Chapter 8: The Last Twenty-Four Hours

I left the garden without looking back.

For the first time, I was not followed.

The mansion that had once been my home suddenly felt like a place that had never belonged to me.

I returned to my room and began packing.

There wasn't much to take.

Most of my belongings had already been thrown away or destroyed during the years when everyone believed I was a monster.

I opened the drawer beside my bed and found an old photograph.

It was a picture of me and Yuna when we were children.

She was holding my hand and smiling brightly.

I stared at it for a long time before placing it back.

I no longer needed memories that only reminded me of what I had lost.

The system suddenly spoke.

'Remaining life span: 24 hours.'

I closed my eyes.

One day.

Only one day remained before I could return to my original world.

A knock sounded at the door.

I already knew who it was.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Laura walked inside.

She looked much older than she had earlier that day.

She stood there silently for a long time before speaking.

"Leon, I remember everything now."

I didn't respond.

"I remember how you saved my company. I remember how you used your own life to help me. I remember calling you my lucky charm."

Her voice broke.

"And I remember how I abandoned you."

I lowered my eyes.

"You don't have to remember anymore."

"But I want to."

She walked closer.

"I want to remember every good thing you did for me because I was too blind to appreciate it when you were here."

I looked at her quietly.

"Mom, you were my target. I did what I had to do."

Laura froze.

"Target?"

I smiled faintly.

"Forget it."

She reached for my hand.

I slowly pulled it away.

Her eyes filled with tears.

"Can you forgive me?"

I thought about it for a moment.

"I don't hate you."

Her tears fell.

"But I can't go back to being your son."

She covered her mouth and cried silently.

After she left, another person appeared at the door.

It was Yuna.

She didn't say anything at first.

Instead, she placed a small box on my desk.

"What's this?"

"Something you gave me when we were children."

I opened the box.

Inside was the old toy I had given her on her birthday.

"You kept it?" I asked.

Yuna nodded.

"I never stopped loving my little brother. I just stopped believing him."

Her words made my chest tighten.

But the feeling disappeared quickly.

"Yuna, you don't need to explain."

"I do."

She wiped her tears.

"I hurt you when you needed me most. I locked you away. I watched you suffer and convinced myself you deserved it."

She lowered her head.

"I don't expect you to forgive me."

I looked at her for a long time.

"You're right."

Yuna's shoulders trembled.

"But I hope you can live without hating yourself for what happened," I continued.

"You don't have to carry my pain forever."

She burst into tears.

After she left, I looked at the clock.

Only eighteen hours remained.

Then my phone rang.

It was Serena.

I answered.

"What?"

Her voice was trembling.

"Ivan confessed."

I remained silent.

"He admitted that he manipulated us from the beginning. He admitted that he fabricated evidence, lied about your actions, and deliberately turned us against you."

"I see."

"Leon, the police are taking him away."

I didn't feel happy.

I didn't feel relieved.

I only felt tired.

"That's good."

"Leon..."

"Serena, take care of yourself."

"Can we meet one last time?"

I looked out the window.

The moonlight fell across the garden where everything had begun.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because there is nothing left for us to say."

There was a long silence.

Then Serena whispered, "I love you."

My eyes closed.

Once, those words would have meant everything.

Now they arrived too late.

"Goodbye, Serena."

I ended the call.

The system spoke again.

'Remaining life span: 12 hours.'

I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes.

For the first time in twenty-six years, I dreamed about going home.

I dreamed about my original parents waiting for me.

And for the first time, I wasn't afraid of dying.

I was looking forward to waking up.