Chapter 741

The mansion felt far quieter than usual that night.

The rain that had been falling since the afternoon had faded into nothing more than a soft drizzle outside the windows. Most of the lights throughout the house had already been turned off, leaving only dim pools of light along the main corridors and the sitting area downstairs.

But Naomi still couldn’t sleep.

She had been lying in bed for quite some time now, staring blankly at the ceiling with her eyes wide open. Every time she closed them, images of the Chen family’s main residence resurfaced inside her

mind.

It was no longer just a story she had heard from Park Jin.

No longer just old photographs hanging on a wall.

They felt like fragments of memories slowly becoming real.

Naomi slowly sat up on the bed and pulled her knees against her chest.

For some reason, she could almost picture herself as a little girl running through the mansion’s massive halls. She could hear faint laughter echoing in the distance. She could see herself hiding behind the black wooden pillars, holding her breath because she didn’t want someone to find her.

Then came the panicked voices searching for her.

“Young Miss!

“Miss Naomi!”

The images appeared so vividly that her chest began to tighten painfully. She could even imagine herself running toward the back garden while giggling softly, before hiding beneath the stone table near the koi

pond.

gh all of it had truly happened once. And the more she tried to remember, the stronger the sense owing inside her became. Naomi rubbed her face slowly before finally climbing out of bed. Her elt dry.

Or maybe… her mind was simply too full for her to stay alone in that room any longer.

She needed something to clear her head.

The mansion corridors were quiet as Naomi slowly made her way downstairs. Only a few guards remained stationed in certain areas, occasionally lowering their heads respectfully when they saw her pass by.

Naomi was beginning to grow used to that, even though it still felt strange.

The moment she entered the main kitchen, she immediately poured herself a glass of cold water from

173

+30 Bonus

the refrigerator. But just as she was about to drink it, the sound of soft footsteps echoed from the direction of the sitting room.

Naomi turned instinctively.

And found Cale walking in wearing a loose black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was slightly messy, making him look far more exhausted than usual.

They both stopped for a few seconds.

And awkwardly found themselves staring at each other in silence.

Because for the first time since all of this began, Lydia wasn’t there between them.

When they visited the Chen family’s main residence earlier, Lydia had always been beside Naomi, calming her while Cale remained occupied with his own matters.

But right now… it was only Cale.

“You… still aren’t asleep?” Naomi asked first.

Cale walked closer slowly before taking a bottle of mineral water from the kitchen counter. “I should be asking you that.”

Naomi clicked her tongue softly. “I can’t sleep.”

“Because of that old house?”

Naomi immediately looked at him.

Cale didn’t even seem surprised.

“I’m just guessing.” He opened the bottle calmly. “You looked shocked the entire time after we came

back.”

Naomi fell silent for a few seconds before finally leaning lightly against the kitchen counter. “I started remembering some things,” she admitted quietly.

Cale slowly lifted his gaze toward her.

“Only little pieces.” Naomi let out a faint laugh, though it sounded bitter. “But it feels strange.”

“What kind of strange?”

“I feel like I’ve really been there before.” Her fingers tightened around the glass in her hand. “I can picture the house. The main hall. The back garden. Even some of the hiding spots I used to like.”

The kitchen suddenly felt far quieter.

Neither of them spoke for a moment. Cale didn’t interrupt her either. He simply listened carefully.

And somehow, that silence made Naomi continue speaking.

2/3

Chapter 241

“Even though everything always felt blurry before.” Her gaze lowered slowly. “I can barely even remember my parents’ faces clearly anymore.”

For the first time that night, something in Cale’s expression shifted.

There was something faint in his eyes.

A grief buried very deeply.

“Your father loved you very much,” he said quietly.

Naomi looked at him.

“And your mother…” Cale paused briefly before continuing, “she always panicked every time you disappeared from her sight.”