CHAPTER 85…………………..
The car following behind sped up and overtook the one Anita was riding in.
“Jeff!”
Lilliana’s friends, ahead of them, waved their hands. One of them even blew a kiss toward the car behind. That little gesture seemed to ignite the competitive fire in Lilliana, which had been quiet until then. She loudly called to the driver, urging him to go faster.
Anita’s face grew even paler.
Should I just jump out?
Her thoughts veered toward the extreme. She felt short of breath and nauseated, as though trapped somewhere without enough oxygen. Her eyes, darting around aimlessly, suddenly caught sight of the vast sea.
The memory of a car hurtling toward the lake flashed in her mind. Even though the brakes had been slammed, the car hadn’t stopped—it had kept racing forward like mad. The rattling noise, the feeling of being thrown into the air, and then the sudden crash down.
“Anita, Anita! Are you okay?”
The last thing she remembered was Lilliana’s face, shaking her shoulders and locking eyes with her.
A cool breeze tickled Anita’s cheeks. She lifted her hand to rub her face, not realizing it was the wind brushing against her.
Knock, knock.
Hearing the sound of knocking, Anita frowned.
Knock, knock.
She tried to ask who it was, but no voice came out. Her throat stung. Anita rubbed at her neck as she slowly pushed herself upright.
Now that she was more aware, the feel of the blanket beneath her fingers seemed strange. Squinting against the bright light streaming through the wide-open window, she idly fiddled with the blanket for a long while.
“Anita!”
“Mmm… yes. Yes?”
The sudden clatter of the door opening and the loud voice calling her name finally made her open her eyes.
“You’re awake? How’s your body?”
Anita blinked in confusion, looking back and forth between Lilliana, who stood before her, and the unfamiliar room. Just then, another woman followed Lilliana in and handed Anita a glass of water. Thirsty, Anita took a sip without hesitation.
“……”
She looked around again. When she remained silent, Lilliana, clearly impatient, spoke first.
“Do you remember fainting on the way here? You don’t know how startled I was. I never realized someone could just suddenly collapse like that.”
“Fainting…?”
Anita could hardly believe her ears. Who on earth fainted—
“Still, thank goodness it happened when we were almost here.”
The memories she had been pushing away crept back. At last, she recalled her embarrassing behavior in the car. To think she had tried to keep up appearances, pretending nothing was wrong, only to faint. She wanted to die from the shame.
“Anyway, if you feel unwell or need anything, ring this bell. I’ll leave it here for you.”
Lilliana set a small bell on the bedside table. After finishing her words, she looked at Anita with pity for a long moment, then turned on her heel and left. The door closed, leaving silence in its wake.
Anita, staring blankly at the space Lilliana had just vacated, shifted her gaze to the woman still standing nearby. With her neatly tied-up hair and white apron, she appeared to be a housemaid working here.
“Please stay lying down. This is the room you’ll be using while staying at the villa.”
“……”
Anita started to get out of bed but was gently stopped by the woman.
“Will you have dinner here in your room?”
“No, I’ll join in the dining room.”
Sharing dinner with the host who had invited her was basic courtesy. For a guest to shut herself away in the guest room would be impolite.
The maid placed a glass of water and some cookies on the table, then left the room.
Alone now, Anita got out of bed and walked toward the window. The seashell curtains hanging there fluttered in the breeze, clinking together with a soft rattle. Curious, Anita touched the rough, bumpy shells before stepping out onto the terrace.
Lilliana’s villa stood perched on a sheer cliff. Anita’s room might have only been on the second floor, but with the drop below, it felt like a hundred meters down.
Gripping the terrace railing, she peered below—only to stagger back as dizziness washed over her. She had never thought of herself as afraid of heights, but the view downward terrified her.
Several yachts, like tiny white specks, floated on the emerald sea. The water looked so refreshing that even Anita, who didn’t much like swimming, felt tempted to dive in.
The sun hung low on the line where the sea met the sky. Entranced, Anita propped her chin on the terrace rail and gazed at the horizon for a long time.
Only when the chill of the night breeze brushed her cheek did she realize how long she had lingered outside.
Knock, knock.
It was the sound announcing dinner time.
In most houses, the kitchen tends to be in a similar place. Anita started down to the first floor absentmindedly, only to be stopped by the maid, who instead led her toward the entrance hall.
When Anita first heard dinner would be served outdoors, she imagined a simple al fresco meal. Perhaps a wooden table set out in the garden, a modest gathering.
But the sight of the garden made her jaw drop. It was far more extravagant than she had expected. The white tablecloths and candlesticks were ordinary enough, as were the bright string lights illuminating the garden and the violinists standing ready to play.
But any sense of normalcy vanished when she saw the fountain. From the mouth of a fish statue, a mysterious liquid burbled out—not water, but chocolate.
Is that… real chocolate?
Anita bent down, extending a fingertip to test it. But just then, someone’s hand lightly caught her wrist and pushed her finger right into the stream of chocolate.
“……?”
Startled, Anita spun around to see who had grabbed her.
“You…”
Brown hair, neatly combed back, and deep hazel eyes. Anita’s face tightened with displeasure at the sight of someone she would rather not deal with.
Why is Finian here?
“My dear Anita, where’s Rutger? Why are you all alone?”
His tone was playful, his eyes sly. Anita had no intention of answering. If anyone knew where Rutger was, it would be Finian—Rutger’s closest friend, unlike Anita, who only hovered vaguely around him.
When Anita just stared at him in silence, Finian tugged at her hand with a mischievous glint in his eyes, as if pressing her to respond. Seeing her chocolate-coated fingertip being drawn toward his lips, Anita recoiled in horror and yanked her hand away.
“What are you doing?”
