Elena was about to end the phone call, but as if Lydia knew what she was going to do, she spoke up.
"Do you still blame your father and me for your mother's death?"
"There's no need to bring up something we already know the truth about," Elena replied coldly. "Why are you calling me?"
Elena could hear Lydia exhale deeply.
"Your father and I, we both—"
Tuuttt... tuuttt...
Elena immediately ended the call and blocked Lydia's number. But she knew that as long as Lydia had her number, she would keep calling from a different one.
Elena sat in silence, wondering why Lydia had reached out after all these years. Ever since she left the Shine family, she had convinced herself that she no longer had any family. The only family member she had ever loved was her mother. But for some reason, when Elena was still in high school, her mother gradually changed, slipping into depression until the end of her life.
At first, Elena didn't understand what had caused her mother's suffering, but soon after her mother passed away, her father announced that he was going to marry his secretary—Lydia.
Maybe it was a daughter's instinct, or simply a woman's intuition, but Elena realized that her mother's depression had been caused by her father's relationship with Lydia.
Because what woman could accept being betrayed like that?
"What's wrong?"
Darian's voice suddenly broke Elena's train of thought. She turned toward him, slightly startled. Fresh from the shower, he was wearing nothing but a bathrobe.
"What's wrong, baby?"
he asked again as he sat beside her, gently caressing her face.
Elena gave him a small, forced smile and shook her head.
"It's nothing,"
she replied, trying to act normal.
But Darian, who knew her too well, could tell that something was wrong. She was exuding an aura of sadness and despair.
Something must have happened while he was in the shower. He had thought that after last night—after they had finally taken their relationship to the next level—the morning would be filled with warmth and romance.
But instead, here she was, frozen on the bed, surrounded by a dark and melancholic air.
If it weren't for the phone in her hand, Darian might have assumed that she was upset because he hadn't satisfied her last night. But that thought was immediately dismissed. Someone had called her while he was in the shower, and whoever it was had made her sad.
Darian didn't know who it was, but he was determined to make them pay for upsetting Elena.
_______________________
"S!!"
As Serena stepped out of her class, Iril suddenly called out to her from a distance.
Serena smiled at her and walked over.
"What's up?"
she asked, puzzled, as she touched her face, realizing that Iril was staring at her intently.
"Do you like someone right now?"
Iril asked instead of answering her question.
Serena raised an eyebrow, confused. It was unusual for Iril to talk about feelings.
"Answer me honestly! Why are you asking that?"
Serena countered, ignoring his question.
"Can't I just be curious?"
Iril said, pouting slightly.
Serena chuckled.
"If you like someone, Ril, you should first learn everything about them. Don't just look at how they act in public—you need to see how they treat their friends and family too," she advised.
Iril rolled his eyes. Serena was giving relationship advice even though she was single.
"Serena, you're still single, yet you're lecturing me on love,"
Iril said, half-jokingly.
Serena paused. When she realized Iril was right, she laughed softly.
"Ahh... sometimes I forget that I'm still a college student, not the grown woman I used to be in my past life," she thought.
"So, who do you like?" Serena asked again, curious.
"I don't like anyone!" Iril dodged.
"Then why did you ask me that?"
"I was just curious, okay?! I just wanted to know if you like someone, and if you do, who it is. If not, then I'm still curious about the kind of guy you like," Iril rambled.
"Ohhhhhh..." Serena responded simply.
After waiting for her to elaborate, Iril realized she wasn't going to add anything. SHe was left speechless. Sometimes, she wondered how their friendship had lasted this long.
"So, do you or don't you?" Iril asked again, a bit annoyed.
"I don't," Serena answered bluntly.
"What's your type, then?"
Serena thought for a moment.
If she was being honest, she had never really considered the type of man she wanted to date. Even in her previous life, she had never been in a relationship because she was too focused on work.
Why?
Because keeping busy helped her forget—even if only for a moment—that Elena was gone.
"I don't really have a type," Serena finally replied. "As long as he's loyal, kind, respectful, and responsible."
"That's such a realistic answer!" Iril protested. "What about his looks? His height? I want details!"
"Well, if he's handsome, tall, rich, kind, honest, loyal, and responsible, of course I'd want him! Only a crazy girl would turn down a guy like that," Serena snapped.
"Good point," Iril admitted. "But what if he's a few years older than you?"
Serena narrowed her eyes at her.
From the beginning, it seemed like Iril was fishing for information about her.
It was starting to feel like someone had a crush on her and had sent Iril to find out about her type.
"So... who likes me?" Serena finally asked, skipping straight to the point.
Iril's eyes widened. SHe hadn't expected her to catch on so quickly.
"So...??" Serena pressed, a little more forcefully.
Iril went silent.
SHe had no idea how to answer.