The road was quiet.

Karl drove with one hand on the steering wheel while Kavira stared outside the window.

A red traffic light appeared.

The car stopped.

Another luxury car stopped beside them.

The man sitting inside glanced toward Kavira.

Then another glance.

Then another.

Karl noticed immediately.

Without saying a word...

He pressed a button.

The tinted window slowly rolled up.

Kavira blinked.

The uncomfortable feeling disappeared instantly.

A few seconds later...

She suddenly laughed.

Karl looked at her.

"What?"

Kavira covered her mouth.

"Nothing."

"Kavira."

"It's embarrassing."

"Kavira."

She sighed.

"You know what I just remembered?"

"What?"

"The first night after our marriage."

Karl nearly hit the brakes.

Flashback

Their wedding night.

Karl had placed a glass in front of her.

Then another.

Then another.

Kavira had become completely drunk.

Meanwhile Karl hadn't touched a single drop.

"You tricked me."

Drunk Kavira pointed at him.

Karl smirked.

"I did."

"You evil monster."

"Maybe."

Then Karl sat in front of her.

"Tell me everything."

"What?"

"Everything."

"What makes you cry."

"What makes you afraid."

"What makes you insecure."

"What hurts you."

"What keeps you awake at night."

Kavira blinked.

Then she started talking.

For hours.

About her father.

About her mother.

About being unwanted.

About feeling unloved.

About Kian.

About betrayal.

About loneliness.

About every wound she had hidden inside herself.

Karl listened.

Not interrupting once.

Not judging once.

Simply listening.

By morning...

Kavira remembered almost nothing.

But Karl remembered every word.

Every tear.

Every fear.

Every scar.

Present

Karl looked at her.

"You remember?"

Kavira shook her head.

"No."

"Just one thing."

"What?"

"You told me to talk because I was drunk."

Karl sighed.

"Good."

"What do you mean good?"

"Nothing."

Kavira laughed.

"Did I tell you that I hate traffic lights?"

Karl nodded.

"You did."

She looked surprised.

"I really said that?"

Karl nodded again.

"You said people stare at you like you're a piece of meat."

Kavira looked down.

"Yeah."

"I hate that."

Silence.

Then she smiled softly.

"And you just closed the window."

Karl kept driving.

"Hmm."

That was all he said.

But for some reason...

That single "hmm" felt warmer than a hundred promises.

Sunday — Falkenberg Mansion

The enormous gates opened.

Arshia stepped out of the car.

Or perhaps...

Emilia Falkenberg.

Her true identity.

Her true home.

Her true family.

The moment she entered the mansion—

"EMILIA!"

A woman rushed forward.

Emilia gasped.

"Mom!"

She ran into her mother's arms.

Tears instantly appeared.

Years.

It had been years.

Her mother held her face.

"My baby."

"My little girl."

"I missed you so much."

Emilia laughed through tears.

"I missed you too."

Behind them...

Wilhelm Falkenberg stood smiling.

Tall.

Powerful.

Dangerous.

Yet completely soft whenever it came to his daughter.

Emilia immediately ran toward him.

"DAD!"

Wilhelm caught her in a hug.

The mighty businessman almost lost balance.

"Haha!"

"There she is."

"My little troublemaker."

Emilia hugged him tightly.

"I missed you."

"I know."

"I missed you too."

Later...

The three sat together in the living room.

Birthday decorations surrounded them.

A huge cake stood on the table.

Wilhelm suddenly cleared his throat.

"Emilia."

"Yes, Dad?"

"You once told me something."

Emilia immediately became nervous.

"What?"

"You told me you loved a Casanova."

She froze.

Her mother smiled knowingly.

Emilia turned red.

"Dad..."

"You did say that."

"Yes..."

"And his name was Friedrich Casanova."

Emilia nodded.

"Yes, Dad."

Wilhelm smiled.

Then said—

"My little sweetheart."

"You are going to marry him."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Emilia's eyes widened.

"What?"

Wilhelm laughed.

"I made the proposal."

"And he accepted."

Emilia jumped off the couch.

"REALLY?!"

"OH MY GOD!"

"DAD!"

She almost tackled him.

Wilhelm laughed loudly.

"Careful!"

"DAD!"

"THANK YOU!"

"THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

Her mother laughed watching her daughter run around the room like a child.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart."

Emilia hugged both of them.

The happiest day of her life.

Or so she thought.

10:00 PM

Falkenberg Mansion

The front doors opened.

Friedrich Casanova entered.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit.

The top button of his shirt was open.

His dark hair was pushed back neatly.

A silver watch rested on his wrist.

The dangerous aura around him made even bodyguards nervous.

He entered the living room.

Wilhelm stood.

"Friedrich."

"Good evening."

Then Friedrich looked toward the couch.

And froze.

His heartbeat stopped.

The world stopped.

"...Arshia?"

The girl slowly stood up.

A soft smile appeared on her face.

She was wearing a deep emerald-green evening gown.

Her hair flowed down her shoulders.

Elegant.

Beautiful.

Completely different from Doctor Arshia.

Yet somehow exactly the same.

She looked directly into Friedrich's eyes.

Then smiled.

"No."

She extended her hand.

"It's me."

"Emilia Falkenberg."

Friedrich stared.

Speechless.

For the first time in years...

The great Friedrich Casanova had absolutely nothing to say.

And Wilhelm Falkenberg simply sat back smiling.

Because the birthday surprise had finally begun.

To be continued...