Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

After searching around the restaurant and nearby streets without finding the old man, Jason and Lacey asked passersby and local shopkeepers about him.

Many recognized the disheveled Harmonian elder, saying he'd been in the area for quite some time. Some had tried to help him, learning he was searching for his son. Due to his mental confusion, he couldn't provide his son's name or whereabouts, though people mentioned seeing him with a photo of a Harmonian boy about ten years old.

Unable to locate him, they eventually gave up the search.

As Jason walked Lacey back to her accommodation, he remained unusually quiet. "Do you know that old man?" she finally asked.

After a long pause, Jason replied, "No."

Lacey trusted her intuition, though. Jason's reaction to the old man seemed strange not like how one would respond to a stranger. He was typically compassionate, yet his coldness toward the poor old man seemed out of character.

What connection could he possibly have with the old man? And if there was one, why would he deny knowing him? These questions remained unanswered.

After dropping Lacey off, Jason left.

Back at her apartment, just after showering and getting into bed, Lacey received a call from Richard.

"I'm sorry I haven't had time to discuss the business matters yet," she apologized before Richard could speak.

She always took her work seriously, never treating her position differently because her boss was her brother.

To her surprise, Richard said there was no rush and asked if she'd met Jason.

When she confirmed she had, Richard laughed. "Good. Don't worry bout work; enjoy yourself first."

Lacey understood Richard had ulterior motives in sending her here, but she always kept her professional and personal lives separate, maintaining her composure and rationality at work.

"I'm not that unreliable. Don't worry, I'll take care of business tomorrow," she assured him.

"I want you to be happy," Richard said. "Nothing is more important than your happiness."

Lacey felt touched. Richard rarely expressed such sentiments to her. Though she always knew he cared for her, he had never stated it so directly.

His growing ability to express himself showed he had matured and understood the value of family bonds.

The next morning, Lacey left with her prepared documents, intending to finalize the contract her primary reason for coming abroad.

Passing the overpass where they'd encountered the old man the previous night, she thought about him again and paused.

A few raggedly dressed beggars sat beneath the bridge, but the old man wasn't among them.

Where could he be searching for his son? In his mental state, how long would it take to find him?

As she turned away, Lacey suddenly spotted the old man sitting on the bridge steps, watching people pass by with a forlorn expression.

He appeared to be in his fifties, but his eyes seemed weathered beyond his years, cloudy like those of someone in their seventies or eighties.

Lacey approached and crouched before him. "Sir, have you found your son?"

The old man simply shook his head, wringing his hands in distress.

Feeling sympathy, she asked, "Do you remember me? We met last night."

He looked at her with vacant eyes, giving no indication whether he recognized her.

"You've been searching for a long time, from what I hear. How will you ever find him this way? Perhaps your son isn't even here anymore?"

At this suggestion, the old man shook his head more vigorously. "No, my son is here. My son has made something of himself. He's here."

Realizing she couldn't reason with him, but concerned about his welfare, Lacey said, "Sir, I'm from Harmonia too. If you trust me, I can help you search for your son. What do you say?"

The old man blinked twice, showing a spark of excitement. "Really? You'll help find my son?"

Lacey nodded with a smile. "Yes, but we can't rush. First, let me find you somewhere to stay, then we'll search properly. Is that okay?"

After some hesitation, he agreed.

Lacey brought him to her apartment building and rented the single room next door for him. She bought him new clothes and toiletries, and while he bathed which thankfully he could manage himself—she prepared a meal.

When he emerged clean and dressed in fresh clothes, Lacey had finished cooking. She studied him carefully as she set out the food.

With his face clean and wearing decent clothes, he looked completely different. He had regular features he must have been quite handsome in his youth.

As she served him rice, she asked, "Do you remember what your son looks like?"

At the mention of his son, the old man stopped eating, his expression softening considerably.

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"My son is very handsome, about this tall, with eyes this big, and when he smiles, it's like this," he explained, setting down his utensils to gesture.

Lacey still couldn't form a clear picture but smiled awkwardly. "I understand. Please eat now-we need strength to continue our search."

After the meal, she washed the dishes and gathered his old clothes to throw away, as they were too dirty and tattered to salvage.

Suggesting he take an afternoon nap, she carried the bundle of clothes toward the door when something fell out.

Looking down, she saw it was a photograph.

Surprised, she picked it up and examined it, then stared in astonishment.

The photo of the old man's son had been in his clothes all along. In his confused state, he'd forgotten where he'd put it, causing the distress they'd witnessed the previous night.

Lacey glanced at the old man, who instead of resting was standing by the window, gazing outside with longing, nostalgia, and sadness in his eyes.

The blood bond was rooted in his soul. Despite his mental confusion and forgotten memories, his yearning for his son remained intact.

She kept the photo rather than returning it to him, then prepared his bed and encouraged him to rest.

She couldn't know how long he'd been living rough, but locals said he'd been searching for some time. He likely hadn't enjoyed a comfortable bed in ages.

Once he closed his eyes, Lacey left the room and headed out with her contract documents.

At the company, she successfully negotiated the deal with the person in charge. Leaving the building, she called Jason from the street.

When she told him she'd taken in the old man, the line went silent for a long moment. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. I just think you're too kind," Jason replied flatly.

Lacey mentioned her successful contract negotiation and invited him to celebrate with

a special dinner she planned to prepare.

Fearing rejection, she was relieved when Jason agreed after brief consideration.

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After shopping for groceries, she found Jason waiting outside the supermarket.

They walked back to her apartment, where she put away the food before taking Jason to see the old man's room.

The old man was awake, sitting on the bed with a vacant stare, likely thinking about his son again.

The cleaned-up old man looked very different from the day before.

While Lacey entered the room, Jason lingered in the doorway, staring intently at the man on the bed.

Lacey brought the old man to her apartment and seated him on the sofa while she prepared dinner.

Halfway through cooking, she took out a bag of apples she'd bought and handed Jason a small knife, asking him to peel some for the old man.

Jason stood holding the knife for a long moment before sitting down to peel an apple.noveldrama

After washing the vegetables and putting soup ingredients in the pot, Lacey glanced from the kitchen doorway.

In the living room, the old man sat in silence while Jason, seated at a distance, quietly peeled apples. They didn't appear to be interacting.

At dinner, the old man looked at the spread of dishes but didn't eat ravenously as he had the previous night.

Instead of reaching for utensils, he gazed at the fish soup, his lips curving upward. "My son loves fish the most."

In that moment, his face radiated paternal love. Even remembering his son's favorite food, he didn't seem like a mentally disturbed person.

Lacey looked at Jason, whose outstretched hand with chopsticks had frozen in mid-air, as if struck by something.

But the old man's mood quickly darkened again. He murmured, "Where is my son?"

Lacey sighed, serving the old man some food. "Don't worry. I promised to help find your son, and I will. Trust me."

Despite the delicious spread of food, everyone at the table ate without enjoyment. After dinner, Lacey washed the dishes and settled the old man back in his room. Night had fallen, and Jason said he needed to leave.

Though she had much to say, Lacey found her throat constricted, unable to produce words.

Hearing Jason's footsteps fade and the elevator doors close, she hesitated for a moment before chasing after him.