She didn’t wait for Axel to offer to drop her.

She didn’t call for the usual driver.

Instead, she stepped outside, booked a cab, and left.

’It’s better this way,’ she thought. ’I need space.’

On the way, she even made a decision.

’I’ll buy my own car today.’

When she arrived at the university, the atmosphere felt... different.

"What happened?" Fay gently tugged at her sleeve. "Why does it feel like something’s wrong between you and Axel?"

Lana paused for a moment.

Then she forced a small chuckle.

"It’s nothing," she said lightly. "Just... something personal. I need a little time to sort out my feelings."

Her friends exchanged glances but didn’t push further.

After leaving the university that day, Lana did not hesitate.

She went straight to a showroom.

"I’ll take this one," she said, pointing at a sleek car without even bargaining.

The staff was momentarily stunned by her decisiveness but quickly processed the purchase.

Not stopping there, she also finalized the purchase of an apartment the very same day.

’If I stay there... I’ll keep getting dragged back into everything,’ she thought, her gaze cold. ’I need space... somewhere that’s just mine.’

By the time she drove to her new apartment, the sun had already begun to set.

Mr. Crow remained perched quietly beside her, unusually silent.

He didn’t interrupt. He didn’t persuade.

He understood that right now, Lana didn’t need guidance... she needed space without judgment.

After entering the apartment, Lana didn’t even bother to explore much.

She walked straight to the bedroom and let herself fall onto the bed.

The mattress dipped under her weight. Her eyes felt heavy.

As she lay there, her fingers brushed against the jade bracelet on her wrist, the one Lucian had given her.

For a moment, she stared at it. ’This... again...’

Without hesitation, she removed it and placed it on the table beside her.

Mr. Crow immediately stiffened.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked.

But Lana didn’t respond.

Within seconds, exhaustion dragged her into sleep.

That night, it came again, the nightmare.

Her body twisted unnaturally as invisible forces tore at her limbs. A burning sensation crawled under her flesh, as if something were eating her from the inside.

She tried to scream... but no sound came out.

’I don’t want this... not again...’

Her vision blurred as tears streamed down her face even in sleep.

’I just... want it to stop...’

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

She woke up abruptly.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her entire body drenched in sweat.

For a moment, she didn’t move.

She just lay there, staring at the ceiling, her breath uneven.

’It’s over... I’m still here...’

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then another. Slowly, her heartbeat steadied.

"I won’t go through that again," she whispered to herself.

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

That night, she didn’t allow herself to rest again.

Instead, she got up, made a simple dinner, and then sat down to work.

The faint glow of talismans lit up the room as she began crafting them one by one.

Her hands moved steadily, her expression focused.

’I need strength... I can’t afford to be weak.’

The next day at the university... Axel was already waiting.

The moment he saw her, relief and worry flashed across his face.

He walked straight toward her and grabbed her hand.

"Come with me."

Before she could react, he led her into an empty classroom.

The door shut behind them with a soft click.

Axel turned to her, his expression serious.

"I know you’re hurt," he said, his voice firm. "But that doesn’t mean you get to push us away like this. That’s not right."

Lana let out a soft chuckle, though there was no humor in it.

"Oh?" she said. "So now you understand that cutting people off is wrong?"

Her gaze sharpened. "Then what about hiding the truth from me?"

Axel fell silent.

For a moment, he looked almost helpless.

"We just wanted to protect you," he said quietly.

Lana didn’t respond immediately.

Axel hesitated before asking softly,

"Don’t you have any secrets... that you’ve kept from me?"

Lana instinctively opened her mouth.

"I don’t..."

But the words stopped. Her mind flashed. Her past life.

The truth she had never told anyone.

She froze. Axel noticed. A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"There are many things about you that don’t add up," he said gently. "You’re too mature... too strong... too different from before."

He looked at her, his eyes soft.

"But I chose not to ask," he continued. "Because I believe... whatever it is, you have your reasons for keeping it hidden."

He took a small step closer.

"That’s all we did, too," he said. "We kept something from you... because we were afraid you’d get hurt."

His voice lowered. "We didn’t want to lose you."

Hearing those words, something inside Lana softened.

"I understand," she said quietly. "I just... need some time."

Axel exhaled in relief. He didn’t push further.

From that point onward, Lana began responding again.

Not much. But enough.

Meanwhile, Lucian was on the verge of losing his mind.

The moment he received the breakup message, it felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath his feet.

He had called her again and again. Dozens of times. No answer.

When he tried to reach her through dreams, he realized the bracelet was gone.

His expression darkened instantly.

’She took it off...’

Anger and panic surged within him.

For a moment, he even considered flying straight to her.

’I need to explain... I need to tell her everything...’

But he stopped himself. ’Would she even listen?’

A bitter feeling settled in his chest. So instead, he kept sending messages.

One after another. Like someone desperate. Like someone afraid of losing everything.

At the same time, Thessy watched.

Over the past two days, she had noticed the change in Lucian.

He was restless.

’So it worked,’ she thought, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

When she saw him texting obsessively, she finally made her move.

She quietly appeared in his room.

Lucian was standing there, his expression dark, his aura filled with suppressed anger.