into going back. And when that didn't work, she'd sit with me by their graves, chatting.

"Mr. and Mrs. Scott, Leon just misses you both a lot. But don't worry, he won't be alone—I'll always be here with him."

I stubbornly avoided looking at her, only to get a smack on the head. The pain made me wince, and I had to give in, glancing up at her.

Only then did she smile. "If my little brother here doesn't behave, I'll take over and keep him in line for you."

"I don't need you to keep me in line."

No sooner had I said that than she gave me another smack on the head.

I could only pout and nod in defeat. "Fine, you win. You can keep me in line. You're already turning into my housekeeper."

Even though I called her that, she was still happy about it. "Being your housekeeper doesn't sound so bad, especially since you're so good-looking."

I didn't get it at the time, but when I finally did, we were already together.

Every now and then, I'd tease her about it. "So, you only wanted to be my housekeeper because I'm good-looking?"

My usually tough-as-nails girlfriend would blush instantly.

"Well, that's… not the only reason. I just… wanted to, that's all…

"Ugh, stop talking about it!"

I'd joke around, and she'd laugh—but now, everything was different.

The guy sitting next to Julia deftly cracked open a crab leg, carefully placed the meat on a plate, and slid it over to her. They were so in sync like they had done this a thousand times.

Sean, gnawing on a crab leg, looked at them with mock jealousy.

"Julia, you really know how to keep a man in line, huh?"

Julia rolled her eyes at him, but he just grinned and turned to the young man. "Robert, I've gotta learn from you. You've turned my tough-as-nails sister into someone so soft and sweet. That's some serious skill!"

"Sean, I think you're asking for trouble!" Julia finally cracked, unable to keep a straight face any longer.

Sean was the kind of guy who made friends quickly, and it wasn't long before he and Robert were chatting like old buddies.

"Hey, Robert, how did you and my sister get together? Was it fate, or just a lucky string pulling you two together from miles apart?"

Robert chuckled, not bothering to hide anything. "If I had to choose from your options, I'd say it was more like a lucky string pulling us together, with a bit of fate thrown in."

He didn't work in Chicago. That time, he was here on a business trip, attending a research project at a university.

"I'm in the science field too, but as an investor. I had my eye on a B-level experiment at your school, and that was when I met your sister. It was love at first sight."

He went on to describe how Julia had been wearing a simple lab coat and no makeup, but her eyes had this sparkle, like they were full of stars.

She explained her research project with such clarity and precision that he was completely captivated by her.

"After we started dating, I realized we had so many hobbies in common."

I quietly sipped my water, listening.

He talked about how they enjoyed tea together, played chess, and even cooked together.

"Julia is the smartest woman I've ever met. She even helped me solve a major problem that had stumped our lab."

By the end, I couldn't help but find it all a bit ironic.

Because I'm the one who taught her those things.

As for that problem, I had a pretty good idea what it was, so I asked him, "Are you talking about the X paradox equation?"

Robert nodded. "Yeah, that equation stumped a lot of people. You're familiar with it, too?"

Familiar? How could I not be?