This Time, She Walked Away First

Lena didn't take Andrew's words that day seriously.

She just waited for her immigration papers to go through so she could leave.

But Nicole wouldn't let her go so easily.

That day, Nicole insisted on taking her shopping. But not long after they got in the car, Lena blacked out.

When she came to, she was tied up on a cliffside overlooking the ocean.

A few feet away, Nicole was bound the same way.

Lena struggled, trying to ask why, but the tape over her mouth turned her words into muffled whimpers.

Nicole sneered. "Lena, I didn't want to do this. But after what Andrew said that day, I had to be sure. So I set up a little test—let's see who he chooses."

Cold dread seeped into Lena's bones.

Did this even need testing? The answer was obvious.

Soon, Andrew arrived, tossing two briefcases full of cash forward. His eyes burned with fury. "I brought the money. Let them go."

But the kidnappers, acting under Nicole's orders, didn't budge. One of them smirked. "Mr. Rohan, I didn't do this for the money."

Andrew's jaw tightened. "Then what do you want?"

The man placed a hand on both women's shoulders, grinning. "I heard one of them is your friend's daughter, and the other is your fiancée. You can only save one. The other..." He chuckled. "Becomes shark food."

With that, he loosened the ropes just enough for them to teeter dangerously on the edge.

Nicole went pale, her voice shaking. "Andrew, save me! I don't want to die!"

Andrew's chest tightened. "Don't touch Nicole!"

There it was. The answer.

Satisfied, the kidnappers grinned. Even Nicole, who'd been faking terror, finally relaxed.

She turned to Andrew, eyes full of fake gratitude.

But Andrew wasn't looking at her anymore. His gaze had shifted to Lena.

He expected her to break down, to beg. But she just stayed there—eerily calm.

For some reason, that unsettled him more than anything.

Before he could speak, a sudden weight pressed against him—Nicole had been untied and flung herself into his arms.

Instinctively, he caught her. "Nicole..."

Then his eyes widened.

At that exact moment, Lena's ropes were cut too—sending her plunging straight into the sea.

A loud splash.

The waves swallowed her whole, dragging her down.

She kicked, fought to surface, but exhaustion clung to her like chains, pulling her deeper.

Her eyelids grew heavy... until darkness took over.

***

When Lena woke up in the hospital, the first thing she saw was Andrew sitting beside her bed.

Bloodshot eyes. Unshaven stubble. He'd been there for days.

But she didn't need him anymore.

Their eyes met, heavy with unspoken words.

Lena was the first to break the silence.

"Uncle Andrew, you don't need to stay here. Go check on Nicole—she needs you more."

Perhaps sensing her words might seem too cold, she added, "I can take care of myself."

Andrew froze, staring at her with an unreadable expression.

After a long pause, he finally stood and walked away.

Lena's discharge day just had to be Nicole's birthday.

Since it was their first one as a couple, Andrew went all out. A hundred thousand roses from Flandora flooded the venue. Expensive gifts were piled in the corners like afterthoughts. From the entrance to the ballroom, every display screamed them—photos of their picture-perfect romance.

Fireworks lit up the sky as the party hit its peak. Andrew twirled Nicole across the dance floor in a flawless waltz, the massive screen behind them looping their sweetest moments. Guests watched in awe, practically swooning at the fairytale.

And then—

The screen cut to black.

A second later, handwritten love letters and sketches flickered into view. One after another. Lena's letters. Lena's sketches.

Her feelings for Andrew, spilled out for everyone to see.

Silence hit first. Then chaos.

Lena went rigid, blood draining from her face. She'd destroyed all of those. So why—how—were they here?

Her body screamed at her to move, to do something, but she stood frozen as whispers stabbed through the air.

"Mr. Rohan's about to get married, and she's still clinging to him? Shameless."

"On Nicole's birthday? She's practically declaring war."

"Even after they're married, she'll always be lurking in the background. Poor Ms. Jenner."

The murmurs swelled, finally reaching the couple on the dance floor.

Nicole's face went ghost-white.

She trembled, eyes darting straight to Lena—the obvious culprit. Tears brimmed before she yanked up her gown and bolted.

"Nicole!"

Andrew's chest tightened. Instinct said run after her.

But then his gaze landed on Lena—motionless, stunned.

He stopped cold.

And without a second thought, his hand snapped up.

Slap!

The sound cut through the ballroom.

Silence.

Andrew's voice was razor-sharp. "Lena Clermont, I was wondering why you've been so well-behaved. Turns out you were just WAITING for this moment."