-Levi POV-
"Well then, Hanabi, may I ask you why you didn't tell your brother about this? Don't you love your brother the most?" I look at her, but she's now looking down at her cup, avoiding eye contact at all costs.
"That was why I didn't tell my brother. I love him more than everything in this world. I don't want him to be sad and despair if he knew that. I cannot see that happening, I just cannot." I can see her tears clinging at the corners of her eyes.
"Hanabi, sooner or later your brother will know, and you knew it also." I tried my best to be as soft as possible. I do not want to hurt her feelings.
"I know. I know that very well, but what should I do? My brother loves your brother very much, to the point where I can't even tell him the truth." Hanabi raised her voice a bit. Still looking down at her feet, with her tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Hanabi, calm down. I know it's hard for you, and I know how you feel because I love your brother so much too. But I've already made my decision. I'll let your brother get hurt knowing the truth, but trust me, I'll make him happy again, happier than he is now, and the happiest person in the world. I promise you." Finally, I said it. Everything I said is from my deepest heart, and I don't even believe I told Hanabi that. She looks at me with tears still running down her cheeks.
"How can you be so sure?" Her voice was very low, but I could hear that clearly.
"Of course I am. After all, I love him with all my heart. I'll do anything to make your brother happy, even if it takes a lot of time. Now, wipe your tears. The Hanabi I knew is a strong and cheerful person." I smile at her and hand her my handkerchief from my pocket. She took that and wiped her tears.
"The first time Haru oni-chan told me that you liked him, I wanted oni-chan to avoid you as much as possible because I thought you would be like your brother. I take that back, and I'm sorry. Thank you for taking care of my brother, even though he's not good towards you." She said it softly, looking at me. Her tears were wiped dry already, but her eyes look a little puffy, lol.
"For now, this is nothing compared to what your family did for me. I'm here in front of you and still alive because of your eldest brother, Doctor Auclair." I said that despite the fact that I'm still not sure who saved my life five years ago.
"You're wrong. The person who saved your life is not my eldest brother." Hanabi's words make me shocked.
"Pardon?" That was the only thing that came out of my mouth. I'm too shocked to say anything else. I look at her straight in the eye, waiting for an answer.
"Hanaka oni-chan is not the one who saved you. The fact is, Haru oni-chan saved you five years ago, and that's the reason why he quit being a doctor." Hanabi said it softly, without even looking at me. Her voice was filled with guilt.
"But how and why?" This is it. This is the answer I've been looking for and have wanted to hear for a long time, but why doesn't my heart feel at ease? I wanted to know more.
"What do you mean by how and why?" Hanabi replied to my question with another question. Now, she's looking at me.
"Why did Mr. Auclair quit being a doctor?" I don't know whether this is the thing I want to know or what, but I just asked. I don't know anymore. To be honest, I'm a bit hurt. Mr. Auclair didn't even tell me the truth himself.
"This is what I heard from my grandfather. At first, the one who should operate you is not Haru oni-chan. True, Hanaka oni-chan should have done it, but he refused, saying he couldn't. To be honest, for the surgery to be successful, it is beyond what is possible, and if the surgery is successful, it is a miracle, and that's exactly what happens when Haru oni-chan operates on you. A miracle. The surgery was successful, and here you are now, alive. After that, everyone wanted him to be the heir of the Auclair Family including my eldest brother. But, of course, Haru oni-chan refused. He refused, but then my father kept forcing him, and he decided to quit being a doctor. He just wanted an ordinary life. Since then, everything about him being a doctor has been erased, as if he never existed in the life of a doctor, which is exactly what Haru oni-chan desired. Nobody should have known he was a doctor before. That's why he's your secretary now, and no one knew about it. What he's been up to in his life right now is completely hidden from the public." Hanabi told me the truth, but still, it does not ease my heart. I wanted to hear it from Mr. Auclair himself.
"Is your father okay with what your brother's doing right now?" Details may have to wait. I can ask Mr. Auclair later. I don't want to make the atmosphere here awkward.
"My father still does not give up on making Haru oni-chan the heir, but Haru oni-chan gets everything he wants because our grandfather always supports what he does, so father cannot do anything. The only thing he can do is wait for Haru oni-chan to surrender if he wants to be the heir." So, that's Haruka Charles Auclair for you. He gets everything he wants, while for me, I need to follow what my father arranges for me.
"I have no idea how I fell in love with an extraordinary person who claims to be ordinary. You're lucky to have him as your brother, Hanabi." I smiled. To be honest, I don't know what to say anymore. I feel like there are too many things I don't know about Mr. Auclair, and I could not accept that. But for now, maybe I should stop here and let Hanabi go.
"My brother is everything for me. He's the reason I wanted to be a doctor. So, Mr. Levi Ackerman, please make my brother happy. I believe in you." She said it softly while standing from her chair. I see, her driver has arrived already.
"You can count on me, and I promise, I'll make him happy. Take care, Hanabi."
"Thank you for everything tonight. My driver has already arrived. Ohh, as for your handkerchief, I'll wash it and give it to you later." She grinned and left. Honestly, she really is the happy-go-lucky one.
I watched her leave and then looked at my tea. I took a sip of my tea and put it back on the table. So, that's the reason why I cannot find a single thing about him, even though I hired the best investigators. He did hide himself very well, huh. Now that I know the truth, how should I face Mr. Auclair tomorrow? What should I tell him? Should I ask him directly or wait for him to tell me himself? Honestly, I don't know what to do anymore.
TO BE CONTINUED...