After concluding her eting with Norma, Anna returned ho only to find Daniel still sleeping.
Without hesitation, she quietly walked toward the bed and gently lay down beside him.
"How long do you plan on sleeping?" she asked, propping her head on her hand as she lay on her side, watching him.
"As long as you plan to return soon," he replied softly.
Anna heard his voice and saw him slowly open his eyes before turning his head to look at her.
She was not surprised at all. She knew Daniel too well by now, especially his habit of pretending to sleep until he sensed her presence nearby.
But considering that he was still recovering from the accident, he needed to eat on ti and take his dicines regularly.
"You are really annoying sotis, Daniel," she said, pretending to sound angry. "Why would you keep sleeping when you have to take your dicines? Don’t you want to recover properly?"
Daniel only smiled cheekily at her, clearly amused by her tone.
"You know what will heal faster than any dicine the doctors prescribe," he said.
Anna narrowed her eyes slightly, already guessing where the conversation was heading.
"It’s you," Daniel continued with a soft smile. "Every morning, the first thing I want to see after waking up is you. So how do you expect to break a habit like that?"
Anna stared at him for a mont, trying to maintain the annoyed expression on her face, but the warmth in his eyes made it difficult.
"You are impossible," she muttered under her breath.
Daniel chuckled softly and shifted slightly on the bed, still watching her as if he had no intention of looking away.
"You say that every ti," he replied calmly.
"Because you give reasons every ti," Anna shot back, though the sharpness in her voice had already softened.
For a brief mont, silence settled between them. The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room.
Daniel’s gaze lingered on her face as if he was making sure she was really there.
"Where did you go this morning?" he asked after a mont.
Anna hesitated.
She had expected that question, but she still needed to decide how much she should tell him.
"I went out to et soone," she said carefully.
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Soone?"
Anna sighed quietly before answering.
"I t your aunt."
The playful expression on Daniel’s face slowly faded, replaced by a more serious one.
"Aunt Norma?" he asked.
Anna nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel studied her face closely, as if trying to read what had happened during that eting.
"And?" he asked.
Anna shifted slightly on the bed, resting her head more comfortably on her arm as she continued looking at him.
"She asked sothing interesting," Anna said.
"What?" Daniel asked.
Anna’s eyes softened slightly as she recalled the conversation.
"She asked why I hate her."
Daniel frowned.
"And what did you say?"
Anna let out a quiet breath.
"I told her that I don’t hate her," she replied. "But I don’t like her either."
Daniel gave a small laugh.
"That sounds like you."
Anna lightly hit his shoulder.
"Stop laughing. I was serious."
"I know you were," Daniel said, still smiling. "But Aunt Norma probably didn’t expect soone to answer her that honestly."
Anna’s expression slowly grew thoughtful.
"She noticed that sothing about had changed," Anna said. "She said I wasn’t this unyielding before."
Daniel’s smile faded slightly as he listened.
"And has sothing changed?" he asked quietly.
Anna looked directly into his eyes.
"Yes," she said firmly.
Daniel waited for her to continue.
Anna’s voice softened, but her words carried determination.
"I can’t trust people the way I used to," she admitted. "Not after everything we know now."
Daniel reached out and gently took her hand in his.
"I understand," he said.
Anna tightened her hold on his fingers.
"There are too many things that don’t make sense," she continued. "Your accident, dad’s condition, Norma’s death in our previous life. None of it feels like a coincidence anymore."
Daniel’s gaze darkened slightly.
"But I am certain we will find the truth soon" he added slowly darting his eyes at Anna.
"Which is why I have a plan to do that" Anna said making Daniel frown, but he also knew this was going to be fun.
***
[Marcus’ Place]
"You have beco quite a frequent visitor here."
Marcus let out a light laugh as he watched Ethan walk into the dining area once again. The morning sunlight stread through the tall windows, casting a warm glow over the breakfast table that had already been prepared.
Ethan pulled out a chair and sat down across from him.
"Why? Do you not like coming here?" he asked calmly. "Don’t forget, I am still your son by blood."
Marcus shook his head with a faint smile as he settled into his head chair at the table.
"That is not what I ant," he replied. "I am simply surprised. You used to avoid this place as if it carried a contagious disease."
Ethan picked up the cup of coffee placed in front of him and took a small sip.
"Well, people change," he said lightly.
Marcus studied him for a mont before chuckling again.
"Is that so? Or is it because soone finally knocked so sense into that stubborn head of yours?"
Ethan imdiately knew who his father was referring to.
"Kathrine has nothing to do with this," Ethan said, though the faint curve on his lips betrayed him.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Of course she does," he replied. "Ever since that girl entered your life, you have started behaving like an actual human being."
Ethan let out a quiet laugh.
"That is a strange complint." It was supposed to be him instead.
"I am serious," Marcus said, pouring himself so tea. "Before this, you barely spoke to unless I asked you to co."
Ethan leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Well, you are not the easiest person to talk to either."
Marcus scoffed.
"Look at you blaming your old father now."
"I am just stating facts."
For a brief mont, the room filled with the kind of lighthearted atmosphere that rarely existed between them.
Marcus picked up a piece of toast, but before he could take a bite, his hand suddenly paused in midair.
A faint crease appeared between his brows.
Ethan imdiately noticed the change.
"Dad?" he asked.
Marcus lowered the toast slowly, pressing his hand lightly against his chest as if sothing was bothering him.
"I’m fine," Marcus muttered.
But his voice lacked the usual confidence.
Within seconds, his breathing beca uneven.
Ethan straightened in his chair, his expression instantly turning serious.
"Dad, what’s wrong?"
Marcus tried to wave him off, but a sharp cough escaped him before he could speak. His other hand moved toward the edge of the table to steady himself.
The color slowly drained from his face.
Ethan pushed his chair back abruptly.
"Dad!"
Marcus attempted to stand, but his body suddenly swayed.
The toast slipped from his hand and fell onto the plate.
Ethan rushed toward him and grabbed his shoulders before he could collapse.
"Dad, look at ," Ethan said urgently.
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