Chapter 7: The Man Behind Everything

Ivan stood frozen in the garden.

No one spoke for several seconds.

The silence was finally broken by Yuna.

"Ivan, what are you hiding from us?"

Ivan's face immediately turned pale.

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

Yuna stared at him.

"Then why are you so afraid?"

Ivan opened his mouth, but no words came out.

I watched the scene quietly.

For years, I had been the one standing alone while everyone protected Ivan.

Now, they were finally beginning to question him.

Serena stepped toward Ivan.

"Tell us the truth."

Ivan's eyes reddened.

"I already told you everything. Leon has always hated me. He wants to destroy my life because you chose me instead of him."

I almost laughed.

Even now, he was still using the same trick.

Then his thoughts reached me.

'I need to make them remember what Leon supposedly did. If they believe he was dangerous, they'll stop questioning me.'

I looked at him coldly.

"You should stop pretending."

Ivan's body stiffened.

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean."

I took out my phone and opened another file.

It contained records from years ago.

Hospital records.

Financial transfers.

Messages.

And most importantly, evidence showing that Ivan had deliberately manipulated every situation that turned the women against me.

Yuna stared at the screen.

Her hands began to tremble.

"This... this was from the year of the accident."

I nodded.

"Yes."

Laura stepped closer.

"Why does this record say that Leon paid the hospital expenses?"

Yuna's face turned white.

I answered quietly.

"Because I did."

"But Ivan told us..."

Yuna stopped speaking.

Everyone already knew what Ivan had told them.

He had claimed that he was the one who secretly paid for her treatment.

He had made them believe that I had abandoned her.

Serena looked at Ivan.

"Did you lie to us?"

Ivan's lips trembled.

"No! I can explain!"

Laura's voice shook.

"Then explain it."

Ivan took a step backward.

His thoughts became frantic.

'The records are incomplete. I can still escape. I just need to make them believe Leon forged them.'

I smiled bitterly.

"Go ahead. Tell them I forged everything."

Ivan looked at me in shock.

"You... you heard me?"

The garden became completely silent.

Serena's eyes widened.

Yuna stared at Ivan in disbelief.

"What did you just say?"

Ivan realized his mistake.

He immediately covered his mouth.

I looked at him calmly.

"You've been wondering how I always knew what you were planning."

His face became deathly pale.

"You can hear my thoughts?"

"Since the day my mission failed."

Laura's expression changed.

"Mission?"

I didn't answer.

There was no reason to explain the system to them.

The truth about Ivan was enough.

Serena suddenly grabbed his arm.

"What else have you lied about?"

Ivan tried to pull away.

"Let go of me!"

For the first time, fear replaced his innocent expression.

Yuna looked at him with tears in her eyes.

"Were you the reason Leon was sent to that rehabilitation center?"

Ivan went silent.

That silence was enough.

Yuna staggered backward.

Laura covered her mouth.

Serena stared at me with horror.

They were finally remembering.

Every punishment.

Every accusation.

Every time they had chosen Ivan over me.

The system suddenly sounded in my mind.

'Warning. Remaining life span: 31 hours.'

I looked at the sky.

Only thirty-one hours remained.

I didn't care whether Ivan was punished anymore.

I had already decided to leave this world.

But before I could walk away, Serena suddenly knelt in front of me.

"Leon... please don't leave."

I looked down at her.

She was crying.

"I finally understand what I did to you."

I quietly shook my head.

"You understood too late."

Then I turned around.

This time, no one tried to stop me.