Back at the hotel in Seoul, the night settled in slowly, the kind of quiet that comes after too much noise.
The group had returned together after the long day, but something about Ana had changed—subtle, almost invisible, yet heavy enough to be felt.
She walked a little behind the others again, just like before, but this time it wasn’t an observation.
It was far away.
Watching Aris Veyron with his child, seeing the calm presence of Master Kael Veyron, something inside her had shifted.
They were fine.
They were safe.
They were living a life that didn’t need her anymore.
That realization didn’t hurt the way she expected—it just… settled.
Like a door quietly closing.
I don’t belong there anymore, she thought, not with sadness, but with acceptance.
And maybe, for the first time, she allowed herself to turn back toward the life in front of her instead of the one behind.
When they reached the hotel floor, Yeon was already waiting outside their room, pacing slightly.
The moment she saw Ana, she rushed toward her, her voice soft but filled with worry.
“Where were you?
You disappeared so sudden… I was worried.” Ana paused for a second, looking at her—really looking—and something in her expression softened.
“I’m fine,” she said quietly.
“I just needed some air.” Yeon didn’t fully believe it, but she nodded anyway, staying close.
The others had gone ahead to their rooms, the hallway slowly emptying, leaving behind only silence and dim lights.
Ana reached for the door—but stopped.
Something felt off.
Not dangerous.
Not exactly.
Just… wrong.
Her eyes shifted slightly down the hallway.
One door.
It was Half-open.
Not wide enough to be obvious.
Just enough.
She frowned slightly.
That room wasn’t theirs.
And something about it— pulled her.
Slow steps.
She controlled her steps.
Very Careful.
She pushed the door just a little more.
No one inside.
The lights were off.
The curtains are slightly open.
And on the table— a phone.
Not placed.
It was left carelessly.
Or maybe not.
Ana stepped inside slowly, closing the door behind her without a sound.
Her eyes moved once across the room—and then landed on the phone again.
She didn’t touch it immediately.
She just looked.
Thinking.
It’s Too Easy.
That thought came first.
Which meant— Was it a coincidence.?
Or a mistake.?
Or a trap.?
Ana picked up the phone.
The screen lit instantly.
No lock.
That confirmed it.
Not careless.
It was intentional.
Her eyes didn’t hesitate as she opened the messages.
She Scrolls.
Very Fast.
Until— she stopped.
A number.
A Familiar.
Too familiar.
Kel’s number And above it— A message.
A Cold.
A Sharp message.
Cruel one.
“I don’t want to talk to you anymore.” “Stop contacting me.” “You’re annoying.” “Don’t come near me again.” Ana’s grip tightened.
Not because she was shocked.
But because— it matched exactly.
Every word Kel told.
Every tone kel said, What Kel had said that day.
Slowly— very slowly— her eyes moved to the top of the chat.
The sender.
Not Ana at all.
Saved under no name.
But she didn’t need one.
Because she already knew.
“…So it was you.” The voice came out low.
And Calm.
But it is dangerous.
Behind her— a soft click.
The door.
Ana didn’t turn immediately.
“…You shouldn’t go into other people’s rooms,” a voice said lightly.
Smooth.
It was Controlled.
But underneath— It was sharp.
Ana turned.
And there she stood.
Min Cheol Leaning against the doorframe like she had been expecting this moment all along.
There was no surprise.
There was no panic.
Only a small, knowing smile.
Ana didn’t waste time.
She held up the phone slightly.
“This is yours?” Min’s eyes flicked to it briefly.
Then back to Ana.
“…You found it faster than I thought.” She was not in denial.
She didn’t even hesitate.
Just— confirmation.
Ana stepped closer.
She Each step measured.
“You sent those messages.” It was not a question.
It was a statement.
Min straightened slightly, crossing her arms.
“And?” Silence fell between them.
Thick.
Heavy.
Ana’s eyes sharpened.
“Why?” Min tilted her head slightly, studying her.
“…You’re smarter than I expected,” she said instead.
“That’s not an answer.” A pause.
Then— Min smiled.
Not wide.
Not kind.
Just enough.
“Because I liked him.” She was Simple.
She was Clear.
And cruel in its honesty.
Ana didn’t react immediately.
So Min continued.
“I thought it would be easy,” she added casually.
“You were already distant.
Quiet.
Easy to isolate.” Her eyes darkened slightly.
“So I just… helped things along.” Ana’s fingers tightened around the phone.
“You broke two people for that.”(Ana thinking about REAL Ana.
who suffer because of this.
Kel suffers from this.
FOR REAL) Min shrugged.
“They were already weak.” That— was enough.
Ana stepped forward again, closing the distance between them completely, her voice dropping just slightly.
“You don’t get to decide that.” Min’s smile didn’t disappear—but it changed.
Sharper now.
“And you don’t get to act like you’re innocent either,” she replied softly.
“You didn’t even try to fix it.
You just walked away.” Before Ana could respond— a voice cut through the silence.
“…What did you just say?” Kel.
Ana turned.
Standing just outside the door— Kel, eyes wide, expression shattered.
Behind him— Ed, jaw tight, barely holding back anger.
Yeon, frozen in place.
And Jeon , silent—but watching everything.
They had heard it.
Not everything but Enough of it.
Kel’s eyes slowly moved from Min— And then to Ana.
“…It wasn’t you,” he said quietly, looking at Ana.
Not asking.
But Realizing.
Ana met his gaze.
“No.” That was all.
But it was enough.
Something in Kel broke— and healed— at the same time.
Behind him, Ed stepped forward slightly, his voice low.
“…You thought you could just play with people like that?” Min didn’t step back.
Didn’t flinch.
“…I didn’t think,” she replied calmly.
“I knew.” And for the first time— The situation wasn’t quiet anymore.
Because now— everyone knew.