There was no treasure inside — only a notebook.
Inoue frowned. Maybe it was some kind of ledger, a record of bank accounts and passwords? He opened it carefully, but what he saw made him blink.
"Huh?"
The very first page held a map — hand-drawn, rough, but detailed. And something about it immediately stirred his curiosity.
Could this be a treasure map?
A red circle was marked over a coastal area — Long Beach.
"So… something's buried there?" he murmured.
But the marked area was huge. Even if there was something hidden, searching all of Long Beach would take forever.
He sighed, disappointment flickering across his face, and turned the page. Then his eyes widened.
"Wait… this looks like— a house?"
It was a sketch of a mansion. The details were clear enough that he could recognize it if he saw it. Maybe that was the clue — the treasure wasn't buried randomly; it was hidden in one of George's properties.
Inoue kept turning the pages. There were five maps and five mansions, each one paired with George's handwritten notes.
Curious, he flipped back to the beginning and started reading.
Kate — remember the Long Beach villa where we spent our hottest night together? If you dig in the front yard, you'll find a gift I left for you. I hope you like it.
Inoue's eyes went wide. That could only mean one thing — Kate knew exactly where it was.
He flipped through the rest. Each mansion came with a similar cryptic message, but every clue pointed to Kate being the key.
If he stayed close to her, he could reach every estate — and find every hidden treasure George Bradley had buried.
"Jackpot," Inoue whispered, grinning to himself.
He couldn't help a quiet laugh, then froze. Kate was still asleep upstairs — and the last thing he needed was a round of awkward questions.
So he quietly gathered the notebook, tiptoed out of the room, and checked on her one more time.
She was still sound asleep, breathing softly, the morning light brushing her golden hair.
Even now, she looked like something out of a dream — the kind of woman sculptors spent lifetimes trying to capture.
Inoue swallowed hard.
God, she's stunning.
But then another thought crept in.
Would she really come with me?
Even if she trusted him a little, that didn't mean she'd follow him on a treasure hunt. Still… he couldn't do it without her.
He sighed. "We'll figure something out."
After dressing quietly, he slung his jacket over his shoulder — and froze again.
A soft rustle came from the bed. Kate stirred.
Her voice was husky, barely awake. "Mmh…?"
When she blinked open her eyes, he was already half-dressed. "Inoue… you're leaving?"
He smiled awkwardly. "Ah, you're up. I was just gonna head back to my place for a bit."
"Why?" she asked, voice still thick with sleep.
"Gotta grab a few things. Besides…" He hesitated, then smiled. "There's somewhere I want to take you."
Her eyes cleared slightly. "Oh? Where?"
"Long Beach."
It was such an unexpected answer that she just blinked. But Long Beach — that part at least — made sense. A romantic seaside escape sounded like a good excuse for two people tangled in too much guilt and too little reason.
And judging from her expression, she was tempted.
"Alright," she said quietly. "Let's go."
Inoue blinked.
That easy?
He'd expected a dozen questions. Instead, she just agreed — maybe too quickly.
He didn't know that Kate's mind was a storm. Her husband's sudden death still haunted her, and the guilt of what she'd done with Inoue hadn't settled. But mixed into that guilt was something else — the memory of warmth, touch, and a brief escape from the grief.
Long Beach, she thought, would at least let her breathe.
Inoue studied her face and, without meaning to, found himself thinking:
If she could channel this emotion into acting, she'd be unstoppable.
The thought almost made him laugh.
Not the time, genius.
There was treasure to find — and something about the idea of someone else beating him to it made him restless.
When he stayed quiet for too long, Kate gave him a knowing smile.
"You weren't really going to leave me behind, were you?"
"What? No! Of course not."
"Good." She nodded, brushing a hand through her hair. "Then we'll go together."
"To my motel?"
"Yes. I'm packing too."
"Packing?" He frowned. "You're leaving this place?"
Kate's eyes dimmed. "Yeah. I can't stay here anymore."
"I have to move out."
"What?" Inoue blinked.
Kate sighed. "George's ex-wives and his kids hired a lawyer together. He came this morning — told me to vacate the house immediately. Apparently, George didn't leave me a cent."
"Ah…"
That explained the row of suitcases he'd seen by the door earlier.
Inoue thought of George's ghostly visit — how the old man had appeared just hours after dying, regret heavy in his voice, lamenting that he hadn't had time to rewrite his will.
Inoue's face softened. "What about the funeral?"
"I'll go," Kate murmured. "At least once."
"Then let's do this," Inoue said. "You go to the funeral. I'll head back to my place and grab my things."
Kate hesitated, her nod vague, her tone even more so.
"…You came here by taxi, right? I'll drive you back."
"Oh, really? That'd be great," Inoue said with an awkward laugh.
The truth was, he didn't have a single dollar left in his pocket.
He'd even left his passport as collateral with the Japanese motel owner.
"Ah, right… I still owe her money."
He almost asked Kate to lend him some, but stopped himself. Her emotions were still a mess; one wrong word and she might shut down completely.
Once I find the treasure, I'll have all the money I need, he told himself. But right now, I'm flat broke.
Would Kate still look at him the same way if she knew? Probably not. Two nights together didn't make her fall in love — and Inoue knew better than to mistake desire for devotion.
So when he helped load his bag into her car, he put on a confident smile and said, "Kate, I'll take responsibility for you. Don't worry about anything. Just go to the funeral and come back safely, alright?"
He met her eyes as he said it, trying to sound sincere.
Kate didn't reply right away.
"Responsibility…?"
The word lingered between them like a foreign language. To her, responsibility had always meant weight — obligation, control, chains.
As an actress, as a celebrity, as a wife to a much older man — she'd lived her whole life under that word.
But when Inoue said it, somehow it didn't feel like a burden. It felt… softer. Safer. Like a place she could rest.
Then she caught herself.
What am I thinking? We're two people who slept together twice under the worst circumstances imaginable.
So instead of answering, she just nodded.
"…Alright. We've wasted enough time. Let's go."
"Yeah. Let's."
They left George Bradley's mansion together — its vast marble halls echoing behind them like a fading memory.
***
A short while later, the car pulled up in front of Inoue's motel.
He grabbed his notebook and opened the door. "Alright then. Come back after the funeral," he said.
Kate nodded but didn't look at him. Something about her silence made his chest tighten.
"Promise me, okay? You'll come back?"
"I will," she said softly.
He closed the car door. The vehicle rolled away — maybe just driving off, but to Inoue, it felt like she was leaving him behind.
"…Did I just get ghosted?"
Then again, maybe not.
He already knew where the treasure was. Even if she didn't show up, he could track down the Long Beach properties using the notebook's sketches.
Eventually, I'll find them. And when I do… that treasure's mine.
Not all of it, though. He wasn't that heartless. He'd made a promise to George's spirit — half would go to Kate.
For now, keeping it secret was just part of honoring that deal.
Maybe I should've left her a hint…
He sighed, dragging his feet toward the motel.
But waiting for him there was another problem entirely.
***
"You're back?"
The motel owner — the same sultry Japanese woman he'd borrowed money from — greeted him at the counter.
Her eyes glimmered with a look that made him uneasy.
Ah, crap. I still don't have her money.
In Japan, he might've found a friend to borrow from. But here? The only person he knew was Kate — and she was gone.
Should've swallowed my pride and asked her anyway… No, that would've ruined everything.
He stepped up to the counter, scratching his neck nervously.
"Uh… I'm really sorry. I couldn't get the money yet."
"What?"
Her gaze sharpened instantly. The faint smile she'd had earlier was gone.
"I'll keep my promise, though," he added quickly. "Like I said before — I'll work it off."
The woman tilted her head, eyes sweeping up and down his body in open appraisal.
"Oh? You're saying you're good with physical work?"
"Yes, ma'am. I've done construction back home. I can handle anything."
Her lips curled upward. "Alright, then. Go upstairs and wait for me."
"Yes! Thank you. Whatever it is, I'll do my best!"
From the look on her face, she clearly had something in mind — and it wasn't going to be easy.
Inoue sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his head.
Well… I did offer.
He'd never been the type to skip out on debts, no matter how broke he was.
But right now, the bigger problem was hunger.
His stomach growled loud enough to echo in the empty hall.
"Urgh…"
He clutched his gut, forcing a sheepish grin as the motel owner stared.
"Heh… excuse me."
He rode the elevator up, realizing with a groan, I haven't eaten since last night.
His last meal had been some fruit and cheap liquor at the club — before everything with Kate began.
Two rounds of passion later, even his stomach was protesting.
He opened the minibar. Nothing but two bottles of water.
Figures…
She'd probably emptied it out, guessing he couldn't pay.
So he drank both bottles, filling his stomach with cold water instead of food.
He'd just finished the second when — knock, knock.
That must be her.
He braced himself for hard labor — maybe scrubbing floors or hauling boxes — and opened the door.
But instead, the motel owner stood there holding a paper bag.
"Bread," she said. "You hungry?"
"Oh… yes, actually."
He nodded quickly, grateful for the kindness.
Maybe she's feeding me before putting me to work, he thought.
Still, she looked prettier than before — maybe hunger was making him delirious.
But then, as she handed him the bag… she stepped inside.
Inoue blinked.
Wait. What…?
Something in her eyes had changed. The morning's faint allure had deepened, turning heavier, bolder.
"…You're not here to make me mop floors, are you?" he said carefully.
Her lips curved into a slow, knowing smile.