David had just finished preparing himself for school that morning. His uniform was neat, his hair combed into place, and his expression full of carefully built confidence. With everything in order, he started making his way downstairs to join the family breakfast.

As usual, his eyes couldn't resist glancing toward Al's room, which—as expected—was completely silent. The door remained closed, the atmosphere inside lifeless, as though the room's occupant had been swallowed whole by sleep.

"That lazy fool really knows nothing but sleeping. I guess I was worrying too much about his existence, just because he happens to be the real son of this household. Honestly, what could a good-for-nothing like him ever achieve in a family as great as this one?" David muttered to himself with a quiet snicker, the tone brimming with self-assurance.

Even so, the thought of Al being a threat never made him completely careless. No matter how insignificant that boy seemed, David still held firmly to his determination—sooner or later, the Virellano family would truly belong to him.

He descended the marble staircase with measured confidence. A faint smile spread across his lips as his polished shoes tapped against the glistening steps, sunlight streaming from the tall windows and bathing him in a golden glow. The warm light seemed almost intentional, highlighting the proud image he wanted to present to the world.

On his way down, he greeted the servants and staff he passed by—a habit that made people in the Virellano estate treat him with respect.

Some of them bowed politely, others answered with warm smiles, while a few simply nodded in acknowledgement, too busy carrying trays or documents to linger. Regardless, all those subtle gestures reinforced one thing: in their eyes, David carried the image of a "dignified young heir."

Down below, he spotted Clarista and Fani, who were already awake, sitting together as if enjoying the fresh morning air and light conversation.

David immediately put on his best polite smile and greeted them.

"Good morning, Sis Clarista! And… good morning to you as well, Sister Fani." His tone was cheerful when he spoke to Clarista, yet noticeably restrained when addressing Fani—as though some unspoken tension hung between them.

Their responses couldn't have been more different. Clarista answered him warmly, her usual affectionate tone never failing. Fani, however, merely gave a short nod and muttered a curt, "Morning," while deliberately turning her face away.

Clarista's lips curved into a gentle smile, her hands rubbing her shoulders as if warding off the lingering chill of dawn. Fani, in contrast, was cool and aloof. She brushed a strand of hair away from her eyes with a careless flick, purposely gazing elsewhere, as though David were nothing more than a passing shadow.

That slight gesture stabbed into David's freshly cultivated mood. His morning confidence wavered. Fani had definitely changed. And it all seemed to start after that failed attempt the other night—the moment when their little "mischief" had been cut short. Since then, she seemed colder, and to make things worse, she had been getting closer to Al.

Could this have something to do with Al? Did that useless boy seduce her, making her fall for him? No… don't tell me… after failing with me that night, did she—out of spite—turn to Al instead? Could this be what people call… NTR?

The bizarre questions swirled chaotically in David's mind. His irritation rose the more he thought about it. His brows furrowed, his eyes trembled with unease, his hands clenched, his jaw tightened. Yet the presence of Clarista kept him from losing control. He forced his expression to stay composed. Thanks to that, outwardly he appeared calm, even if the calmness was unnatural and strained.

David exhaled heavily.

There's no way Fani would choose that filthy boy. It's completely illogical. Who in their right mind would pick Al over me? What could possibly be compared between us? He reaffirmed his confidence, and the arrogant smile once again returned to his face, brushing aside the irritation that had nearly consumed him.

But reality was about to tear that illusion down.

He exchanged small talk with Clarista and, occasionally, with Fani—though the latter's replies were clipped and cold. Eventually, both women seemed ready to move on with their morning activities, having indulged enough in David's company.

Just then, a commotion stirred from outside.

Curious, David glanced toward the window. His eyes caught sight of Al sitting casually in the garden, facing a few construction workers. The scene looked like trouble. A surge of satisfaction filled David's chest; his mood soared back instantly. A sharp, mocking smile curled his lips—finally, some free morning entertainment. He tilted his chin downward slightly, suppressing the laugh threatening to escape.

That smile, however, did not escape Fani's notice. Irritation flickered across her face. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowed, and she deliberately turned her body toward Clarista, refusing to give David even the courtesy of her gaze.

Clarista, catching the shift in atmosphere, asked,

"What's happening over there, David?"

"Oh, nothing much, Sis. Looks like just some workers getting busy with their project." David replied smoothly, concealing the truth of what he'd seen.

His tone was casual, but beneath it lingered a sly undertone.

Clarista accepted the explanation with little concern, nodding before preparing to leave with Fani to continue her plans.

But David suddenly froze. His eyes widened.

"Yura?" he blurted out, rubbing his eyes as though doubting his own vision. He leaned forward, bracing one hand on the window frame. His pupils dilated, his gaze fixed on a silhouette outside.

"What is it, David? What do you mean by Yura?" Clarista asked, intrigued. She and Fani both stepped closer to the window, curiosity pulling them in.

From that vantage point, they saw Al, along with two young women—both strikingly beautiful, fashionable, and graceful in figure. The workers nearby seemed to be pestering them lightly.

"Is that Al? I didn't think he'd be up and about this early. And who exactly is this Yura you mentioned, David?" Clarista asked, focusing her eyes more intently.

David didn't answer immediately. His gaze couldn't lie. It was Yura—without a doubt. Though it had been a long time since he last saw her, he still remembered the girl known for her sharp tongue and merciless personality. The only local girl who had ever rejected him. He still believed she had been too young then to understand romance, and that deep down, she must have liked him—only too shy or confused to admit it.

His chest tightened, rising and falling rapidly, his fingers curling into fists by his side. A bitter wave of disbelief and nostalgia surged through him.

"Maybe I'm mistaken, Sis," David murmured, unwilling to drag Clarista into this matter. In his mind, a plan was forming: he could use this opportunity to humiliate Al in front of Yura. And Clarista must not witness him stoop to such a low act—it could tarnish his image.

But then—

"That is Yura Atenri," Fani stated flatly. Her tone was calm, yet her eyes were razor sharp. Folding her arms across her chest, she made no attempt to hide the truth.

David's irritation flared at Fani, who had just ruined his plan with a single sentence. He clenched his jaw but could not deny it. Now Clarista was fully involved.

"What? Yura Atenri?" Clarista gasped in surprise. She leaned closer to the window, her dark eyes sparkling with interest. Sure enough, the figure outside matched Yura Atenri perfectly—though more mature now, with an even more refined beauty than before.

"I'm certain it's her," Fani confirmed with a nod.

"I suppose you're right. But why is she here? And this early in the morning? And what's her business with Al? And who's that other girl with her?" Clarista asked, clearly intrigued.

Fani only shook her head. She didn't know either. Yet, a strange feeling stirred faintly in her chest as she watched Al with two attractive women. Her brow twitched subtly; it was as though tiny needles pricked her heart. Quickly, she looked away, concealing the emotion.

Clarista, meanwhile, began piecing together her own odd theory.

"After all this time… could it be that she came here to see you, David? What else would a girl her age be doing here so early, dressed so casually? Could it be… you two arranged a morning date?" Clarista asked with an amused tone.

David's pulse quickened. Her assumption might be wrong, but just hearing it made his spirit ignite. His cheeks flushed faintly, his lips tugged into a grin he quickly disguised with a cough.

"Cough… n-no, Sis. We don't have that kind of relationship." He stammered nervously.

Clarista smiled, pleased at the thought of her brother possibly having a connection with Yura. Though she knew David's engagement with Nayala was looming, she couldn't help but feel proud of his popularity.

Leaning back against the wall, a thin smile graced her lips. In her eyes glimmered the pride of an older sister.

Of course my little brother would be so admired by women, she thought warmly.

Fani, on the other hand, yawned lightly, pretending indifference. Yet her eyes occasionally flicked toward the window, betraying her inability to fully ignore the scene.

David smiled to himself as well, eyes locked outside.

So… she's finally back, after all those years spent abroad. But why is Yura here of all places? Did she truly come looking for me? David's thoughts tangled in confusion, and yet, even amidst the uncertainty, his imagination began to wander.

He pictured himself stepping outside, walking toward her with open arms, and Yura rushing into his embrace. In his mind, the scene unfolded like a touching reunion, the two of them holding each other tightly as if the long years of separation had finally melted away in that single heartfelt moment.

That sweet illusion flickered through his mind, vivid as if a movie screen had suddenly come alive with a romantic scene. He could almost smell again the faint trace of Yura's perfume, the scent that had once lingered in his memory and never quite faded away.

But his daydream shattered in an instant. Right before his eyes, Yura and Al were standing face-to-face—so close, far too close. The sight gnawed at his nerves, stoking a fire of irritation that quickly consumed the fragile calm he had tried to hold onto. After enduring it for as long as he could, David finally snapped. Without warning, driven by pure impulse, he surged forward.

Heat rushed to his face as his stride quickened, uncaring of what consequences might follow. His heart pounded thunderously in his ears, each beat like a voice urging him on, whispering a single desperate command: "Claim her, before someone else dares to steal her away."

Behind him, Clarista and Fani exchanged glances and instinctively followed, trailing his hurried steps.

The moment he crossed the front doors, his voice rang out—loud, sharp, and filled with urgency.

"Yuraaaa!"

The shout echoed across the courtyard, halting the work of several laborers mid-task. Even the birds perched along the iron garden fence scattered into the sky in startled flutters.

Yura turned at once, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight of David striding toward her. Of course, she had known from the start whose estate this was. She had anticipated the chance of crossing paths with him, and yet… she had hoped otherwise. Facing David was the very last thing she wanted.

Her original intention had been simple: confirm the truth of the information Rina had given her, and then leave. Rina had claimed that Al lived in the Virellano estate, and Vianna—David's elder sister—had once whispered to Rina that Al was nothing more than the son of a servant. Al himself had always seemed reluctant to admit that.

But the moment Yura reached the gates, she caught sight of Al sitting leisurely in the garden, and every thought of leaving quietly vanished. He really was here, living among the Virellanos. An urge welled up in her chest—the desire to meet him directly, face to face, regardless of who else might witness the encounter.

And now, just as fate would have it, the one person she least wished to deal with had appeared before her eyes: David.

Her gaze hardened, eyes narrowing to slits, and her jaw tightened. Fingers curled into the hem of her blouse, knuckles paling as she clenched to restrain the storm of emotion threatening to spill out.

This is going to be annoying, Yura thought bitterly, fixing her eyes on David as he drew closer.

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