They could have at least tried to reason with her.

But instead...

"They thought I was reckless," she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling with suppressed anger.

The more she thought about it, the more it burned.

Her thoughts spiraled uncontrollably, each one darker than the last.

And then... Thessy

That name alone was enough to ignite something violent inside her.

’That girl...’

Her mind replayed everything Lucian had said.

’If what he said is true... then she knew. She knew everything in my previous life... and still chose to act like his girlfriend.’

A sharp, unbearable pain pierced through her chest.

’I can’t... I can’t accept that.’

Her vision blurred slightly as rage took over.

"That bitch..." she whispered, her voice filled with venom. "She ruined my life once... and now she’s doing it again."

Her murderous intent surged, rising like a tide that refused to be held back.

’I can’t stay quiet anymore.’

Her body moved before her thoughts could catch up.

She began searching frantically around her room, pulling open drawers, her hands trembling as she looked for something, anything, that could serve as a weapon.

A knife. Anything sharp.

Her mind had already crossed the line.

’I’ll find her... I’ll end this... even if it kills me.’

Her breathing turned uneven, almost ragged.

’So be it... even if I die... I’ll take her down with me.’

Just as her thoughts reached their peak...a voice cut through.

"Stop."

Mr. Crow, who had been perched quietly on her shoulder, suddenly spoke, his tone firm.

"This... is exactly why Lucian didn’t tell you the truth earlier."

Lana’s movements halted.

Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Don’t start siding with him now," she snapped. "Do you even realize he failed me as a boyfriend?"

Mr. Crow shrugged slightly, unfazed.

"Maybe he failed as a boyfriend," he replied calmly. "But as someone who loves you... he didn’t."

Lana glared at him, disbelief and irritation flashing across her face.

Mr. Crow continued, his voice steady.

"I’m not here to defend him blindly," he said. "But I understand one thing... he would never knowingly put your life in danger." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

He tilted his head slightly, observing her.

"I don’t know much about your previous life," he admitted.

"But I can see the difference now. This version of him... he understands you. He knows what would break you, what you can endure, and what would push you over the edge."

He paused briefly before adding,

"If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t have told you the truth at all."

Lana let out a bitter laugh.

"Oh, great," she said sarcastically. "So I should be grateful now? Should I start worshipping him too?"

Mr. Crow shook his head.

"You’re being unreasonable."

Her expression hardened instantly.

"Don’t try to gaslight me," she shot back. "Even if he had told me earlier, you could have stopped me if I did something reckless. You knew everything too, didn’t you?"

Her voice rose, trembling with emotion.

"And yet all of you chose to hide it."

Her fists clenched tighter.

"And what about him?" she continued. "Why did he have to act like that with Thessy? Acting innocent... pretending... flirting..."

Her words trailed off, but the anger in her eyes only intensified.

Mr. Crow fell silent for a moment.

Then he spoke more gently.

"Calm down, Lana."

That was the last thing she wanted to hear.

"I don’t want to hear it," she snapped. "I don’t even want him as my boyfriend anymore."

Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone.

Her fingers moved quickly across the screen.

Block.

"I’m done," she muttered.

She tossed the phone aside, walked to the door, locked it firmly, and then threw herself onto the bed, pulling the covers over her head as if trying to shut out the entire world.

Mr. Crow let out a quiet sigh.

’Whatever happens now... she’ll have to face it herself.’

........

The next morning came. But Lana didn’t come out.

She didn’t speak. She didn’t respond.

From outside, Axel had knocked on her door once... twice... three times.

"Lana?" he called softly. "Are you okay? Do you want something to eat?"

There was no answer.

After confirming through subtle means that she was physically fine, he could only leave reluctantly.

Inside, Lana remained curled up, her room dim and silent.

Hours turned into a day.

Then another. For two entire days, she stayed locked inside, shutting herself away from everything.

The reason was simple.

She felt betrayed. And at the same time... she felt hollow.

’I was wronged... but I don’t even know where to direct this anger.’

Mr. Crow watched quietly, understanding the storm within her.

’Anyone in her position would break like this...’

A woman had ruined her life once. Now, in this life, the same person was doing it again.

And the people around her... the ones she trusted had known all along yet said nothing.

’That kind of pain... is not something you can easily process.’

He didn’t argue anymore.

He simply stayed, occasionally speaking softly, trying to steady her when her thoughts drifted too far.

................

Two days later, the storm inside Lana finally began to settle.

When she opened the door, Axel was already nearby.

He had been lingering around the hallway repeatedly over the past two days, checking on her, knocking occasionally, and even trying different approaches just to get a response.

The moment he saw her relief flooded his face.

"Lana!"

He rushed forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

"I was so worried about you," he said, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Lana didn’t react.

She stood there silently, her arms hanging loosely at her sides.

After a moment, Axel pulled back, studying her face carefully.

"Do you want to go out?" he asked gently. "Maybe get some ice cream?"

Lana shook her head. "I don’t feel like it."

Her voice was calm... but distant.

Without waiting for him, she walked past him and headed toward the dining table.

She didn’t say much. She didn’t look at him.

After finishing, she stood up. "I’m heading out," she said.