"By the way, Mizu, what brought you to Singapore? Are you here for vacation?" Eugene asked, leaning back in her seat as she took a small sip from her coffee, the warmth of the café and the laughter of nearby patrons creating an inviting backdrop.
After the emotional revelations, the two of them had decided to indulge in the café's sweet delicacies. They ordered six different cakes between them, along with additional cups of coffee—comfort food to accompany the long-overdue conversation they were now having.
Mizuki shook her head, her eyes glinting with a mix of determination and excitement. "I'm here to work."
Eugene raised an eyebrow, looking both intrigued and impressed. "Ah, yes, I heard the Wolfe Group built a new mall here," she said, but Mizuki quickly corrected her with a playful smile.
"No, I'm not working for the Wolfe Group," she said, causing Eugene to blink in surprise. "The company is in safe hands with my dad, and he'll be around for a long while. I'm going to try my hand at being an author."
Eugene's mouth hung open for a moment, as though trying to process the shift in Mizuki's career path. "Oh my god, you're really doing it."
"What?" Mizuki asked, genuinely confused by the sudden outburst.
"Being an author," Eugene replied, a wide grin spreading across her face. "You always wanted to be one."
Mizuki blinked, momentarily disoriented. She hadn't realized Eugene remembered that detail from their school days. Being a writer wasn't something Mizuki had actively decided on; it had been more of a dream she entertained in the back of her mind, a quiet wish that had lingered. She didn't recall ever voicing it aloud, but it turned out she had, at least to Eugene. She hadn't even shared it with Nancy, and yet here Eugene was, excited to see her dreams come true.
"Oh, right," Mizuki said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, I did. I guess I did say that a long time ago."
Eugene clapped her hands together excitedly, her face lighting up with genuine joy. "Oooh, when you finish it, let me know so I can buy a copy!" Her enthusiasm was so contagious that Mizuki felt a warmth in her chest, marveling at how easily Eugene's support felt like a balm to old wounds.
"I will. But I haven't actually started it yet," Mizuki admitted, sipping her coffee thoughtfully.
"Do you need help? Or something?" Eugene offered eagerly, leaning forward with a hopeful expression.
"Well, I do need an assistant who will make sure I don't die of sleeplessness, overwork, or hunger while working on my book," Mizuki joked, making Eugene laugh heartily.
"Yes, I did hear that creatives usually get too absorbed in their work and forget everything else," Eugene agreed, a light teasing tone in her voice. "Do you already have someone in mind?"
"Oh? Why? Are you applying?" Mizuki teased, though deep inside, she genuinely wondered if Eugene would be interested. After all, she could hire more than one assistant if she wanted to. If Eugene was serious about it, she'd make it work, and perhaps she could bring Lizbeth on board once she found her. There was no reason she couldn't have both helping her out.
Eugene, however, held up her hands in mock defense. "No, no, not me," she said quickly, a rueful smile crossing her face. "But I could think of some people I can recommend."
Mizuki leaned forward, intrigued. "Oh? Who?"
Eugene paused, taking another bite of cheesecake as she chewed thoughtfully, clearly considering her words. "I already mentioned earlier that I have work, right?" she began, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"Are you recommending a colleague?" Mizuki asked, sensing a change in Eugene's tone. She looked hesitant, and Mizuki raised an eyebrow in response.
Eugene hesitated before answering. "Well, we're working together, but not in the way you think," she clarified. "You see, I work for a non-profit organization."
Mizuki's curiosity piqued at the mention of a non-profit. She leaned forward, eyes sharp. "NGO? What kind of work do they do?"
"Our group deals with special cases like abused women and children," Eugene continued, her voice softening with a seriousness that pulled Mizuki in. Eugene elaborated on the specific help they offered—therapy, legal assistance for divorces, finding jobs for women who had been victims of abusive relationships so they could support themselves and regain their independence. "We also help abandoned children, but most of our adult wards are women who've been victims of abusive spouses. They need a lot of help. Some of them have more difficult paths because…" Eugene trailed off, clearly struggling with how to explain further.
Mizuki, completely absorbed, didn't hesitate. "Because?"
Eugene swallowed, gathering her thoughts. "Because they are high-risk," she said sheepishly, her words carrying a weight that immediately struck Mizuki. "They are still in danger and need protection, but at the same time, they need jobs to support themselves. Our organization can only do so much. We help them get back on their feet, but without stable work, it's difficult. They're still vulnerable."
Mizuki's heart thudded in her chest. She felt the familiar pang of empathy for these women and children who were struggling in the very ways she knew all too well. Her mind raced back to Lizbeth—how she had fled an abusive marriage, hiding and seeking shelter wherever she could. Mizuki knew firsthand that even with help, they were not entirely safe. It would be easy for someone like her abusive husband to track them down unless they were given a chance to rebuild their lives, truly and securely. Mizuki was suddenly struck by the coincidence that Eugene, who had reconnected with her now, worked in an organization that could provide real support for someone she had long been searching for—Lizbeth and her daughter, Peanut.
"Don't worry about support," Mizuki said firmly, her voice steady. "I can't speak for my family right now, but I'm sure we can work something out to help your organization." Eugene's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh, yes, you're that Wolfe…" Eugene said, blinking as if the realization had just hit her again. Then she smiled, her face lighting up. "Oh, Mizu, it's great that you're rich," she added with a mischievous grin, and the two of them burst out laughing.
Mizuki smiled, but it was bittersweet. She wasn't just offering help because of her wealth. She was offering help because this could be the chance to make a real difference in the lives of the women and children Eugene worked with—and perhaps, in the process, she could find Lizbeth and Little Peanut, and help them rebuild their lives.
For a moment, there was silence between them, the weight of what had been said settling over them both. Mizuki didn't mention anything more about an assistant for now. She wasn't sure if this organization Eugene worked for was the same one that would be able to help Lizbeth, but one thing was clear—she would do everything she could to help out, even if it was just a little bit. Sometimes, small acts could lead to bigger changes.
Eugene's face softened, her smile now tinged with gratitude. "Thank you, Mizu," she said quietly. "I never thought I'd be able to do so much, but having someone like you offer help… it means a lot."
Mizuki nodded, her heart full of quiet resolve. She couldn't undo the past, but she could shape the future, and this was one step toward making it better.