After hanging up, Lena wiped her tears, grabbed her documents, and headed for the door.

The second she opened it, she nearly crashed into Andrew.

Faint red kiss marks trailed down his neck, stark against his skin. Even though she'd braced herself for what went down between him and Nicole, her gaze instinctively flicked away.

Andrew caught the reaction. Paired with her red-rimmed eyes, it wasn't hard to figure out what she was thinking.

His tone was firm. "Lena, whether you like it or not, Nicole and I are together now. I'm marrying her.

"Since you're staying here, show her some respect and drop those ridiculous things you used to say."

Lena's voice was steady. "Got it, Uncle Andrew."

He froze.

It had been years since she called him that. When she first moved into his place, it was always "Uncle Andrew" in that sweet, little voice. But the second she caught feelings? She dropped the title, refusing to use it again.

His frown deepened, about to say something—

"Andrew, I brought my luggage! Which room should I take?"

Andrew snapped out of it, turning to pull Nicole into his arms. "You like sunlight. Lena's room faces south and gets the best light. I'll have her move to the guest room—you can stay there."

A flicker of triumph flashed in Nicole's eyes, though her voice dripped with fake modesty. "Oh, I don't want to impose. Compared to Lena, I'm the newcomer. Maybe I should take the guest room instead?"

She started down the stairs, but the next second—

A startled yelp.

Andrew had swept her back into his arms. "You're going to be my wife—the lady of this house. How could you stay in the guest room?"

"But Lena's been in that room for so long. Moving all of a sudden... won't that be hard on her?"

Andrew glanced at Lena by the doorway. "She'll have to get used to it. She needs to accept that I'm getting married, that this house has a mistress now, and that she's nothing more than an outsider."

Lena's lashes trembled. A self-mocking smile tugged at her lips.

An outsider.

He wasn't wrong. That's exactly what she was.

She exhaled softly. "I'll pack up now."

It didn't matter. Soon, she'd be gone—back to her father, never stepping foot here again.

This house belonged to Andrew and Nicole.

***

Lena buried herself in embassy paperwork, leaving early, coming back late—anything to dodge Andrew.

Didn't matter. She still saw it. His over-the-top devotion to Nicole.

If Nicole had no appetite, he flew in world-class chefs.

If she felt sick, he ditched billion-dollar deals to stay by her side.

If she so much as glanced at a piece of jewelry, it was in her hands within minutes—hand-delivered by him.

Lena just watched. No drama. No tears.

While waiting for her immigration papers, she started packing. Clothes first. Then, every pathetic love letter she'd ever written him. Sketches, too. All of it went into a box.

She planned to throw it all away.

Box in hand, she headed for the door—only to collide straight into Andrew. He was carrying desserts. Probably for Nicole.

She ignored him, kept walking.

Pain shot through her wrist. He had grabbed her.

"You've been avoiding me?"

Lena frowned. "I'm not."

Andrew stepped in, eyes locked on her. "Still denying it? You leave early, come back late, won't even say hi. If that's not avoiding me, what is? Because I'm with Nicole now?"

Lena shook her head fast. "No! Uncle Andrew, I'm genuinely happy for you. You found the one you love, and as someone who grew up around you, I really do wish you both happiness. Don't worry—I know you'll never like me, so I won't like you anymore either."

She said it so matter-of-factly, like it was just a simple truth.

Andrew's expression darkened.

Lena not liking him? Yeah, right.

"You confessed, I rejected you. You clung to me, I rejected you. And now what? Changing tactics?" His eyes didn't miss the slight flicker in hers, and his suspicion only grew.

He stepped closer, gaze dropping to the box in her arms. "You don't like me anymore? Then why write me all these love letters? Why sketch me over and over? You chased me for years, and now you expect me to believe you just stopped? Lena, don't you think that's laughable?"

She met his gaze, silent.

She knew how crazy it sounded.

She'd cried wolf too many times. Who would believe her now?

But that didn't make it any less true.

"I did love you," Lena said, voice steady. "For a long time. But you'll never love me back. So I've really given up."

Then, without hesitation, she flipped the box over, dumping everything onto the floor.

One by one, she picked up the letters, the sketches—ripping them apart right in front of him.

Shreds of her past feelings fluttered around them, weightless, meaningless.

Andrew didn't look relieved. If anything, his expression darkened.

For a second, she wondered if she was imagining it.

But before the thought could settle, his voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.

"Keep up the act. But remember this—no matter what tricks you play, the only girl I'll ever love is Nicole."

***

After that day, Lena and Andrew didn't exchange a single word.

She was done. He thought she was playing hard to get. So he ignored her.

The tension dragged on until the Rohan family's private banquet.

These events used to revolve around Lena—Andrew's parents adored her, doting on her every chance they got. They'd fuss over her until Andrew inevitably swooped in and pulled her away.

Now? It was all about Nicole.

She was the future lady of the Rohan family. Lena? Just an outsider.

That morning alone proved how much they valued Nicole. The moment she arrived, Andrew's mother, Coreene, slipped the Rohan family's heirloom bracelet onto her wrist.

Lena had never even laid eyes on that bracelet in her past life.

At dinner, the family openly discussed the wedding date. By the end of the banquet, it was set.

As Lena was about to leave with Andrew, Coreene suddenly stopped her.

"I need a word with you. In private."

Inside the study, Coreene skipped the pleasantries.

"Lena, it's time for you to leave Andrew." Her tone was sharp, leaving no room for debate. "He's with Nicole now. Staying here will only embarrass you—and cause trouble for him. What's the point?"

Not a hint of warmth.

A bitter taste settled in Lena's mouth. Coreene used to adore her—until the day she confessed to Andrew. From then on, she was reckless, shameless... a nuisance.

Lena's fingers curled into her palm. "Don't worry, I'm leaving."

She pulled out her immigration papers and handed them over.

"I already told my father I'm moving abroad. He even arranged a fiancé for me. From now on, I'll stay far away from Uncle Andrew—I won't bother him again."

Coreene studied the documents before her expression finally eased.

"You'd better keep your word."

Once Coreene left, Lena exhaled slowly, finally relaxing.

She tucked the documents back into her bag and turned to leave—only to find Andrew standing in the doorway.

Their eyes met.

His voice was cold. "Who are you planning to stay far away from?"

Lena's mind blanked.

She had no idea how much he'd heard, but instinct screamed that he couldn't know she was leaving.

Shaking her head, she muttered, "No one. You misheard."

She turned to walk past him, but before she could take a step, his voice brushed against her ear.

"I know you don't want to leave Altesia. You don't have to move out after I marry Nicole. Your father and I are old friends—I can take care of you for the rest of your life."

Lena's eyes widened.

Behind him, Nicole, who had just walked in, froze.

Silence. Thick. Heavy.

Then Nicole's resentful glare snapped Lena back to reality.

Without another word, Lena turned and walked away.

Lena didn't take Andrew's words that day seriously.

She just waited for her immigration papers to go through so she could leave.

But Nicole wouldn't let her go so easily.

That day, Nicole insisted on taking her shopping. But not long after they got in the car, Lena blacked out.

When she came to, she was tied up on a cliffside overlooking the ocean.

A few feet away, Nicole was bound the same way.

Lena struggled, trying to ask why, but the tape over her mouth turned her words into muffled whimpers.

Nicole sneered. "Lena, I didn't want to do this. But after what Andrew said that day, I had to be sure. So I set up a little test—let's see who he chooses."

Cold dread seeped into Lena's bones.

Did this even need testing? The answer was obvious.

Soon, Andrew arrived, tossing two briefcases full of cash forward. His eyes burned with fury. "I brought the money. Let them go."

But the kidnappers, acting under Nicole's orders, didn't budge. One of them smirked. "Mr. Rohan, I didn't do this for the money."

Andrew's jaw tightened. "Then what do you want?"

The man placed a hand on both women's shoulders, grinning. "I heard one of them is your friend's daughter, and the other is your fiancée. You can only save one. The other..." He chuckled. "Becomes shark food."

With that, he loosened the ropes just enough for them to teeter dangerously on the edge.

Nicole went pale, her voice shaking. "Andrew, save me! I don't want to die!"

Andrew's chest tightened. "Don't touch Nicole!"

There it was. The answer.

Satisfied, the kidnappers grinned. Even Nicole, who'd been faking terror, finally relaxed.

She turned to Andrew, eyes full of fake gratitude.

But Andrew wasn't looking at her anymore. His gaze had shifted to Lena.

He expected her to break down, to beg. But she just stayed there—eerily calm.

For some reason, that unsettled him more than anything.

Before he could speak, a sudden weight pressed against him—Nicole had been untied and flung herself into his arms.

Instinctively, he caught her. "Nicole..."

Then his eyes widened.

At that exact moment, Lena's ropes were cut too—sending her plunging straight into the sea.

A loud splash.

The waves swallowed her whole, dragging her down.

She kicked, fought to surface, but exhaustion clung to her like chains, pulling her deeper.

Her eyelids grew heavy... until darkness took over.

***

When Lena woke up in the hospital, the first thing she saw was Andrew sitting beside her bed.

Bloodshot eyes. Unshaven stubble. He'd been there for days.

But she didn't need him anymore.

Their eyes met, heavy with unspoken words.

Lena was the first to break the silence.

"Uncle Andrew, you don't need to stay here. Go check on Nicole—she needs you more."

Perhaps sensing her words might seem too cold, she added, "I can take care of myself."

Andrew froze, staring at her with an unreadable expression.

After a long pause, he finally stood and walked away.

Lena's discharge day just had to be Nicole's birthday.

Since it was their first one as a couple, Andrew went all out. A hundred thousand roses from Flandora flooded the venue. Expensive gifts were piled in the corners like afterthoughts. From the entrance to the ballroom, every display screamed them—photos of their picture-perfect romance.

Fireworks lit up the sky as the party hit its peak. Andrew twirled Nicole across the dance floor in a flawless waltz, the massive screen behind them looping their sweetest moments. Guests watched in awe, practically swooning at the fairytale.

And then—

The screen cut to black.

A second later, handwritten love letters and sketches flickered into view. One after another. Lena's letters. Lena's sketches.

Her feelings for Andrew, spilled out for everyone to see.

Silence hit first. Then chaos.

Lena went rigid, blood draining from her face. She'd destroyed all of those. So why—how—were they here?

Her body screamed at her to move, to do something, but she stood frozen as whispers stabbed through the air.

"Mr. Rohan's about to get married, and she's still clinging to him? Shameless."

"On Nicole's birthday? She's practically declaring war."

"Even after they're married, she'll always be lurking in the background. Poor Ms. Jenner."

The murmurs swelled, finally reaching the couple on the dance floor.

Nicole's face went ghost-white.

She trembled, eyes darting straight to Lena—the obvious culprit. Tears brimmed before she yanked up her gown and bolted.

"Nicole!"

Andrew's chest tightened. Instinct said run after her.

But then his gaze landed on Lena—motionless, stunned.

He stopped cold.

And without a second thought, his hand snapped up.

Slap!

The sound cut through the ballroom.

Silence.

Andrew's voice was razor-sharp. "Lena Clermont, I was wondering why you've been so well-behaved. Turns out you were just WAITING for this moment."