"……"

  　　However, he was simply texting with Alice as she didn't believe it was truly Rudy and not someone else pretending to be him.

  　　Maria furrowed her brows and thought, 'Can't he at least look at me a little while we are on a date? He is just so rude sometimes…'

  　　"Ahem!" She cleared her throat and said, "You should eat while the food is hot. You won't like it if it gets cold."

  　　"Right."

  　　Rudy texted Alice that he would call her later and placed the phone on the table.

  　　A few minutes later, Maria's phone rang.

  　　COUGH~ COUGH!

  　　She choked on her bite and tried to reach her hand to the glass, but it was empty. Rudy grabbed his glass and helped her drink the water.

  　　"Thank you."

  　　Maria picked up the phone and plastered a fake smile on her face.

  　　"Hello. No. Of course not. I am resting in my room. Wha—! How do you know that?! Argh! Fine. Fine~ Fine~!"

  　　With every 'fine' her groan got louder.

  　　"What, no! Really?! Alright then. Yes. Yeah. We will talk later."

  　　She hung up the call and let out a weary sigh.

  　　"Who was that? You underworld boyfriend?" he teased with a grin on his face.

  　　"Of course not! I don't have a lover!" she hissed.

  　　"Relax. It was a joke."

  　　SIGH!

  　　"It was my niece."

  　　"Umm, your brother's daughter?" Rudy asked suspiciously.

  　　"Yeah. She is only a year younger than me, so we are more like sisters or cousins. We basically grew up together and trained together."

  　　'Well, that's your half-sister, not your niece.'

  　　"She found out that I snaked out and asked me to return immediately. The car should be here in 5 minutes, she said."

  　　"I see. Then we better hurry up."

  　　After eating a few bites, Maria took a deep breath and hesitantly asked, "Do you… do you have a… girlfriend?"

  　　"Hmm?" Rudy was taken back as he never expected her to ask that question.

  　　That was something Rudy had no idea how to answer.

  　　"It's… well, it's complicated, so I wouldn't say yes or no."

  　　'Does that mean he loves someone, but the girl he loves doesn't love him back? Or maybe they have some kind of forbidden relationship? Like a teacher and student, a married woman, or a widow. Or perhaps an underaged girl…?

  　　No, no. Rudy wouldn't have such affairs. But what does he mean by complicated? Wait… don't tell me… he is into guys?'

  　　After eating, they waited for a while, but no one came for the bill, so Rudy got up and said, "I want to use the washroom. Be right back."

  　　"Okay."

  　　However, that was a lie. He went to the counter to pay the bill as he was sure as hell that Maria would pay for it again.

  　　"Uhh… excuse me. Can I have the bill, please?" he said to the man at the counter.

  　　"Hmm? You are from… hmm, the bill has already been paid."

  　　"What?!" he exclaimed. 'Did Maria pay it without me noticing?' he wondered.

  　　"Who paid for it?"

  　　"The person who paid left a while ago."

  　　"……"

  　　Confused, he went back to the table and asked Maria to leave.

  　　They were walking on the pavement alongside the stores to the sides.

  　　"It's 7:11PM…"

  　　"She said the car would be at the park. So let's hurry."

  　　On their way, Rudy asked, "Did you pay for the bill and ask them to keep it a secret?"

  　　"Huh? No. I thought you paid for it…" she muttered with a puzzled look on her face.

  　　"Then who was it?"

  　　"Maybe… just maybe… someone saw me and recognized me. But if that's the case, then I should get ready to get yelled at by my father and brother…" she grunted with a sigh.

  　　"Or maybe it was your niece? She was out for some reason and saw us. And then she called you to check whether you lied or not. That would explain why she said the car would be at the park in five minutes?" Rudy wondered curiously.

  　　"That's not possible."

  　　"How can you be so sure?"

  　　"As you know, I only have one brother, and he has only one child— that is my niece— who will be the next leader of our syndicate. She has many things to do and doesn't get as much free time as me.

  　　My father gave his leadership and the syndicate to my brother, and I got his fortune. But I don't care about that; the money I use is from my allowance for the last 19 years and what I won from gambling. I am content with what I have. I just… wanted friends."

  　　She said with a dejected look on her face.

  　　"I am here for you now." He patted Maria on the head and said, "Or do you want more friends?"

  　　"I don't know. But for now, you are enough for me. And don't pat me! I am not a kid!"

  　　"We are almost at the park. Can you spot your car?" Rudy asked.

  　　"No. And I think she was just saying when she said the car would be there in 5 minutes. There is no way that's possible unless she booked a cab or something, which I could also do," she shrugged.

  　　They sat on the bench outside the park and watched the world.

  　　"Oh, by the way." Maria squinted her eyes and said, "So you are my cousin now, huh?"

  　　"Allegedly."

  　　"Can you guess my niece's name? I will give you a reward if you do."

  　　"Hmm~" Rudy pondered for a while and said, "Sonia… maybe? I don't know if that suits the Mafia or not."

  　　"Her name is Ruby. Ruby Ross."

  　　"Wha…t? That's… lame…"

  　　"That's why I was surprised when I first learned your name. And when you introduced yourself as Rudy Ross."

  　　"Wow… that's a name my twin sister should have if I had one."