Everything remained the same. Nothing had changed, except for her, and someone else had taken her place.
‘You should feel the same way. I want to see you fall into despair.’
Unlike when she came in, her eyes were shining fiercely. Looking in the mirror, the markings on her neck had become so vivid that they could no longer be covered up.
Riley, who had sorted everything out, came out of the room slowly with a calm expression and demeanor different from before.
“Theo.”
Theo, upon hearing Riley call his name again, smiled and nodded. He grabbed Riley’s hand and smiled.
‘Yes, keep smiling like you know nothing.’
There won’t be many days left for him to smile like this.
Riley’s empty eyes suddenly sparkled as if they had regained life.
“Let’s go back, we… I don’t want to be here. Why am I here?”
“That’s a question I should be asking the man next to you. How did he take my wife away?”
Theo boldly pointed at Ren and shouted. He did not back down even at Ren’s furious glare.
“Someone sent me a threatening letter after you stepped out for a while. That person must be him.”
He continued to spout lies without pause. At Theo’s words, everyone except Riley let out a hollow laugh with bewildered expressions.
‘Maybe it’s for the best.’
Riley looked around. She met Ren’s eyes along the way but casually looked away.
“You have no idea how sad I was when you disappeared. I’ve been searching for you for over 2 months.’
‘Lies.’
Riley’s mouth twitched with disbelief at Theo’s words.
“I don’t remember anything. My head hurts too much.”
Riley decided to join Theo’s act. It would be easier to deceive him this way.
Theo gently wrapped his arms around Riley’s shoulders and said affectionately.
“Let’s go home. Everyone will be happy when you return.”
Riley clenched her fists but managed to hide her hands in the folds of her dress.
I tried to erase everything and escape, but… nothing has changed.
Shameless and disgusting.
Riley smiled, swallowing the words she couldn’t bring herself to spit out. The corners of her mouth quivered, but she didn’t let it show.
“I see.”
Theo shuddered at the low tone of Riley’s voice. This was what he’d been waiting for, but as far as he could tell, Riley’s memory wasn’t intact.
It was an opportunity.
Theo Riley with his affectionate voice and touch as he used to.
‘So you think we can go back to the past? You don’t seem to feel sorry for me or regret it.’
‘If that’s what you want, then let’s go back to the way things were, shall we?’
Although Riley shivered all over her body, she managed to smile faintly.
Riley, who was staring at Theo’s hand holding her hand firmly, smiled brightly and held his hand in return.
“So, did you come to pick me up?”
As if not remembering anything, Riley spoke to Theo without hesitation. Contrary to her sweet tone, her lips were pursed and her eyes didn’t bend.
Carver’s gaze wavered at the sight of Riley’s appearance like this. He wanted to reach out and stop Riley right away, but he couldn’t.
Because there was firm determination in the fleeting glance they exchanged.
It was also reminiscent of the determined gaze he saw in her childhood.
Riley recognized him. But he couldn’t do anything under her honest gaze.
‘She doesn’t want me to step forward.’
Carver didn’t want to go against her thoughts. If just watching was what she wanted, then it was best to take a step back for now.
“Lord Carver.”
Leta tugged on Carver’s sleeve and choked up. He lightly tapped her hand and whispered.
“It’s okay, Riley seems to have something on her mind.”
Tears fell down Leta’s eyes at his words to trust and wait. It was unbelievable that meeting her sister now meant parting again.
“Riley, let’s go quickly. There seem to be many dangerous people here.”
Theo let out a sigh of relief, revealing a victorious smile.
‘…She really doesn’t remember. It’s a good thing.’
He was grateful that Riley’s memories were not intact. Nodding, he stroked her hand.
“I’ll report that man to the security guards.”
Theo glared at Ren, grinding his teeth. Even though he didn’t know who he was, the thought of another man by his wife’s side made his anger rise.
‘They didn’t spend the night together, did they?’
Theo’s face twisted even more as he imagined all sorts of dirty things.
Although Riley’s expression subtly changed, Theo didn’t notice.
“Don’t do that! This person has been caring for me and is a good person!”
Theo closed his lips tightly at Riley’s words. For now, his first priority was to take her home.
“Let’s go to our house.”
Riley, seeing Theo staring at Ren, grabbed his hand and said,
“To the house where the woman you love is staying.”
Leta looked at her in disbelief. The hand holding Carver’s sword tightened. Leta caught Riley’s arm incredulously.
“Sister, what are you talking about? You’re going back, there!”
“…Leta? Why are you here? Did Father approve?”
Startled, Riley asked with wide eyes. Confusion and joy were clearly revealed. Tears filled her eyes.
‘Leta, Leta…’
Tears ran down at the sight of her sister, whom she thought was dead. It was certain that Theo would notice if she cried here. She tried hard to hide her choked voice.
Carver’s gaze shifted to Ren as Riley’s memories flickered. It was as if Riley had returned to the early days of her marriage with Theo.
‘Who is responsible for all of this?’
Ren chewed on his lips with a distorted face.
Riley would now be going down an unstoppable path. Despite Leta’s protest, Riley stubbornly nodded.
“Theo, my head is spinning too much. Let’s go home, the two of us.”
The pattern that flickered with light on Riley’s neck and blinked soon calmed down. Ren touched his forehead with his hand at Riley’s manifested ability.
When Riley passed by Ren, she discreetly passed something to his hand.
She turned her head slightly and smiled at Ren. Ren quickly opened the paper that was discreetly handed and read it.
[I tossed the trash to someone and it came back to me. So now I’m going to clean it up.]
Ren burst into laughter at Riley’s note. He immediately realized what she was thinking and why she was pretending to forget.
‘Should I make a move too?’
Tapping the display case with his finger, Ren rested his chin. The movement of his finger stopped soon after watching Riley holding Theo’s hand.
The glass of the display case shook and the vibration intensified.
‘I don’t like that sight.’
Crack-
The glass, which was trembling and making an anxious sound, finally shattered. Surprised, Leta turned her gaze from Riley to the mess of the display case.
Carver sighed and brushed his hair.
‘Ha… It’s going to be a mess.’
Carver was confused because Riley had left with Theo. Just when he thought he had finally found her, he had no choice but to let her go right in front of him.
“What should we do? It seems like your sister’s memory has been twisted. .”
“I think we need to keep an eye on her first. Leta, even if you say you’re alive, no one will believe you, so don’t worry about that part.”
Carver didn’t say anything else to Leta. Whatever he said, she wouldn’t understand. But one thing was certain, there was a high chance that Riley hadn’t really lost her memory.
“I’m fine, please watch over my sister.”
Listening quietly to Leta and Carver’s conversation, Ren took out a piece of paper and started writing something down. Heading outside the store, he put the paper on the door, tilted his head slightly, and said, “Are you going to stay there? Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll be closing the door.”
“…What are you thinking?”
Carver and Leta left the store, wondering what exactly Ren had written on the door. Turning his head to look, he saw two words written plainly.
[Quick Sale]
“…Ha!”
“Ah, is this place good for business? Are you interested in setting up shop here?”
Ren snapped his fingers, then hesitated for a moment. Nodding his head as if he had made a decision, he extended his finger towards Carver.
“Five hundred gold.”
There was no hesitation. Five hundred gold! Leta’s mouth hung open in shock. Despite the large number, Ren maintained a nonchalant expression.
Even Carver was equally bewildered.
‘Is he really crazy?’
Carver couldn’t say that to Ren in front of Leta. He managed to maintain a forced smile and spoke gently, “Why all of a sudden…”
“With the palace and all, I’m offering it cheaply. It includes gemstones and jewelry inside, so isn’t this a steal?”
Ren lifted one corner of his mouth and tilted his chin up. He was quite cocky for a man who was trying to sell.
Carver couldn’t even laugh at Ren’s impertinence.
He was a bit unusual, but Ren could see Carver’s point and decided not to argue.
“Think about it. What use would I have of it?”
“…If we’re trying to sell it fast, shouldn’t we drop the price a bit?”
“Yeah, there’s definitely a market for it somewhere.”
Carver closed his eyes, bewildered.
Being a personal property, he couldn’t make a rash decision. However, it seemed like Ren had no intention of waiting and was heading to the information market to sell the store.
That crazy bastard.
“…I will! Buy it.”
Carver urgently called Ren. Smirking, Ren smoothly raised the corner of his mouth and clapped.
“Thank you, sir.”
At Ren’s gesture, a contract appeared in the air in an instant. The document with Ren’s signature floated in front of Carver.
It was clear that the money from selling the store would go to Riley. In the end, Carver signed it. In the blink of an eye, Leta alternately looked at Ren and Carver, her eyes wide open.
***
Riding the carriage with Riley, Theo couldn’t stop smiling. Riley smiled as she raised the corners of her mouth, looking happy.
‘I look forward to seeing how long you can smile like this.’
When they arrived at the Marquis’s place, Theo suddenly regained his composure and made a troubled expression.
“Um… Actually.”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“During the time you disappeared…”
The carriage stopped at a good time. Theo hesitated and didn’t get out of the carriage. He needed to inform Riley, who had lost her memory, of Anna’s existence and a new fact.
“What’s going on? You look really anxious. Let’s go home first.”
“Oh, no!”
Before Theo could stop her, Riley opened the door and got out of the carriage. She didn’t even think about receiving his escort. Theo hesitated and got off the carriage as Riley motioned him to hurry down.
‘What happened in that short time I was gone?’
‘I thought there was nothing more to be surprised about now.’
“Theo! You came…?”
Anna froze in place as she ran towards the stopped carriage. Riley beamed at her, just like when she first came to the mansion.
“This can’t be real…”
Anna’s eyes shook. Her hands subconsciously wrapped around her stomach as her steps faltered, seemingly to protect it.
lol we going in circles