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Chapter Three: Whispers Behind Smiles

The siblings returned home, the late afternoon sun casting long golden shadows across their quiet neighborhood. Ren, the youngest, still wide-eyed with curiosity, couldn't keep the strange sight to himself. He ran to their mother, tugging at her sleeve with urgency.

"Mama," he whispered, "I saw a man with a rich boy today… he looked just like Papa."

Their mother paused. Her heart skipped a beat. She had always harbored quiet doubts about her husband's job—he said he worked at a modest company, but his eyes often carried stories he never spoke aloud. And now this. Another thread of suspicion, woven into the tapestry of her thoughts.

When their father finally stepped through the door that evening, his familiar smile warmed the house like always. They gathered for dinner, the table full of laughter, clinking cutlery, and the comforting sounds of family. But beneath the surface, tension simmered quietly.

Ni turned to him gently, her voice light but laced with careful curiosity.

“How was your day, dear?”

He answered smoothly, too smoothly.

Then Ren, innocent and unaware of the weight of his words, spoke up.

“I saw you today, Papa. With a boy and bodyguards.”

Unikawa's breath hitched—just for a second. But a second was enough. He masked it with a smile and a chuckle, waving the concern away like dust.

"You must be mistaken, Ren. Maybe someone who just looked like me."

But Wakasa, the eldest, sharp and observant, caught the moment. He exchanged a glance with their mother ni—silent understanding passed between them. Suspicion grew, quiet and patient.

Still, Liz and Ren were lost in their own world—dreaming, laughing, and making grand declarations about the future. Liz spoke with sparkles in her eyes about becoming famous, a singer who would light up stages. Ren vowed to be rich, stylish, and admired. Their childhood was filled with fantasies spun under starlit skies and daydreams whispered in classrooms.

Years flowed like a soft breeze, carrying them gently into the future.

Wakasa grew into a charming young man, tall and composed, now a 19-year-old college student who carried a quiet depth behind his cool exterior. Ren, 14, blossomed into a cute and clever boy in high school, his youthful energy paired with a maturing sense of style.

And Liz—sweet, ambitious Liz—bloomed into a beautiful 17-year-old girl. Her voice now echoed on school stages, enchanting the crowds during festivals. Her dream of becoming a singer was no longer a distant star, but a light she was slowly reaching for.

Their parents watched from the sidelines—proud, loving, but still carrying a secret tucked away in the unikawa's heart. A secret waiting to be uncovered. 

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