The words "It's starting again" refused to leave Selina's mind.
Even hours after the gala ended.
Even after returning to the Vale mansion.
Even after she locked herself inside her room and shut out every voice in the house.
Starting again.
What was starting?
And why did it feel like Lucian Blackwood wasn't referring to this life at all?
Selina stood near the window, staring at the dark city beyond the glass.
Her reflection looked the same as always.
Same face.
Same eyes.
Same quiet expression.
But nothing inside her felt the same anymore.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Selina."
Livia.
Selina didn't answer.
The door opened anyway.
Livia stepped inside carefully, holding a glass of warm milk like Selina was still a child who needed comfort.
"You didn't eat properly tonight," she said gently. "I was worried."
Selina looked at her silently.
Worried.
Such an easy word.
It used to mean something to her.
Now it just felt… empty.
"I'm not hungry," Selina replied.
Livia placed the glass on the table anyway.
"You've been distant lately," she said slowly. "Ever since the accident."
Selina's gaze flickered slightly.
The accident.
If only they knew.
That moment had been the end of her first life.
And the beginning of this one.
"I'm fine," Selina said quietly.
But Livia didn't leave.
Instead, she studied her carefully.
"Mr. Blackwood," she began, hesitating slightly, "is dangerous."
Selina didn't react.
Livia continued, lowering her voice.
"Men like him don't involve themselves personally unless there's a reason."
Selina finally looked at her.
"And what reason do you think he has?"
Livia paused.
"I don't know," she admitted. "But I know one thing."
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"He's looking at you like you already belong to him."
The words settled heavily in the room.
Selina turned away again.
"I don't belong to anyone," she said flatly.
But even as she said it—
her thoughts betrayed her.
Because Lucian hadn't looked at her like someone he wanted.
He looked at her like someone he had already lost once.
Meanwhile, across the city.
Blackwood Estate.
The room was silent except for the faint ticking of a clock.
Lucian stood by the window, silver eyes fixed on the rain outside.
Behind him, one of his men spoke carefully.
"Everything is in motion, sir."
Lucian didn't respond immediately.
His reflection in the glass looked colder than usual.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"Is she safe tonight?"
The man hesitated.
"…Yes. The Vale mansion has full security."
A brief silence.
Then—
Lucian's voice lowered slightly.
"That's not enough."
The man stiffened. "Sir?"
Lucian turned slowly.
And for the first time that night—
his control cracked just slightly.
"Something is wrong," he said quietly.
A pause.
Then, softer—
"She remembers more than she should."
The room went still.
One of his advisors frowned.
"That's impossible, Mr. Blackwood. The reset was complete."
At those words—
Lucian's silver eyes darkened.
"Then explain her eyes."
Silence.
No one answered.
Because none of them could.
Lucian turned back toward the window.
Rain streaked down the glass like broken memories.
"I didn't bring her back for this," he said quietly.
His fingers curled slightly.
"I brought her back so she wouldn't die again."
A long silence followed.
Then, almost like a warning to the world itself—
Lucian added softly:
"And if this timeline tries to take her from me again…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
Because everyone in the room already understood—
he would break it.
Back at the Vale mansion.
Selina suddenly paused near the window.
A strange chill ran down her spine.
For a moment—
she didn't know why.
But somewhere far away…
someone was thinking of her with terrifying intensity.
And fate—
was beginning to shift again.