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."

The slap sent Lena crashing to the ground.

Her face throbbed instantly, blood pooling at the corner of her mouth. A sharp ringing drowned out everything—no voices, no gasps, just a hollow silence.

Her fingers brushed the burning imprint on her cheek, and tears spilled before she could stop them.

Andrew had never hit her before.

But before the shock could settle, he was already gone, storming out the front door.

Lena sucked in a shaky breath and scrambled to her feet, chasing after him.

She wasn't running for him. She was running because she knew what might happen next.

Boom!

Thunder cracked, shaking the ground as rain poured down in thick, blinding sheets.

Through the storm, Andrew stood firm, arms locked around Nicole's trembling frame.

Nicole thrashed, her voice breaking. "Today was supposed to be perfect, and she ruined it. How do you expect me to stay after that?

"She still won't let go of you. I don't want to fight over a man with some younger girl. Maybe I should just—give you back to her."

Andrew only held her tighter. "No, Nicole. I could never love her. You know how long I've loved you. If you push me away now... do you want to rip my heart out?"

His voice dropped, his head lowering toward hers.

And then—

Headlights.

Blinding. Rushing straight for them.

Lena skidded to a stop, breath catching—

And then everything went red.

***

The emergency room pulsed with red light.

Doctors rushed back and forth, scrambling to stabilize Andrew, wires and monitors beeping in a frantic rhythm.

But he didn't care.

"Save Nicole first," he rasped.

"Mr. Rohan, you're the one—"

"Forget me... Save her." His voice shook, barely above a whisper.

Left with no choice, they wheeled Nicole into surgery.

Minutes later, a doctor burst out, panic-stricken. "She's hemorrhaging! Does anyone have Type A blood?"

Andrew shoved past the nurses, ripping off his IV. "I do. Take mine!"

"But sir, your condition—"

"Shut up and do it! Now!"

Bag after bag filled the tray. His face went ghostly white.

Andrew didn't collapse until the doctors confirmed Nicole was safe. The second the words left their mouths, his body gave out, and they wheeled him into emergency care.

Lena couldn't watch anymore. She turned and walked away.

He loved Nicole—more than his own life.

If she had realized that in her past life, would things have ended differently? Would she have been spared all that pain?

She had changed so much this time, yet Nicole still ended up in that car accident. And it all traced back to those letters and drawings.

But how? She had destroyed them.

The only person who could have kept them, only to expose them at the worst possible moment... was Nicole.

But why? She already had Andrew.

Lena didn't understand. And she wasn't sure she wanted to.

***

For three days, Lena drifted in a daze.

Then Andrew was discharged.

And the first thing he did? Have his bodyguards throw her into the cold storage room.

The second she hit the frozen floor, the chill sank deep into her bones.

Surrounded by nothing but icy white, she let out a bitter laugh.

She couldn't even remember the last time she'd felt this kind of cold. Ever since she'd fallen into that frozen lake as a kid, her body had never fully recovered—always weak, always sensitive to the cold. That's why the mansion was kept warm year-round.

And now, Andrew was using it against her.

A punishment—for not giving up on him. For hurting Nicole.

Lena curled into herself, trying to hold onto whatever warmth she had left. It was useless. Her body shook, muffled whimpers escaping her lips.

Outside, a maid hesitated before whispering, "Ms. Clermont, why don't you just apologize? If you keep this up... your body won't be able to take it."

Lena's eyes burned red.

In her past life, she had been wrong. She'd deserved it.

But this time? She hadn't done anything. What was she supposed to apologize for?

And even if she did, Andrew wouldn't care. His heart was Nicole's. It always had been.

The freezing air clawed at her from all sides. Frost formed on her lashes.

Her heartbeat slowed. Her thoughts blurred.

Then everything went dark.