"So, Chris. Are your plans still the same about not running away?"

    While eating happily, Christian paused slightly upon hearing the question from his sister. He took his time to finish his meal before finally responding.

    "Sis, we''re eating. Couldn''t you have waited at least until we finished?"

    Annabelle staring at her brother, noticed, how despite his complaint, he didn''t seem as bothered by the subject as before, at least not in the same way. So, thinking that maybe he''d finally had a change of heart, she said.

    "Actually, I already waited enough since I didn''t say anything yesterday."

    Faced with his sister''s cute protest that she had already been patient enough, Christian gave her a small smile and said,

    "I plan to make the decision today, and one of the choices I have in mind is running away. So, how about you wait a little longer? We''ll discuss it later anyway."

    Heaving an internal sigh of relief, Annabelle was about to reply when...

    Ding Dong

    The sudden ringing sound of the doorbell echoed through the house.

    Knowing that there was likely no one else expected to visit, and piecing together what her brother had just said about waiting some time, she felt she already knew who was at the door.

    So, with a pout on her lips, she said.

    "So, you plan to discuss these plans with Eva first?"

    Christian, already on his feet, noticed his sister''s expression and, not wanting any misunderstandings, said,

    "I don''t plan to discuss my plans with her."

    "But depending on how this conversation goes, she might be present later when we talk about them."

    "Oh."

    "So, there''s no point in me continuing to look on my own."

    Before the surprise on Eva''s face could fade after hearing his confirmation, Christian added.

    "If you want to verify what I found before telling your side of the story from the beginning, that''s fine with me."

    "But regardless, it''s time for you to tell me everything."

    ''As I want to decide whether or not to include you in my future plans.''

    Despite all his feelings for her, Christian still had small reservations, a hint of suspicion lingering. So, he wanted to see how this conversation would unfold, to see if his heart would still lean toward her or if it would shrink back.

    It wasn''t about logic, though; if that were the case, he would have stopped getting involved with her from the start, knowing the social differences between them, and how much trouble she was surrounded with. So, what he would feel at the end of this conversation was what truly mattered.

    Eva, looking at Christian, contemplated his casual words, wondering if he truly knew everything. She felt the urge to ask him a few questions, but in the end, she held back.

    Even if it were a lie, she wanted to believe him. She also didn''t want him to think any less of her.

    "Should I say the long version or the short one? Like, should I summarize it?"

    "There''s no need for confirmation. But..."

    Eva, aware that her story could be both long and short at the same time, felt that she could summarize her life in a way that one sentence could express everything.

    ''I was sold by my family, and I''m trying to break free from their control.''

    ''I don''t want to be anyone''s toy.''

    It was simple, almost painfully so.

    So, taking a breath, Eva, with her expression hardened, asked.

    "Should I say the long version or the short one? Like, should I summarize it?"