The dining hall had become quieter after dinner.

Wilhelm Falkenberg placed his glass on the table and smiled at Heinrich.

"My old friend, there is actually another reason I invited everyone tonight."

Everyone looked toward him.

Heinrich raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

Wilhelm nodded.

"I originally wanted Karl to meet my daughter."

Karl almost choked on his drink.

Kavira looked at him suspiciously.

Wilhelm continued.

"But then Karl got married, and unfortunately we couldn't attend the wedding."

Helene smiled warmly.

"So then we thought about Aaron."

Divyanka immediately froze.

Aaron slowly reached for her hand under the table.

"But now," Wilhelm laughed, "that young man has clearly chosen someone."

Divyanka blushed.

Aaron looked very pleased with himself.

Wilhelm turned toward Friedrich.

"Which leaves you."

Friedrich looked up from his glass.

For once, he wasn't looking bored.

"My daughter, Emilia Falkenberg."

The room became quiet.

"I would like you to meet her."

Friedrich leaned back in his chair.

Everyone expected him to refuse.

Instead—

"Sure."

The entire table froze.

Even Karl stared.

Aaron blinked.

"Wait... what?"

Friedrich shrugged.

"What?"

"You agreed?"

"Yes."

"You never agree to anything."

"There's a first time for everything."

Heinrich narrowed his eyes.

That answer alone was suspicious.

Very suspicious.

Wilhelm laughed.

"Excellent!"

Heinrich raised a hand.

"Not so fast."

Everyone looked at him.

"If they are going to consider marriage, they should meet properly first."

Wilhelm nodded.

"Of course."

"And Emilia should have her own opinion."

"Naturally."

Friedrich simply continued drinking.

As if his future marriage had nothing to do with him.

A little later...

Everyone was leaving.

Outside the mansion, cars waited in the driveway.

Divyanka immediately grabbed Kavira's arm.

Kavira grabbed hers.

Both stared at each other.

Then simultaneously—

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!"

Their voices echoed through the driveway.

Aaron sighed.

Karl looked entertained.

Kavira pointed at Divyanka.

"A whole week!"

Divyanka pointed back.

"I was busy!"

"A whole week, Divyanka!"

"I forgot!"

"YOU FORGOT TO TELL ME YOU GOT A BOYFRIEND?"

Divyanka winced.

"When you say it like that, it sounds bad."

"It IS bad!"

Kavira folded her arms.

"And I thought you hated mafias."

"I did."

"DID?"

Divyanka looked away.

Aaron suddenly found the sky very interesting.

Kavira gasped dramatically.

"Oh my God."

Divyanka covered her face.

"Oh no."

"Oh my God, you're in love."

Aaron smiled proudly.

Divyanka wanted to disappear.

Karl crossed his arms.

"Funny."

Kavira looked at him.

"What?"

"You seem very interested in other people's relationships."

His tone had changed.

Slightly colder.

Slightly sharper.

Kavira knew exactly where this was going.

Aaron knew too.

Divyanka looked between them nervously.

Karl continued.

"Maybe because you've been too busy with Victor lately."

Silence.

The smile vanished from Kavira's face.

Aaron immediately muttered,

"You shouldn't have said that."

Divyanka nodded.

"Definitely shouldn't have."

Karl realized his mistake the moment he saw Kavira's expression.

But it was already too late.

Kavira stepped back.

"Oh."

Her voice became quiet.

"That's what you think."

"Kavira—"

"No."

She turned away.

"I'm leaving."

Then she walked toward the parking area.

Karl cursed under his breath.

"Damn it."

Aaron shook his head.

"Go."

Karl was already moving.

Kavira reached her car.

She unlocked it.

Before she could open the door—

A hand caught her wrist.

She immediately pulled away.

"Karl."

"Kavira."

"Leave me alone."

"No."

She turned.

Her eyes were already shining with unshed tears.

"No?"

"No."

"Karl, I said leave me alone."

He stepped closer.

Not angry.

Not cold.

Just frustrated.

"You know that's not what I meant."

"Really?"

She laughed bitterly.

"Because it sounded exactly like what you meant."

"Kavira—"

"No."

She pointed at him.

"You don't get to accuse me every time I try to build a life for myself."

"I wasn't accusing you."

"You brought up Victor."

"Because I hate seeing him near you."

The words escaped before he could stop them.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Kavira stared at him.

Karl sighed heavily.

"I know you work for him."

"I know."

"I know you're doing your job."

"I know."

"But I still hate it."

His voice dropped lower.

"Every day I hear his name."

Every day.

"Every day I see reports about him."

Every day.

"And every day I wonder if he's looking at you the way I look at you."

Kavira's heart skipped.

Karl looked away.

For perhaps the first time in weeks.

He looked tired.

Not angry.

Not dangerous.

Just tired.

"I know it's irrational."

He laughed bitterly.

"But I can't help it."

Kavira stayed silent.

Karl took another step closer.

His voice softer now.

"You left."

The words hit harder than she expected.

"You left me."

His eyes met hers.

"And I'm still angry."

Another pause.

"But I'm more angry at myself."

Kavira felt her chest tighten.

Karl smiled weakly.

"I keep trying to hate you."

His voice almost broke.

"And it never works."

The anger inside her began melting.

Slowly.

Dangerously.

Because no matter how much they fought...

No matter how many mistakes they made...

Neither of them had really stopped loving the other.

Not even for a second.

And that was exactly what made everything so complicated.