A week had passed since her last meeting with Morel, and Anna felt a growing sense of unease seize her. Her mind was filled with images of Morel's cold face, stern words ringing in her ears, and eyes showing no hint of compassion.Anna paced back and forth in her apartment, which felt increasingly cramped and suffocating. The living room table was cluttered with papers, emotionally charged notes, and a cell phone that never left her grasp. Her bloodshot eyes showed that she had cried many times this week, but it didn't make the weight on her chest lessen in the slightest. Instead, those tears only made it clear how desperate she was."Why doesn't he call?" Anna muttered while squeezing her trembling hands. Every hour that passed without hearing from Morel felt like an eternity. Her usually confident face was now wrinkled with worry and weariness. "Has he really forgotten about me? What should I do?"Those thoughts kept swirling in her head, making it difficult for her to sleep or focu
Marisa was surprised to hear that answer but tried to mask her shock. Her gaze returned to Anna, who was still standing in the same place as if she didn't know what to do. "I see," Marisa said quietly, trying to digest the information while feeling a tension she couldn't explain.Marisa bit her lip, confused and slightly disbelieving. "But, Morel... She seemed to be having a tough time. Why didn't you help her? Aren't... aren't you supposed to help her?"Morel sighed softly, his eyes fixed forward, down the path they were traveling. "Anna and I are no longer related. It's none of my business."Marisa looked at him, trying to understand Morel's feelings. "But what if she really needs help? Don't you feel the need to... at least make sure she's okay?"Morel turned her head for a moment, giving Marisa a stern look. "In the past, maybe. But now, there's no reason for me to get involved. Anna made her own choices, and I've made mine."Marisa nodded slowly, though her heart was still full o
Hearing the name "Spencer" come out of Anna's mouth, Morel felt something stir inside him. However, he managed to hold back any reaction that might appear on his face. Her face remained calm, and her eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to assess the extent to which Anna knew the truth.Anna watched Morel's expression carefully, then continued, "If people knew who you really were, you'd have a tough time, wouldn't you? Your comfortable life would be ruined. But I can keep your secret safe... for the right price."A faint smile appeared on Anna's face, but her tone turned more serious. "Give me one million dollars, and I guarantee your secret will remain safe."Morel's eyes narrowed, and a cold look appeared on his face. "Are you trying to threaten me now, Anna?" Morel asked in a flat yet warning tone.Anna didn't flinch, instead laughing softly. "Come on, Morel. That's not a lot of money for the Spencer family, is it?"Morel paused momentarily, watching Anna with a gaze that was hard t
Anna felt a deep fear, something she had never felt before. In the past, when they were still together, Morel had always been gentle and caring and had never hurt her feelings, physically or mentally. She knew Morel was calm and wise and always tried to protect her from anything painful. However, now in front of her was a different Morel- a cold, merciless, and determined figure. Anna couldn't control the trembling in her hands, fear crawling through her body. Her memories swirled, recalling when Morel was the only one she could lean on, who gave her a sense of security. Now, that security was gone, replaced by anxiety that haunted her every second. She never imagined that Morel, who used to always protect her, would now be the biggest fear in her life.Inside Anna's heart, there was a mixture of emotions that were hard to explain- regret, anger, and distrust. She didn't expect that Morel would turn out like this one day. Despair overcame her, and she realized that the Morel she once
Morel stood straight, staring at Anna, who drooped weakly on the chair with a cold and dispassionate gaze. Anna's body trembled, blood slowly flowing from the wound on her chest. Her breathing was getting shorter and shorter, her eyes looking at Morel, seeking pity that would never come.Morel didn't say a word. His face remained cold as if what had just happened was inevitable, a consequence of Anna's actions. In his mind, he knew what happened was a reflex, an automatic response to defend himself. The knife, which was meant to hurt her, ended up, ironically, a tool to punish Anna for her betrayal.Anna, who now lay dying, tried to speak, but her voice only came out as a barely audible whisper. Her body weakened with time, and finally, with one last long breath, Anna was silent. Her eyes were closed, and silence filled the room.Morel watched the lifeless body for a few moments, confirming that Anna was truly gone. There was no remorse on his face, only a coldness that reflected his
"You won't get away with this, Morel," the man hissed, his voice hoarse yet determined. "What you do now will not end well for you."Morel only stared at the man for a moment before stepping closer. He was unhurried, each step filled with conviction. Without a word, he stopped before the old man, lowering his body slightly so their gazes were level."I'm not looking for a good ending," Morel replied in a low but assertive tone. "I only seek a just end, Roem."Morel looked at Roem, the head of the Antonio family, with a cold yet meaningful gaze. Folding his arms across his chest, he said in a calm tone, "You're smart enough to know who I really am. It's a pity you're not on my side."Roem, who was sitting with his hands bound, looked up and gave Morel a hateful look. Although his body was trembling, his voice remained firm as he replied, "I'm not willing to work under you, Morel. The Antonio family, let alone a Spencer, will never bow to threats."After hearing Roem's last words, Morel
After Morel returned home, he went straight to his study, where Doris was waiting with a severe expression. The room was eerily quiet, lit only by a dim desk lamp. Morel sat on the chair behind his desk and looked at Doris standing before him with great interest."We need to talk seriously about this situation," Morel said, his cold voice full of certainty. "Antonio's family may not be the real mastermind behind all this."Doris nodded, visibly agreeing with Morel's statement. "I suspect the same thing. Some things don't fit with what we know so far.""Anna might just be a puppet in this game," Morel countered, his voice cold yet sharp. "If you notice, she's acting too hastily and emotionally. This is too well-planned to be Antonio's family's plan."Doris approached, leaning his body against the table. "That's right. Many things are odd. The information we received and the methods used to manipulate Anna have been carefully designed. There may be a more powerful third party behind all
Morel looked at Marisa with a slightly mischievous smile. "Remember when we first met? You accused me of a lot of things, didn't you?"Marisa was silent for a moment, remembering the incident vividly. Her face began to redden as the memory of how she had emphatically called Morel a pervert resurfaced. She felt embarrassed and couldn't hide her shame. Marisa turned away, hoping Morel wouldn't see her increasingly embarrassed expression.Morel laughed softly at Marisa's reaction, his voice gentle yet meaningful. "You were so confident back then, but look at you now. Your face is red," Morel said with a small smile gracing his lips. He recalled how Marisa used to confidently accuse her without any evidence, but now, that confidence seemed to have vanished, replaced by shame clearly visible on her face.Marisa could only smile shyly, feeling her cheeks heat up even more. She felt like she didn't know what to say, as if all the words were stuck in her throat. Finally, she changed the subje