"Ah! Did you miss me that much? I only left for two days."
Lily laughed lightly, her voice warm and teasing, completely unaware of the storm raging inside the person in front of her.
Noah froze.
"…Ah?"
The sound slipped out of him, hollow and uncertain.
Slowly, he loosened his grip and pulled away from her, his eyes widening as if seeing her for the very first time. His gaze traveled from her face down to her shoulders, her arms, every small detail, almost desperately, as if trying to confirm she was real.
Alive.
Unharmed.
Unchanged.
She looked exactly like he remembered, no, not like the version burned into his memories of loss and grief, but like the Lily from before everything collapsed. The Lily who was still learning how to handle the family business, who would complain about long meetings and secretly sneak sweets into her office drawer.
Not the Lily who died protecting him.
Not the Lily whose blood he .
"Sis…" His voice softened, almost fragile. "…how old are you?"
The question came out so abruptly that even he didn't realize how strange it sounded until it was already too late.
Lily blinked.
"What?"
Her brows furrowed immediately as she stepped closer, studying him carefully.
"You- are you okay? Why are you acting so weird today?"
She lifted her hand and placed it on his forehead, checking his temperature like she always did whenever he looked even slightly off.
But Noah didn't respond.
His expression remained serious...
Before she could pull her hand back, he caught it.
His grip wasn't tight, but there was something in it that made her pause.
Something unfamiliar.
"I'm asking seriously."
His voice was low.
Steady.
Lily stared at him for a moment, then sighed.
"I'm twenty-eight this year, you moron."
Her tone was annoyed, but there was still warmth in it.
Still life.
Noah's fingers slowly loosened.
Twenty-eight.
That meant,
His thoughts spiraled instantly.
'She died when she was thirty…
And I was twenty-one…'
A sharp breath caught in his throat.
That means…
His pupils trembled.
'I'm nineteen again.'
The realization hit him like a wave crashing down without warning.
He had gone back.
Back to a time before everything was destroyed.
Back to when his family...
Was still alive.
His heart started pounding uncontrollably.
Without another word, he turned and ran.
"Noah? Hey, where are you going now?!"
Lily's voice called out behind him, filled with confusion, but he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
His legs moved faster than his thoughts, his chest tightening with every step as he rushed down the stairs.
He wasn't just walking anymore.
He was running.
Running toward something he had already lost once.
Please…
The silent plea echoed in his mind.
Let it be real.
The living room came into view.
Empty.
His steps faltered for a second.
Then he turned immediately.
The kitchen.
He knew where she would be.
His mother
Even though the house was filled with servants, his mother always preferred to spend time in the kitchen herself. She said it made the house feel more like a home.
And just like he remembered...
She was there.
Standing by the counter, calmly preparing something as the morning light streamed in through the window, wrapping around her figure like a quiet embrace.
Noah stopped.
He didn't move closer.
Didn't call out.
He just stood there, staring.
His vision blurred slightly.
'She's alive…God, thanks! Thank g-oh-d!'
The simple truth felt unreal.
Painfully unreal.
For a moment, he wanted to run to her, to hug her, to confirm that she wasn't just something his mind created to comfort him.
But he didn't.
Instead, he turned away.
His steps were slower this time as he walked back toward the living room, his emotions barely contained.
It's real.
His hands trembled slightly.
They're all alive.
And then...
Another thought surfaced.
Cold.
Sharp.
And so is he.
William.
The name alone was enough to make his chest tighten.
The man who had smiled sweetly while weaving a trap around him.
The man who had destroyed everything he loved.
Back then, Noah had been blind.
William had approached him like a perfect lover...attentive, charming, protective. A young master from a powerful family, someone everyone admired.
And Noah,
Had trusted him.
Had even agreed to marry him without hesitation.
Because he thought it was love.
But it wasn't.
It was calculation.
A carefully planned scheme to take everything from him, a money hungry monster...
"Noah! Where is William? Why did you come down alone today?"
A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Noah looked up.
Standing in front of him was his elder brother.
Tall, composed, with the same fair complexion as Lily, carrying an air of quiet authority. Among the siblings, he was the most reliable the one everyone depended on.
The one who had also...
Died.
"…Ah."
Noah forced himself to stay calm.
"I… had a nightmare. I just came down to get some fresh air."
The lie came out naturally.
His brother studied him for a moment, then sighed, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
"If you need fresh air, go to the garden. Don't wander around like a ghost."
The familiar gesture made Noah's chest tighten again.
"…Yeah."
His voice was quieter now.
"But I should go back and wake him up."
He stepped away before his emotions could betray him any further.
Before he could break.
Standing in front of his room, Noah hesitated.
His hand hovered near the doorknob.
This door...
It felt heavier than before.
Because behind it,
Was the person he hated the most.
The person he once loved.
At this point in time, William was still just his lover.
They weren't married yet.
The proposal had been brought up, but Noah hadn't officially agreed.
Back then, he hadn't seen a reason to refuse.
Now,
Everything was different.
His gaze hardened slightly.
This time…
He took a slow breath.
I won't make the same mistake.
He knocked.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Noah? Is that you? Come in."
The voice came from inside.
Calm.
Familiar.
Disgustingly normal.
Noah pushed the door open.
And there he was.
William.
Standing casually, reaching for his clothes as if it were just another ordinary morning.
But Noah's eyes...
Were cold.
For a brief moment, their gazes met.
A flicker of confusion passed through William's eyes.
"Why do you look so different?" he asked, stepping closer. "Did something happen?"
Noah turned his face slightly, avoiding his gaze.
"Nothing. I just had a nightmare."
His tone was flat.
"You're late. Get ready."
William paused.
Then smiled faintly.
"Yeah… but before that, I have a question."
He continued dressing as he spoke, his tone casual, but there was a hint of something else beneath it.
"What is it?" Noah asked, pretending disinterest.
William glanced at him.
"What if we get married soon?"
Silence.
For a split second, Noah's heartbeat spiked.
The same question.
The same timing.
Just like before.
But this time...
His answer was different.
"…Why?"
William blinked.
"And I haven't agreed yet."
The words landed heavily.
William froze.
"…What?"
That was new.
Completely new.
"You don't… like me?"
There was disbelief in his voice.
Because the Noah he knew...
Would never say something like that.
Would never hesitate.
But this Noah?
Was different.
"I need time to think," Noah said calmly. "You should go. I have things to do."
He didn't look at him.
Didn't soften his tone.
Didn't give him anything to hold onto.
For the first time...
He drew a line.
Finally.
William stared at him for a long moment.
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
Then, slowly, he finished dressing and walked toward the door.
But before leaving,
He glanced back.
His gaze lingered.
Dark.
Calculating.
'How dare you reject me?'
A faint smile touched his lips.
'But, it's not a problem. It's so easy to make you fall in love anyway.'
The door closed.
And the room fell silent.
Noah stood still for a long moment.
Then slowly,
His expression changed.
The hesitation faded.
The softness disappeared.
What remained...
Was something sharper.
Colder.
"…This time," he whispered.
His fingers clenched tightly at his sides.
"I'll destroy you first."