"At first, I thought they were just guests visiting the estate. However, the woman named Marissa got my father into gambling debt and caused him to pass away from the shock of it all. As for Glock—"
Alen, having run out of patience, cut her off. "Enough. That's a difficult story to hear."
Rosalyn wiped away a tear and said, "I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable, sir."
He got straight to the point. "So, where are they now?"
Rosalyn's eyes widened as she replied, "I don't know their current whereabouts, but I'm certain they haven't gotten very far from here."
Alen suddenly grew pensive. Just then, Rosalyn added with a small smile, "Glock will definitely come back here."
At that, he turned to question her. "Why are you so certain?"
Rosalyn's face flushed as she explained, "This is rather embarrassing, but I was actually romantically involved with Glock, even though it ended a long time ago. But when he learns that another man has come looking for the woman he once loved—"
Alen seemed to understand. "Ah, are you implying that my visit might provoke Glock?"
Rosalyn quickly confirmed, "Yes, exactly. Glock Lariston is an extremely possessive man."
Hearing this, Alen simply bowed his head and smirked. "That's an interesting theory."
Rosalyn quickly added, "I'm not lying, sir. Anyone would feel that way, seeing someone they once loved with another person."
Alen interrupted her with a soft smile. "I wasn't referring to that. If Glock approaches you, notify me at once. I will pay off all your debts. In exchange, come with me to my mansion in the capital. That dangerous man could harm you, too."
Rosalyn cried out in complete shock, "Sir."
Then he looked her straight in the eye and asked, "Does everyone who loves someone feel jealous like Glock, without any exception?"
Rosalyn replied, confused, "Yes."
A faint blush appeared on Alen's face. "When you see someone you used to love with someone else, does that feeling of possessiveness always surface?"
After hearing his question, she nodded in affirmation. "Yes, it's the same feeling for both women and men."
This seemed to satisfy Alen greatly. "Very good."
The more she spoke, the more he wanted to bring Miss Rosalyn to the mansion in the capital. Alen wanted to confirm Helena's love through Rosalyn's presence. He hoped Helena would get jealous and beg for his love more. So he brought Rosalyn to the villa.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady. I am Rosalyn Parido."
This left the past Laya utterly bewildered. Helena couldn't help but think Alen had found a new woman. She replied, flustered, "Yes, I am Helena Thodell."
She and Alen were only a married couple by an arranged contract, not by true love. Alen acted as if he loved Rosalyn to provoke Helena. He started going for walks and organizing picnics with only Rosalyn, things he had never done with Helena before. When laughter echoed from Alen's bedroom at night, Helena felt completely abandoned.
That night, Rosalyn widened her round eyes and said, "Well then, if you'll excuse me, I'll be going now."
The past Laya could only watch her retreating figure, her hand on her skirt clenching slightly.
Regardless of the answer she might receive, Helena wanted to ask Alen about his true feelings, whether he had brought Rosalyn into the mansion because he wanted her to leave completely. If that were true, Helena would disappear from Alen's life immediately, regardless of the agreed-upon term of three years.
As soon as the door opened, a confused Alen spoke. "Rosalyn, I told you to go back to your room."
The past Laya spoke flustered, "I'm sorry, it's not Rosalyn, it's me. Alen, were you waiting for Rosalyn?"
Her appearance clearly flustered him. Alen was also embarrassed as she bowed, saying, "I apologize for coming uninvited. If it's not too much trouble, may I ask you one thing?"
Alen looked at her, bewildered, and asked back, "What is it?"
The past Laya's hand tightened on her skirt as she asked, "I'm not sure if I have the right to ask, but why did you bring Rosalyn into the mansion?"
Alen slightly averted his gaze and replied, "As I have said many times, Rosalyn is a distant relative of mine and is facing hardship, so she is only staying here for a short while."
The past Laya's eyes slowly started to well up. "It's okay. Please just be honest with me. I already know you're Rosalyn's guardian."
This left Alen completely baffled. "Helena."
She proposed in a trembling voice, "I'm sorry. It's truly shameless of me, but could you please tell me the truth? That you don't want to see me anymore and want me to disappear from your life?"
Alen shot to his feet, pulled her into a tight hug, and cried out, "Helena."
Completely bewildered, she asked back, "Alen."
He then said sadly, "I'm sorry."
The past Laya grew bewildered. "Why? Why is this happening?"
He hesitated before answering. "If I had been honest about my feelings from the very beginning, perhaps you wouldn't have had to be hurt this much."
Throughout that night, Alen and Helena revealed all the feelings they had hidden for so long. Alen explained with great tension, "Helena, to be honest, even now, I still hate you for using my mother to threaten me back then."
Then she remained silent after hearing this, not knowing what to say. Alen tried to relieve his own awkwardness by drinking a lot of water, and then he confessed, "But despite that, I still love you very much."
The past Laya blurted out in confusion, "What? Are you telling the truth?"
Alen confirmed, extremely flustered, "That's right. It's funny, isn't it? I can't even understand myself."
And so, both Helena and Alen had realized it that day: that even though it had started from resentment, their negative feelings for each other had completely melted away like snow.
Laya from her past life gently reached out to touch Alen's face, and he just stared in anticipation. She slowly leaned in toward his face, and that day was their first truly intimate night together.