One week later.
Life had settled into something dangerously close to normal.
Selina was beginning to suspect that normality might actually be more exhausting than surviving timelines.
At least timelines came with clear enemies.
Corporate politics, on the other hand, came disguised as polite smiles and scheduled meetings.
She was currently trapped in one of those meetings.
A senior executive from one of Vale Group's partner companies had spent the last twenty minutes explaining a proposal that could have been summarized in three sentences.
Selina maintained her professional expression.
Barely.
Across the table, Rowan seemed to be suffering equally.
The moment the meeting ended, both of them escaped into the hallway.
Rowan loosened his tie dramatically.
"I nearly died."
Selina nodded solemnly.
"I'll make sure your sacrifice is remembered."
"Thank you."
"Perhaps a statue."
"That's all I ask."
Their conversation was interrupted when Damian emerged from the conference room.
The older man looked at them for a moment.
Then surprisingly said,
"Good work."
Rowan immediately froze.
Selina blinked.
The words weren't unusual.
But hearing them from Damian Vale was.
Rowan looked genuinely suspicious.
"Are you feeling alright?"
Damian stared at him.
"Excuse me?"
"You complimented us."
"I've done that before."
"No, you haven't."
A pause.
"Not voluntarily."
Selina looked away to hide her smile.
Damian sighed heavily.
"I regret raising both of you."
Then he walked away.
Rowan watched him leave.
"He definitely meant that as affection."
"I think so too."
For some reason, that made both of them laugh.
That afternoon, Selina received another visitor.
Unfortunately.
The moment her office door opened without knocking, she knew exactly who it was.
Adrian.
He entered carrying a paper bag.
Selina narrowed her eyes.
"What do you want?"
"I'm wounded."
"You're holding snacks."
"And?"
"You only bring food when you need something."
Adrian looked impressed.
"You know me too well."
He sat down without invitation.
Also as usual.
Selina accepted a coffee from the bag before continuing.
"What do you need?"
"Actually, I came to check on you."
She paused.
That answer was unexpected.
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
The joking expression faded slightly.
"You've spent weeks dealing with impossible situations."
A pause.
"Most people would be having a breakdown."
Selina laughed softly.
"Maybe I'm saving it for later."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
And she did.
Because despite his personality, Adrian noticed things.
More than most people realized.
He studied her for a moment.
Then smiled.
"You seem happy."
The observation caught her off guard.
Happy.
The word felt strange.
Yet somehow correct.
After everything—
after betrayal, death, regression, timelines, and endless battles—
she was happy.
Not perfectly.
Not constantly.
But genuinely.
Selina looked out the window.
"I think I finally know who I am."
Adrian smiled.
"Good."
Then immediately ruined the moment.
"Because explaining your family tree to people has become impossible."
Selina threw a pen at him.
He dodged.
Naturally.
That evening.
Blackthorn Estate.
The legal team had finally completed their investigation.
Which meant Selina was now sitting in a library surrounded by lawyers.
An experience she wouldn't recommend to anyone.
Stacks of documents covered the large table.
Property records.
Historical archives.
Inheritance certificates.
Financial reports.
Ancient Blackthorn holdings.
The lead attorney adjusted his glasses.
"After extensive verification, we can confirm your legal identity as Selene Blackthorn."
Selina nodded.
Nothing surprising there.
The attorney continued.
"As the sole surviving heir, all Blackthorn assets legally transfer to you."
Several additional folders were placed before her.
The stack looked ridiculous.
"How much is it?" she asked.
The lawyer named a number.
The room became silent.
Selina stared.
Then blinked.
Then stared again.
Surely she had heard incorrectly.
The lawyer repeated it.
No.
She had heard correctly.
Selina slowly turned toward Lucian.
Who was seated nearby reading another document.
"That's absurd."
Lucian didn't even look up.
"No."
"That's an entire economy."
"Close."
Selina stared at him.
The fact that he considered this normal was deeply concerning.
The lawyer continued speaking.
Something about investment structures and ownership transitions.
Selina stopped listening.
Because her brain was still processing the number.
Eventually the meeting concluded.
The lawyers departed.
The advisors departed.
The accountants departed.
Leaving only Selina and Lucian in the enormous library.
She looked at the mountain of paperwork.
Then at him.
Then back at the paperwork.
"I don't want this to change me."
Lucian finally set aside his documents.
"It won't."
"You sound very confident."
"I am."
"Why?"
His silver eyes met hers.
Simple.
Direct.
Because that was who he was.
"Because you spent your entire life wanting people."
A pause.
"Not money."
The answer silenced her.
Because it was true.
The wealth wasn't what mattered.
Never had been.
What she had wanted—
what she had always wanted—
was belonging.
Family.
Love.
Recognition.
Things money couldn't buy.
Lucian studied her quietly.
Then added,
"The money is useful, though."
Selina laughed.
"There he is."
"There who is?"
"The businessman."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
She laughed harder.
Later that night.
The estate was quiet.
Most of the staff had retired.
The lights throughout the mansion glowed softly against the darkness outside.
Selina wandered through the corridors alone.
The estate no longer felt unfamiliar.
It felt like home.
Perhaps not because she remembered every room.
Or because she carried the Blackthorn name.
But because she had chosen to stay.
A home wasn't only where you were born.
Sometimes it was where you decided to belong.
Lost in thought, she eventually reached a section of the mansion she hadn't explored before.
A smaller hallway.
Older.
Less renovated.
At the very end stood a single wooden door.
Curious, she opened it.
The room beyond was untouched.
Dust covered the furniture.
Books lined the shelves.
Moonlight spilled through tall windows.
And sitting on a desk near the center of the room—
was a photograph.
Selina slowly approached.
The picture showed a young girl.
Around ten years old.
Silver-gray eyes.
Dark hair.
Smiling brightly.
Beside her stood a young boy who looked profoundly unhappy about being photographed.
Lucian.
Selina immediately laughed.
The expression on his face was priceless.
She picked up the frame carefully.
On the back, someone had written a message.
The handwriting was elegant.
Old.
Faded.
But still readable.
To Selene and Lucian.
Some friendships survive longer than time itself.
Selina stared at the words.
A strange warmth spread through her chest.
Because despite everything—
the timelines.
The recursion.
The endless tragedies—
some things had remained constant.
Even before they understood it.
Even before they remembered.
They had always found their way back to each other.
The thought made her smile.
And for the first time in years—
the future no longer felt frightening.
It felt open.
Full of possibilities.
Waiting.
And somewhere downstairs, she could already hear Lucian looking for her.
Again.
Some things, apparently, would never change.