It took Duyen a few hours to calm the two girls down after that chaotic dinner.
Shana and Mina wouldn't stop bickering—every word was a jab, every reply a slap. No one could really tell who started it, but Duyen didn't want the argument to keep spiraling. Even if, deep down, she knew she was the reason for it.
Mina stepped out of Duyen's bathroom wearing the see-through, dangerously sexy nightgown that Shana had given her. She looked smug, probably pleased she got to use the same bathroom as Duyen. But the outfit itself? Mina found it uncomfortable.
She almost asked Duyen for something to wear, but of course Shana refused. Mina frowned, irritation flickering in her eyes.
"She totally gave me this oversized thing on purpose…" Mina muttered.
"Oh really?" Shana suddenly appeared from nowhere, smirking.
"Or maybe your chest is just too small for it?"
Mina rolled her eyes. She was getting tired of Shana's petty little games. Her gaze swept over the red-haired girl from head to toe. Shana was only wearing lingerie—because Duyen had banned anyone from walking around naked anymore. And yeah… her chest was bigger, Mina had to admit.
She'd never cared much about size before, but being compared to that woman irritated her in a way she couldn't explain. Mina clicked her tongue, and Shana heard it.
"Hey! What's with that attitude!?" Shana snapped, hands on her hips.
"I literally gave you a brand-new nightgown that I haven't even worn yet! And now you're sulking because your boobs are smaller than mine?"
Mina folded her arms, laughing like she couldn't care less.
"Please. I've never cared about that kind of thing. I know I'm already gorgeous."
"Oh, obviously," Shana shot back sarcastically.
Mina turned toward her, eyebrow arched.
"You know, I've been wondering. Ever since I stepped into this apartment, you've been dying to pick a fight with me. What—do you think acting like this makes you win or something?"
Shana let out a low laugh, circling around her. "Why would I need to pick a fight with you…"
Then suddenly, her face moved close—dangerously close—to Mina's ear. Her voice was sweet as honey, yet carried something venomous beneath it.
"You went to see Duyen's father, didn't you? To show him how I crushed that bastard?"
Mina's eyes cut sideways, cold and steady. Not an ounce of fear. Her mind was eerily calm.
"The way you murdered my people, you mean? Thanks for reminding me. I'm honestly surprised he still defends you after everything you've done. What did you do to his head, Shana?"
Shana chuckled, taking a few slow steps forward, hands behind her back.
"You really have a talent for making things up. Sure, manipulation—it's easy for me. But I didn't touch him. He just acted based on what he thought was best… for his daughter's safety."
"Duyen's safety?" Mina's eyes narrowed, disgust coloring her voice.
"From a monster like you? Don't make me laugh."
The smile on Shana's face didn't fade—it only twisted into something darker. A faint blue gleam flickered in her eyes.
"A monster and a married woman… Oh, come on, Mina. Look at us. We're both disasters."
Her strange blue eyes pierced right through Mina, as if she could see every ugly shadow buried inside her. Mina felt an invisible pressure pushing against her chest, but her mind stayed sharp. Her cold gaze didn't waver.
"No matter what, my resolve won't change."
Shana chuckled, her tone teasing.
"You know, I could kill you in the blink of an eye. So how come you're still standing here? Hm? But fine… I'm actually curious to see what you'll do next."
Mina brushed past her, pretending not to care. But then Shana's voice trailed after her.
"You might not like this, but let me give you a little advice—why don't you ask Duyen directly?"
Mina froze for half a second, then kept walking. Shana grinned triumphantly.
"And hey, try not to sneak into Duyen's room at night, alright?!"
Mina ignored her completely, storming into the guest room and slamming the door shut. Shana laughed as if the outburst entertained her… but the laughter slowly faded.
Something uneasy had started to bloom inside her. She tried to hide it behind her playful, cunning smile, but the truth was—
Even Shana wasn't sure anymore.
In the end… who would Duyen choose?
Even though their souls were bound together by a pact, Shana still cared about Duyen's true feelings. She'd never felt this nervous before.
Maybe this was… fear.
On the other side of the door, Mina sat down slowly, her back sliding against the cold wood—lost in thought.
---
It was around midnight when the sky suddenly broke open. Rain poured down in sheets, accompanied by thunder that shook the trees outside the window. Even with the soundproof penthouse walls, the storm's fury still echoed faintly through the glass.
Mina lay wide awake. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, refusing to close.
It wasn't because she couldn't sleep in a new place — no.
It was because she was still overflowing with restless energy.
She had come all the way here, gone through all the trouble, and somehow managed to stay at Duyen's place — even though it wasn't part of her original plan. How could she just let the night go to waste like this?
A small pout crossed her lips as she turned on the bed, hugging her pillow.
The thought of being close to Duyen made her heart race.
That mint scent clinging to Duyen's body… it was addictive.
Mina wanted to hold her, bury her face in her chest, to do the kind of things only lovers were allowed to do.
But she was stuck in a room far away from Duyen, her chest tight with frustration and longing.
And Shana's words — those lingering, poisonous whispers — refused to leave her mind. Something inside urged her to go find Duyen right now, but another part trembled with fear.
What if Duyen didn't feel the same anymore?
No, that couldn't be. Duyen loved her. Duyen liked her.
Mina clung to that belief — and to the old diary she once found, where Duyen's feelings were laid bare. It was her only anchor now.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
She sat up, her breathing shallow, the room filled with the faint hum of the storm outside. Then she stepped out of her room.
Lightning flashed against the tall windows, followed by the low growl of thunder.
She descended the stairs quietly — and froze halfway down when she heard the sound of water being poured in the kitchen. Leaning slightly forward, Mina's heart skipped a beat.
Down there, under the soft yellow glow of the kitchen light, was Duyen.
She was wearing nothing but a black camisole and a pair of high-waisted shorts, revealing her long, pale legs.
Normally, Duyen dressed like a tomboy — rugged, cool, effortlessly stylish. But under that layer, she was still an undeniably beautiful woman.
The way her slender body leaned against the counter, her delicate features half-lit by the dim light — she looked almost unreal.
Those eyelashes… so long.
Mina's gaze drifted downward, lingering on Duyen's chest. Her throat tightened. She swallowed hard.
Then Duyen suddenly looked up. Her voice came out cautious, a little startled.
"Uh… who's there?"
Mina's face flushed instantly, as if she'd been caught doing something wrong. She straightened her posture, smoothing her long black hair over her shoulder.
"It's me… Mina."
"Oh, Mina…" Duyen's voice softened as recognition sank in.
Mina walked toward the kitchen, her beauty illuminated like a goddess descending from the heavens. Duyen felt awkward — embarrassed, even — to be seen like this.
Mina's eyes wandered briefly across the table where a few medicine strips lay scattered. She smiled faintly and sat down beside Duyen.
"You're taking cold medicine?"
Duyen chuckled weakly, nodding.
"Yeah… I'm feeling better, though. Just a few more doses and—"
Before she could finish, Mina's soft hand pressed against her forehead. Duyen froze, her face burning. But she didn't pull away.
Mina lowered her hand slowly, pouting with a hint of teasing sweetness.
"You call that 'better'? You're still burning up."
"Really?" Duyen raised her own hand to check, but she couldn't feel any difference — maybe because her own skin was just as warm.
Mina giggled. Resting her chin on her palm, she gave Duyen a lazy, sultry look.
"I bet she didn't take care of you properly, huh?"
"She" — of course — meant Shana.
Duyen couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh, she tried. But she's not great at it. You know what? She once tried cooking porridge in a rice cooker and forgot to press the start button."
Mina blinked, then laughed with her. The two of them shared a moment — trading stories about Shana's ridiculous habits and clumsy mistakes.
But gradually, Mina's smile faded. Every story, every memory — even the embarrassing ones — revolved around Shana. Jealousy flared in her chest like fire licking up dry paper.
Still, she hid it behind a composed face, forcing herself to sound casual. Her tone softened, almost wistful.
"You two seem… really close."
The subtle shift in her voice didn't go unnoticed.
Duyen paused, then nodded honestly.
"Yeah… she's strange, doesn't follow any rules. But we've been through a lot together. We've shared things — talked about things I can't talk about with anyone else."
Each word cut deeper into Mina's heart. Her jealousy, her rage, her heartbreak — they all tangled together beneath her fragile smile. Her voice dropped, trembling with restrained emotion.
"But… you and I — we went through a lot too, didn't we?"
Duyen looked at her in surprise. She hadn't expected Mina to bring that up. After a moment, she nodded.
"Yeah, we did…"
But when Mina looked into her eyes, she could see it — that flicker of hesitation, that tiny spark of avoidance.
Mina turned away, shame and bitterness rising inside her.
"…I'm sorry. Guess you don't really want to remember anything that involves me. All I ever did was bring you trouble."
"That's not true, Mina," Duyen said quickly, her voice low but sincere.
She turned away too, cheeks slightly flushed.
"Back then… I really liked you. That's why—"
Mina's eyes widened. Her heart nearly burst out of her chest. She turned to face Duyen fully, trembling with hope.
"You liked me? You still do, don't you? Right? Right?"
Duyen lowered her gaze, fingers twisting together nervously.
"…Even now… I still like you."
For a moment, Mina felt like she could explode from joy. Everything she'd dreamed of — all those fragile hopes — suddenly felt real. A wedding. A home. A family. All of it with Duyen beside her.
Her hands began to shake. She leaned forward, eyes glimmering with tears and obsession.
"Duyen… the truth is, I… I've always—"
But Duyen's next words hit her like a blade through the heart.
"…But you know, Mina. We can't."
Mina froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Her heart stopped. Then she grabbed Duyen's hand, her voice trembling, desperate.
"Can't? Why do you keep saying that? You like me — and I like you! We were meant to be together! Why do you keep denying it!?"
Duyen frowned. She hadn't expected Mina's reaction to be so intense. But even so, she forced herself to say it.
"Mina… you have a family now. And I… I've moved on. Whatever we had… it wasn't meant to last."
"What?"
That single word left Mina's lips over and over again. Her wide, empty eyes stared at Duyen as if her soul had been ripped out and thrown away — like a doll abandoned in the dark.
Mina's lips trembled as she muttered, her voice sharp with fury.
"Didn't I already tell you? My marriage with Valko was completely arranged. I never loved him! Not even a little! And you— you're only tied down because of that woman—"
"That's not what you think—"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S NOT WHAT I THINK!?"
Mina suddenly shot up from her seat, her voice rising to a scream that made Duyen flinch. She had never seen Mina like this—this terrifying, unhinged.
"Why do you and your father keep defending her, huh!? She's... she's a monster! She's a nine-tailed fox! Don't tell me you've—"
Mina's voice broke for a moment, then hardened again.
"Don't tell me you've... fallen for her?"
Duyen turned away. She hadn't expected Mina of all people to ask something like that. Mina's glare was burning, cornering her emotionally until Duyen had nowhere left to hide. She took a deep breath—then nodded.
"Yes... I like her."
"No. No way..."
Mina looked like she was about to lose her mind. She stumbled backward, knocking a chair over with a loud crash. Then she started laughing—madly, brokenly.
She clutched her head, then her chest, as if something inside her hurt too much to bear. Duyen panicked, instantly standing up.
"Mina, hey—are you okay?"
But Mina only stopped laughing. Her hand dropped from her chest. Her voice, when she spoke, was cold, too calm.
"I'm fine," she said, turning toward the kitchen.
"I can forgive you, Duyen. You're just confused. You probably don't even know what you're saying right now..."
"I'm not—"
Mina cut her off.
"Are you sure about that? Can you honestly say you're... in love with her?"
"I—"
Duyen's voice faltered. Mina let out a low, chilling laugh.
"Cat got your tongue? You know why you can't say it, don't you? Because deep down, you still have feelings for me... and you know what else?"
Duyen swallowed hard. There was something dangerous in the air, something she couldn't explain but could feel closing in. Mina was standing right in front of her, empty-handed, yet somehow terrifying.
Mina smiled—beautiful, twisted.
"I dare say I love you, Duyen. I love you so, so much..."
Duyen's eyes widened in horror. Mina was now holding a kitchen knife. The way she looked at Duyen sent chills crawling up her spine.
"Mina... why are you holding that...?"
Before Duyen could finish, Mina began speaking rapidly, almost feverishly.
"Duyen, I love you. I'm not ashamed to say it. I'm crazy about you. I could give up my family name for you. I could throw away my own bloodline. Even this marriage—I don't care about it! None of it matters... as long as I have you. This is love, Duyen. Open your eyes and see it!"
"Mina, please, calm down—"
Before she even realized it, Mina had already stepped closer—so close Duyen's back hit the counter. Mina didn't raise the knife, didn't attack her, yet her presence alone was suffocating. Duyen's heart pounded violently in her chest.
Mina finally sighed and placed the knife on the table.
"And one more thing," she said quietly. "I would never hurt you."
Relief washed over Duyen. Her shoulders sagged as she let out a shaky breath. The fear slowly turned into something else—worry, sadness.
"Mina, I—"
But Mina raised a hand to stop her. She turned away, hiding the tear that slid down her cheek.
"I know what you're going to say. You can judge me, call me wrong, call me insane. I don't care... Because this is love. Even if you don't understand it now, Duyen... I forgive you."
Then, without warning, Mina lunged forward. Duyen gasped. Mina pulled her into a tight embrace and pressed a tender kiss to her cheek.
When they pulled apart, their eyes met. Duyen's face was flushed red. Mina's fingers brushed against Duyen's lips, her voice trembling.
"This kiss... I'll save it for when we can truly be together. But for now—good night, my dear Duyen."
Mina let go and quietly walked upstairs, disappearing into her room.
Duyen sank to the floor, her body trembling. Tears burst out uncontrollably as she covered her face. There was no reason—just too much, far too much for her to bear.
Her hands shook violently. And from afar, Shana stood watching, her eyes filled with sorrow and pain for Duyen.