/ POV Sana /
Lata's expression darkened.
"…I remember my past life."
Her voice trembled.
"In that world… I loved someone."
Her hands clenched tightly.
"…But I abandoned him."
Sana listened in silence.
His face unreadable.
[No way…]
Lata looked straight into his eyes.
"And now…"
"…you're just like him."
Tears streamed down her face as she grabbed his hand desperately.
"I don't want to lose you again…"
Sana's body stiffened.
A fragment of memory—
Pain.
Regret.
Loneliness.
His voice trembled.
"…You're Quana."
Lata froze.
Then—
Her expression broke.
Relief.
Happiness.
Desperation.
She threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly.
"I found you…"
"I won't lose you again!"
"…Stop."
His voice was cold.
Too cold.
Lata froze.
[This girl… ruined everything.]
"I'm sorry…!" she cried.
"This is my fault—please, just give me another chance—"
Sana's chest tightened.
Pain spread slowly.
"For some reason…"
His voice softened—just a little.
"I don't want to see you right now."
"I need time."
He looked away.
"But you don't have another chance."
Silence.
"My heart…"
"…has already been taken."
"There's no way you can take it back."
Lata's hands trembled.
But she slowly let go.
Then—
She smiled.
Determined.
Broken.
"I won't give up."
Sana's eyes darkened.
[Why now…?]
[Why did you come back… at this time?]
[I wished you never abandoned me…]
[But even now…]
[I can't forgive you.]
"…Don't tell anyone about this."
His voice turned serious again.
[Especially… Alice.]
[If she finds out…]
[It'll become a nightmare.]
Lata nodded slightly, her face flushed.
"…This is our secret."
[Why won't you give up…?]
[Is it guilt?]
[Or… love?]
/ POV Alice /
In her room—
Alice lay silently on her bed.
Her phone rested beside her ear.
She heard everything.
Every word.
Every breath.
Her expression slowly darkened.
"…So she came back."
Her lips curled slightly.
Not in sadness.
Not in anger.
But in excitement.
"I knew that rat would appear eventually."
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
Light.
Sweet.
Twisted.
"No choice then…"
"I'll just have to destroy her."
Her eyes gleamed—
Cold.
Obsessive.
"I wonder…"
Her voice softened.
"…what kind of face she'll make when everything is taken from her?"
She covered her mouth, giggling.
"So exciting…"
"In the novels…"
"…this is always the best part."
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
"I finally understand…"
"This feeling…"
"Love."
A pause.
"…Right?"
Her smile widened—
Unnaturally.
"If I destroy everything around him…"
"…he'll only have me left."
"That means…"
"He'll love me."
A quiet laugh echoed in the room.
"I'm crazy…"
"…aren't I?"
"But I like it."
"I really like this feeling."
/ Outside the Room /
Her father stood frozen.
A cloth still in his hand.
He had heard everything.
A cold sweat ran down his back.
[Is she…]
[Still my daughter…?]