chapter 2 Liar
989 Words
"Young Master... we've arrived."
Luis' voice pulled Shawn out of the memory.
Shawn slowly opened his eyes.
For a brief moment, they were unfocused, as if he couldn't distinguish the past from the present.
Then reality settled in.
Without waiting for anyone to open the door, he pushed it open himself and stepped out.
A cool evening breeze brushed against his face.
Before him stood the Harrison Estate.
The sprawling grounds stretched as far as the eye could see. Perfectly trimmed hedges bordered elegant stone pathways, while towering fountains sparkled beneath rows of golden lights.
At the center of it all stood a magnificent twenty-story mansion.
Every brick, every window, every light screamed wealth and power.
To everyone else...
It was a dream.
To Shawn...
It was a prison.
His gaze lingered on the mansion for a long moment.
Nothing had changed.
Not the building.
Not the atmosphere.
Not the suffocating feeling that tightened around his chest every time he returned.
He slipped both hands into his hoodie pockets.
"Welcome home, Young Master."
Rows of servants bowed in perfect unison, their voices echoing through the courtyard.
No response.
Shawn walked straight past them as though they didn't exist.
The servants remained bent over until he disappeared inside the mansion.
Only then did they straighten up.
One of the younger maids let out a nervous breath.
"He... really changed."
Another servant lowered his voice.
"Changed?"
"I don't think so."
"The old Young Master would have shouted at someone by now."
"This one..."
He glanced toward the entrance Shawn had just disappeared through.
"...is much scarier."
No one disagreed.
Inside the mansion, silence greeted Shawn.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the vast marble hall, while priceless paintings decorated the walls.
His footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor.
Without sparing the mansion a single glance, he headed directly for the private elevator reserved for members of the Harrison family.
The doors slid open.
He stepped inside.
His fingers pressed the highest button.
20.
The elevator began its slow ascent.
Seconds later...
Ding.
The doors opened onto a quiet hallway.
Only one room occupied the entire floor.
His room.
Shawn walked to the large wooden door and stood there for several seconds.
Then he pushed it open.
The familiar scent of cedarwood drifted into the hallway.
He entered.
Bang.
The door slammed shut behind him.
For the first time since leaving the hospital...
Shawn was completely alone.
The room was exactly as he had left it two years ago.
Spotless.
Every book sat neatly on the shelves. The curtains had been replaced, the furniture polished, and not a single speck of dust could be found.
Someone had been taking care of it.
Shawn's expression remained indifferent.
He walked past the king-sized bed without a second glance and stopped in front of a large mahogany wardrobe.
His hand reached toward the top shelf.
From the very back, he pulled out a black wooden box.
For a long moment, he simply stared at it.
Then, slowly, he lifted the lid.
Inside were dozens of photographs.
Beneath them rested a small black flash drive.
Shawn picked up the first photograph.
A gentle smile appeared on Hope's face.
It was their graduation day.
They stood side by side in black gowns, graduation caps slightly crooked from laughing too much. Hope was looking at Shawn instead of the camera, his smile bright enough to outshine the afternoon sun.
Shawn...
On the other hand, was looking at Hope.
As if nothing else in the world existed.
His thumb brushed over Hope's smiling face.
He reached for another photograph.
Hope blowing out birthday candles.
Another.
The two of them sharing an umbrella in the rain.
Another.
Hope asleep on Shawn's shoulder during a long train ride.
Another.
Their first trip together.
Their first date.
A selfie taken inside an amusement park.
A picture of Hope pouting after losing a claw machine game.
Every photograph carried a memory.
Every memory carried Hope.
The corners of Shawn's fingers tightened around the pictures.
He carefully placed them back into the box before picking up the flash drive.
Without hesitation, he walked toward the desk.
The computer came to life the moment he pressed the power button.
The servants had even kept it charged.
He inserted the flash drive.
A folder appeared on the screen.
Hope.
Shawn clicked it.
The first video began to play.
The camera shook slightly before focusing.
Hope's cheerful voice echoed through the speakers.
"Shawn! Look at the camera!"
On the screen, Shawn sat at a desk, completely focused on a pile of textbooks.
He didn't even react.
"Shawn..."
Still nothing.
Hope laughed.
"I'm talking to you."
Finally...
The Shawn in the video looked up.
The moment he saw Hope holding the camera, the cold expression on his face melted into a warm smile.
A smile Shawn hadn't worn in years.
The recording ended.
Another video began.
This time, Shawn was adjusting the camera.
After making sure it was stable, he walked over to Hope, who stood scrolling through his phone.
Without saying a word...
Shawn wrapped both arms around Hope's waist from behind.
Hope let out a soft laugh.
"You scared me."
Instead of answering, Shawn leaned down and kissed his cheek.
Hope smiled so brightly that his eyes curved into crescents.
"I love you, Shawn."
The younger Shawn lowered his forehead until it rested against Hope's.
"I love you more."
Then he pulled Hope into a tight embrace.
Hope disappeared completely inside Shawn's arms.
The screen froze on the hug.
Shawn stared silently.
His breathing became uneven.
His hand slowly reached toward the keyboard.
Click.
The screen went black.
The room fell silent once more.
He pulled the flash drive from the computer with trembling fingers and held it tightly in his palm.
"...Liar."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"You promised..."
His grip tightened.
"So why did you leave?"
No one answered.
Only the suffocating silence remained.
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