The Alchemists

L only opened her eyes at 1 a.m. because she felt her c.h.e.s.t hurt. She felt her head spin and her right hand held very strongly by a man who was very worried. London fell asleep while waiting for L to regain consciousness and he awoke when he realized L was pulling her hand.

"Uhm... you're awake?" he asked in a very relieved voice when he saw L had opened her eyes and was looking at him with a frown.

"Where am I?" L asked. She scanned her gaze and realized she didn't recognize the room where she was now.

"You're in the penthouse, in the St. Laurent Hotel building," London answered softly. "This is where I lived before I met you."

L instantly remembered everything that had happened, and she unconsciously got out of bed and pulled her hand free from London's grasp.

"Who are you...?" L asked in a confused tone. She was immediately reminded that before she passed out, Killian claimed to be London Schneider to her, and claimed he owned this building along with many other properties, including all companies under the Schneider Group.

She also remembered that they were neighbors with the Schneider family in Grunewald. 

Wait... wasn't there where she saw London Schneider with Killian together?

Why did Killian have to claim himself as someone else?

"I'm London Schneider," London repeated his statement.

Although in his heart he had thought to retract his words and acted as if L misheard him when they were in a hot air balloon so the girl wouldn't be shocked, he realized that one day, the truth would be revealed and L would be more hurt if he lied to her for longer.

L frowned and looked at him closely. The poor girl still thought her brain wasn't working properly so she misheard him.

"I want to go home..." Finally, L looked away and rose from the bed. For a moment, she was stunned to see how luxurious the room she was in, but then she hurriedly got rid of that feeling and got out of bed. "Where are my shoes?"

"Wait a minute, I'll get it..." London held L's hand and prevented her from getting out of bed barefooted. "Wait here, the wooden floor is very cold for your feet."

He went outside the room and returned with L shoes and patiently put it on the girl's feet. L was stunned to see the man who claimed to be the owner of one of the largest corporate groups in the world putting her shoes on for her. She tried to prevent him, but London didn't heed her refusal.

"Thank you for your help, Sir. Apologies, I want to go home now." After her shoes were already put on, L immediately stood up and bowed slightly towards London.

The young man was very surprised to hear L talking to him very formally. At that time, more than anything else, he would prefer it if L was angry and shouted at him because she felt deceived, but the girl instead kept a distance and acted very formally.

"L... it's me. Why do you have to call me 'Sir'?" he asked, trying to hold L.'s hand. The girl stared at his hand with a complicated look and slowly pulled hers off.

"Mr. Schneider is the boss of my agency... I can't be impudent by acting casually," L replied in a flat voice. She bowed again and walked away. London wanted to hold her hand, but it was in vain.

"L... please don't go. I have a lot to talk to you about..." London went to catch up to L's steps and followed her out of the penthouse. He was eager to lock the door and keep L here, but his common sense still worked. He couldn't hold that girl against her will.

"My head hurts... can we talk tomorrow, Sir? I'll come to the office..." L replied in a weak voice. She pressed the elevator button to the ground floor.

"If you're sick, don't go home alone, let me take you there."

L didn't answer, but when the elevator door opened and London pulled her hand to the lobby parking lot and opened the door to his Mercedes, L didn't try to escape. Apparently, she didn't want to attract the attention of the people around them.

The journey to their home in Grunewald only lasted for 15 minutes, but the deafening silence and freezing atmosphere between the two made the trip feel like it lasted forever.

Once the gate opened and the car entered the yard, L squeezed her bag and got ready to get out of the car. When the car stopped and parked, L opened the car door and immediately got out, even though she usually let London open the door for her. This made London unable to do anything but shake his head.

"Why don't you wait for me to open the door for you?" the man asked in a tired voice. It was almost 2 am, and he needed his rest.

L turned towards him and shook her head awkwardly. "I don't dare to trouble you, Sir. Thank you for taking me home."

She walked again, and before her hand opened the front door, her steps suddenly halted.

This house was so beautiful...

The rare piano in the living room was also amazing...

And the crystal chandelier that London said to be fake...

Only then did L realize the possibility of everything about this house was also a lie. She now understood that although her income as an artist was quite high, she wouldn't be able to buy a house as luxurious as this in the most expensive residential area in Berlin.

Her intelligent mind immediately assumed that her manager, Pammy, was also involved in all of these charades. She turned to face London, not opening the door, her tears streaming incessantly as her hoarse voice asked for confirmation. "This house... is it yours?"

L realized that there was no way she could afford to buy a house this expensive with such luxurious furnishings. Even the rare Steinway piano was definitely not an unused item found in the storage... and all the life support devices for Lily...

Why was she so stupid, thinking she had been so successful and able to get everything, even saying to a London Schneider that she would support their family for three years until the man was able to earn more money than she.

How embarrassing...

"L, please, don't cry... I didn't mean to fool you. I just wanted to give you what you needed..." London persuaded. He could never bear to see L cry.