Chapter 118

I shrug, articulating the motion with the set of my shoulders. "I have no idea."

"Think," he implores.

"I really don't know. He's never given me anything meaningful other than gifts of jewelry and dresses. If he did stash something significant, it's without my knowledge. I promise you."

He assesses my eyes as if to confirm the truth for himself. Content, he looks away thoughtfully.

"Clearly, Haru knows something about it. Can't you ask him more about his own theories?"

"Haru is dead," he says plainly and without effect, "and Botan was the one who killed him."

My steps stutter and I fumble into him as his grip tightens, playing off the stumble as he hoists me into the air, spinning us around gracefully. A swell in my gut churns everything sickly. When he lets me back on the ground, I keep pressed against him because he's the only reason why I'm standing vertically right now.

"I thought… he was also like a father to him," I say dazedly.