Elena hooked her arm around Damien’s in a gentle motion. "Darling, this is the painting instructor I hired for Felix—Vespera."

Damien looked at the woman before him. He had never seen her before, yet there was something vaguely familiar about her. Unable to place the feeling, he decided to keep his distance to avoid any misunderstandings with Elena.

"Mr. Damien, I’ve long heard of your name."

"Mm," Damien nodded slightly, acknowledging her words. Then, turning to Elena with a soft smile, he asked, "Baby, I was away on a business trip these past few days. Did you miss me?"

"Mm."

"Then let’s go to our room. There’s something I want to tell you."

Standing still, Vespera felt an unbearable ache rising within her. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered to herself, "Who am I?"—"I don’t even know who I am anymore."

The empty living room bore silent witness to her self-mockery.

Dark clouds veiled the moonlight. The wind howled through the trees outside, rustling the leaves in an eerie symphony. Vespera lay in the bathtub, still lost in thought over what had happened earlier that day. Deep within her, it felt as if another voice was whispering, urging her, "Are you hesitating? Are you wavering?"

"No!" Vespera immediately retorted.

The voice, filled with hatred, persisted. "Don’t forget your vengeance. Don’t forget how Sophia ruined you—how she stole your wealth, your identity, and even your man. You must take revenge. For the sake of your revenge, you must use everything at your disposal, including Damien."

"That’s right! I will have my revenge! I will make Sophia pay!" Vespera’s forehead veins bulged, and her eyes turned sharp with fury. Struggling to contain herself, she slowly submerged her head beneath the water, hoping the brief suffocation would clear her mind. "Mother’s whereabouts are still unknown. Only she knows where Mother is. I must stay calm," she reminded herself. Then, with a sudden jolt, she surfaced, gasping for air—only to submerge herself again. Again and again, she repeated the cycle.

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The bathroom filled with a hazy mist, and the warm golden light turned dreamy in the vapor. The bathtub’s rippling water reflected a mesmerizing glow.

Damien rested one hand on the edge of the tub while the other caressed Elena’s face, his thumb brushing against her flushed cheek. He leaned in slowly, their breaths mingling—hot and rapid. Then, his lips crashed onto hers, deep and possessive. Elena closed her eyes, responding to his passion with equal fervor. Their lips melded together, locked in a fervent dance, as though trying to imprint each other into their very bones. The water swayed gently with their movements, splashing tiny droplets into the air.

So painful… so unbearable… why…

Feeling as though she was about to drown, on the brink of suffocation, Vespera finally relented. She broke the water’s surface, clutching her chest as she gasped for breath. Her voice trembled, yet each word was laced with unwavering determination: "So-phia… shall we make another bet? Let’s see if Damien truly loves the name and face of 'Elena'… or her soul."

Inside the dimly lit bedroom, thick curtains blocked out the outside world, leaving only the soft glow of the bedside lamp to cast a gentle light over the room. Damien’s hands traced down Elena’s waist, making her shudder involuntarily. She hooked her arms around his neck, tilting her head up to deepen their kiss, their breathing growing increasingly erratic. Their lips and tongues entwined, interspersed with occasional soft gasps. Damien’s hand slid over Elena’s lower abdomen but paused there, not moving further.

Elena absentmindedly traced circles on Damien’s chest. "Damien, let’s keep going."

Damien’s Adam’s apple bobbed. "You’re still pregnant. It’s not safe. Let’s wait until after the baby is born."

His slender fingers rubbed gentle circles over her stomach, yet his labored breathing betrayed his restraint.

"Then… kiss me again," Elena whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck once more. Damien obliged, sealing her lips with his own.

Outside in the dimly lit hallway, Vespera peered through the narrow gap in the door and silently observed the passion between the two. Her expression remained eerily calm. "A healthy, virile man, forced to abstain because of his wife’s pregnancy. Sophia, just how much does he truly love you? Let’s wait and see." With that, she turned and disappeared into the darkness of the corridor, step by step fading away into the night.