Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 59.2

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The children, initially wary of Damian and me, warmed up considerably after receiving their gifts. They began to approach us, some shyly asking questions, others tugging at our clothes.

Several of the older children seemed to recognize Damian…

“I don’t want it! This stupid thing!” a boy shouted, throwing his gift to the ground. All eyes turned towards him, including Damian’s.

“You don’t really care about us anyway!”

The boy, perhaps fifteen years old, yelled, unfazed by the attention. He glared at Damian with undisguised animosity, his chest heaving.

His eyes held an inexplicable resentment.

“Ken, calm down,” another child, a girl around the same age, said, patting his back. Ken bit his lip and then stormed back inside.

The girl, left alone, looked embarrassed and bowed her head. Catching Damian’s eye, she gave a quick, apologetic bow before hurrying inside after Ken.

“Just as I thought…” I murmured, sitting on a bench in the shade. Several of the older children seemed to know Damian, though they hadn’t openly acknowledged him.

“Didn’t you say this was his first time here?” I muttered to myself, glancing at Damian, now surrounded by a throng of younger children.

He had been with me initially, but the constant stream of curious children had gradually drawn him away.

“Heh.”

Unlike the inquisitive children, Damian appeared incredibly awkward. His usual composure had vanished, replaced by an almost comical stiffness. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Might I have a word?” the director asked, appearing at my side. I nodded.

“Of course.”

She sat down next to me with a kind smile, her gaze following mine towards Damian.

“I hope you’re not feeling uncomfortable. Our children can be quite inquisitive.”

“Not at all, Director.”

She had been concerned about me being surrounded earlier, but the children’s attention had been overwhelmingly focused on Damian, allowing me to slip away unnoticed.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Actually, I was wondering…” I began, glancing between the director and Damian. She smiled knowingly.

“It seems he hasn’t told you much.”

“I only just learned he was supporting this place.”

I nodded.

Damian had claimed this was his first visit, yet the director and some of the older children seemed to know him. Bringing me here must have meant he was willing to answer my questions.

Watching Damian cautiously reach out to one of the children, I asked, “Have you known Damian long?”

The director’s eyes widened slightly before she quickly composed herself with a smile. It was a fleeting reaction, but I hadn’t missed it.

“We’ve known each other for quite some time, but we haven’t had much interaction. I wouldn’t say I know him well.”

“Oh…”

“You likely know him better than I do.”

I gave a strained smile.

She was probably right.

‘Though most of what I know, I learned through my own investigations.’

My research hadn’t uncovered anything about this orphanage. The director clearly knew something I didn’t.

What was their connection?

Suddenly, I felt her gaze on me. The director was studying me intently. She murmured something, and I looked at her questioningly.

“He brought you here personally, so I assume you’re not just acquaintances.”

“It’s… complicated.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen him bring anyone here.”

The director’s smile deepened, as if she understood something unspoken between us. It felt like a massive misunderstanding.

“No, it’s not like that…”

“This orphanage wouldn’t exist without Damian. Five years ago, he was the one who reached out to me and these children.”

I stopped my attempt at an explanation and listened.

“Five years ago…”

“Yes. The children who relied on him back then thought he’d abandoned them when he disappeared for so long. I tried to tell them otherwise, but they wouldn’t believe me.”

I thought of the boy who had shown such hostility towards Damian, and the other older children who seemed to recognize him.

They had known Damian for five years, since the orphanage’s founding. He had created this place and supported it ever since.

“Even I don’t know much about him—what he does, how he was able to establish an orphanage at such a young age, or how he manages to provide such generous donations every year. It’s no wonder the children don’t trust what I say.”

A note of sadness colored her voice.

“All I know is his name. I’m simply a recipient of his kindness.”

So, you must know him better than I do, her eyes seemed to say.

I opened my mouth to speak.

‘Do you truly know nothing about him?’

Do you not know about his past, how he acquired his wealth, or what he’s doing now?

I had so many questions.

But seeing the sincerity in the director’s words, I couldn’t voice them.

She was right. Despite having known him for years, she seemed to know less about Damian than I did, someone who had only entered his life a few days ago.