It's Monday, a beautiful start to the week knowing that my father is in the hospital and that Jean is not on good terms with me. Levi sent me a text asking me to come. I left an empty apartment as usual, and particularly dirty, to head to Brooklyn. I called my mother on the way to get news about my father. They will return to New York tomorrow. And I feel that a conversation with my father is necessary.

I arrive at Levi's early in the morning. I really need to learn to have a better rhythm of life. I'm starting to get used to entering a silent and tidy house. There was a slight unknown smell that tickled my nose. But no sign of Levi, I'm not going to play hide and seek.

I take the shopping list and the money from the fridge and go back out to walk down the street. Once back, it would be hard to play the game of seven differences because nothing has absolutely moved. Maybe he's still sleeping. I take out the trash that was in the laundry room and notice a pile of clothes that had been folded but seemed to be dirty. I might need to do a load of laundry.

When I come back through the entrance, I finally run into the owner of the place who was in the kitchen boiling water. He was dressed and didn't look anything like the last memory I had of him. By the way, it's very embarrassing to remember that evening when we clearly drank too much. And I let myself get carried away talking about things that must have seemed ridiculous to him.

I just want to bury myself six feet under when he turned to me with a cup of tea.

"Good morning," I said in a small voice.

- Hum.

He had visible dark circles. I notice that his hands were slightly trembling.

- I don't have any manuscripts today.

- Alright. I'll go work at Rosemaria.

Maybe he wasn't in a condition to work seriously yesterday.

- Hange will show you our contract. You sign it, make a copy, and bring it back here."

He moved away to go lock himself in his office. Well, I'll finish what I have to do and leave.

I go back to the laundry room and put all the dirty laundry in the machine. I look for a box of detergent and knock something over. I pick it up and remain stunned; it was a small bag with white powder inside.

Once I arrive at Rosemaria, I lock myself in the restroom on my floor. I rummage through my shoulder bag and pull out the little bag I found at Levi's place. This is crazy if it's what I think it is. I lean against the door, way too paranoid. I open the bag, touch the powder, and bring it to my tongue. It has a bitter, numbing taste.

Yuck. It's definitely cocaine, at least I think it is.

What was it doing hidden in the novelist's laundry? I can't imagine... Levi using... Is he an addict?

Actually, it would explain a lot, even though I really wouldn't want that for him. This guy... stays locked up constantly, sees no one, drinks a lot of alcohol, and does drugs. He must really be feeling extremely bad.

I suddenly feel stupid for not noticing or for judging him too quickly. But who am I to help him? I...

"Eren? Are you okay?

I jump; someone had knocked on the restroom door.

- Uh... Yes, yes.

- Sorry, it's just that I saw you arrive, and you didn't look very well. You seemed worried, so... I was concerned.

I hastily throw the bag into the toilet and flush it. I open the door and flash a big smile.

- Ah, I just had to go urgently!

- Okay. You must think I'm a stalker," Marco chuckles.

- Oh, no. I would have done the same if I had seen you like that.

- Are you sure you're okay? You're acting weird.

It's true that my movements were still jerky. I was in shock.

- Yes, I'm tired. Working with L.A. is not easy at all.

- Hmm, I can't even imagine. Is his next book coming out soon?

- Yes, he... Uh, sorry! It's confidential, I can't tell you anything."

We headed back to our offices. As we walked, we passed Hanji, who gave us a big wave. Should I talk to her about it again? Is she even aware?

I sit down at my desk, my face probably a bit pale. Ymir gives me a discreet look, but Petra is still absorbed in her work. I swallow hard. I really hope I'm wrong because otherwise, the situation will keep getting worse in my mind. I really need to find a lifeline.

"Are we eating together, Eren?

Hange had seen me passing by with a sandwich in my hands.

- Yes, why not. Let's go to the terrace.

- Let's go.

The brunette stood up with her bag and followed me. We both sat down at a table.

- So, my little Eren," she said, taking out a salad." How's it going with Levi?

- Um...

I think about what to say to her. Actually, I don't know how close they are. Levi called her "the crazy one." Is that a sign of closeness? Or hatred?

- It's going okay. By the way, he told me you were supposed to give me a contract.

- Oh yes! Franz is gone for good. So, this position is entirely yours.

- Oh, that too. I was thinking more about our clauses to find common ground.

- Yes, those are in there too. Levi modified one at the last minute.

- What? What did he do?

- Don't worry. You'll see, anyway! Have you contacted the guy I told you about?

- No, not yet. I haven't had the time.

- Actually, he's my nephew. If you want, we can go see him at his high school and grab a PC.

- What? You recommended an adolescent to me?

- He's a pro hacker. He can find you anything. Plus, digging into city hall data tapes isn't hard.

- And prisons?

- Uh... Yes, I think that's possible. Why?

- Just wondering.

I was hesitating a lot to talk to Hange about my discovery. I was squirming a bit in my chair.

- Are you okay?

- Yes, um... My dad is in the hospital, so... I'm a bit worried.

It wasn't just that, actually. I have so many things to think about right now.

- Oh no. What's wrong with him?

- He had a stroke. But he's going to recover. I hope this will teach him to stop overworking himself.

- Passionate people can give up everything for their work. At the expense of their private life and health.

- Yes, it already worried my mom a lot.

- You seem really close to your parents.

- Well, it's normal.

- Um, not for everyone, "Hange murmurs". Do you mind if I smoke?

- No. Why do you say that?

- I wasn't born into a family you could call 'loving.' My parents didn't really love each other, but they made do because they had my sisters and me. We were four children and they didn't really feel obligated to take care of each of us.

- That must have been tough.

- I was the eldest, so I had to take care of my little sisters. Moreover, when my parents got divorced, it was much more complicated. We managed to get by, I even went to school. Today, my sisters work and have children. We don't really talk to our parents anymore but we are close to each other.

- At least you all had each other to help out.

- Yes, it was a bit like that. When I'm struggling, they are always there to offer me their home.

- Do you have money problems? If you don't mind me asking...

- Not anymore. But at the beginning, publishing didn't pay much so I had a hard time making ends meet. Tess, the one born after me, got married and I was able to live with them for a while. I also housed the youngest when she was studying.

- That's great. You know, when I hear that, I regret not having siblings.

- It's true that I can't imagine living as an only child. I'm used to the noise and the arguments. Oh! Look at the time! We've talked too much. I've got paperwork to do!

She quickly stood up and threw away her trash. I followed her back to the open space.

- So, the contract is... here! Sign it, Levi has already done so.

- Wait. Wait. I'll read it first to make sure I haven't been tricked. I'm starting to get to know the guy."

I glance over the sheet. I recognize what we had talked about. Everything seems normal, except... a small note. I knew he had added something. I really can't trust him!

'Mr. Eren Jaeger's monthly salary will increase from $1,500 to $3,000 upon the application of this contract. Of which $2,500 will be paid by Rosemaria Company and $500 by the employer, Mr. Levi Ackerman.'

Wait, am I dreaming or did he just give me a raise? And actually doubled my salary!?

I think this day has worn me out. My brain feels like mush and the thing that would appeal to me most right now is my bed. I read for hours to absolutely finish all my work. I signed and photocopied my contract, which I'll bring to Levi tomorrow.

I saw Marco get up and noticed that he had changed clothes between this morning and now. I gave him a meaningful look.

"It's just a drink. No big deal, "he defended himself.

- Can we know his name? "Ymir teased.

- No, not until I'm sure there's something. For all I know, I'm getting my hopes up for nothing...

- Don't despair. If you leave so downcast, of course, you're going to end up alone for the rest of your life.

- Ymir! "Petra exclaimed.

- What? I'm motivating him.

- You'd be the worst dating coach. I'd never listen to your advice.

- Especially since Historia is comfortably putting you in the friend zone...

- That's enough. Go to your stupid date.

- It's not a date.

- Okay, okay."

I saw Hange signaling that she was about to leave. She was going to take me to her sister's so we could see her nephew. I hate imposing on people, but she insisted. It was almost like she was holding a knife to my throat.

"Well, are you ready?

- Yes, I'm coming. Let me just pack my things."

I said goodbye to my colleagues and we both headed to her car. Why don't I trust her imagining her behind the wheel?

In fact, I was right. She ran two red lights and almost killed a kid crossing the street. Noted, I'm never getting in a car with Hange driving again. We stopped in front of a magnificent large house.

"Wow, what does your sister do?

- Her husband is a doctor.

- That's amazing, I'd love to have a house like this one day.

- Yeah... If you say so."

Hange knocked and walked right into the house. She really has no shame.

"Hi, it's me!

I saw a young brunette woman in the living room watching TV. She looked just like Hange, minus the glasses.

- Hi, he's upstairs. Are you eating here tonight?

- Yes.

- Hange, "I grumbled". Don't invite me like that, it's super rude.

- Don't worry, she's used to it. Come on, let's go upstairs."

I gave a slight nod to her sister before following her. She walked into a room, this time without knocking. A boy was playing on his computer with headphones on. He turned to us and fist-bumped Hanji.

"Hey. How's it going?

- Yeah, I've got everything set up. All I need is a name to search.

- What, already? You're on top of things.

The teenager straightened up from his seat and cracked his knuckles.

- I know. So, what do you need?

Hange turned to me. Everything was happening so fast. I stammered the name of my biological mother. He typed a few things on his keyboard, squinted his eyes, and then his face lit up.

- Ah, Carla Tautz, married name Jaeger. Is that right?

- Uh, yes. Maybe? I... I didn't know she was married.

- She was born on January 29, 1954, in Frankfurt. She married Grisha Jaeger on June 21, 1970, and they divorced in 1971. She has one child, Eren Jaeger, born March 20, 1972, in Siegburg.

- Wow, that was a quick marriage.

- That was my father, Grisha... I didn't even think I'd be able to find him.

- There's no death date. She's still alive.

- What stands out to me, "Hange pondered", is that she got married at sixteen! That reeks of an arranged marriage.

- I was born in '72, she must have been barely eighteen.

- Poor thing... She must have been forced into marriage.

- I don't know. This is so weird. Can we look up something about Grisha Jaeger?

- Yes, of course.

My heart was racing. I finally had some answers.

- Grisha Jaeger was born on January 26, 1929, in Berlin. He married Dinah Fritz on September 5, 1964, and they divorced in 1969. He married Carla Tautz on June 21, 1970, and the marriage was dissolved on October 21, 1971. He died on October 21, 1971.

- Wait, what?

- How did he manage to divorce if he was dead?" Hange asked.

- That's not the question! How did he die?

- It's not written. His first child, Sieg Jaeger, was born on August 1, 1966. And his second child, Eren Jaeger, was born on March 20, 1972.

- What?

- Wow, this is all so complicated.

- I... I...

I was completely lost. I had just learned about the existence of so many people who...

- When you were born, your father was already dead.

- Maybe he's not really your father, "the nephew suggested". Infidelity happens.

- No, Carla Jaeger could have been pregnant at the time of his death. Eren, are you okay?

I sat down on the bed. My thoughts were racing in my head.

- Eren, your biological mother is alive. And you have a half-brother!

- Yeah...

I glanced at the teenager.

- Can you also search through criminal records?

- Yeah. I already did. Just a second...

- Wait, where did you already look... Actually, I don't wanna know, "Hange interjected.

- I guess I'm searching for Carla Jaeger's?

- Yes.

- So... Yeah, she has one.

My blood ran cold. I got up and approached while the brunette leaned in.

- Oh, yeah. Indeed, and not just a little.

- She was charged with several offenses, including... second-degree murder, lying and concealing evidence during an investigation, contempt of court, desecration of a corpse...

- Oh my god... What happened?

- In the end, only two were upheld: concealing evidence and desecration of a corpse. They deemed it self-defense and she was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 48,000 German marks. She served them in the Siegburg women's penitentiary.

- But who did she kill?

- Eren...

- No, it can't be!

- She shot her husband, Grisha Jaeger, on October 21, 1971.

- Oh my god, this can't be true!

I paced around the room.

- Look up Grisha!

- Are you sure?

- Yes.

- He... He has been reported before. Luisa Jaeger, in 1954, for assault. The complaint didn't go through. Elinor Otto, in 1960, for death threats and harassment. She sought a restraining order against him. He served one year in prison and was released for good behavior. Dinah Jaeger, in 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1969 for domestic violence, death threats, and sexual assault. No charges were pursued.

- There's... There's nothing about my mother?

- No. Maybe she never filed a complaint.

- Why? This guy... he's a monster!

- She might have been a victim of domestic abuse syndrome. We can't put ourselves in her shoes, we don't know what she went through. But she's alive, and she's been out of prison for a long time. You could find her, Eren."