Late Love, Empty Hands

Even though my parents comforted Vicky, they never allowed her back in the house again. Dad stopped personally managing her affairs after that.

When she graduated and wanted to study abroad, she came to the house, carrying gifts and pitifully begging my parents for a loan.

Mom was a generous woman, so she had her secretary transfer 500 thousand dollars to Vicky.

Before leaving, Vicky came to say goodbye and ran into Ivan, who had just returned from graduate studies abroad.

The next day, Vicky gave the money back to Mom, saying she had thought it over and decided to stand on her own feet. She would work first and save up enough before going abroad to study.

Vicky stood there in plain clothes with a firm expression on her face. Ivan, who was just about to leave, couldn't help but be impressed by her.

A month later, Vicky joined my family's company and became Ivan's secretary.

I had warned Ivan that Vicky's intentions weren't pure and that she got close to him for a reason.

However, he simply said, "Iris, not everyone lives in a world of romance like you."

But less than a year later, he had allowed Vicky to move into his apartment.

On the highway, I sped recklessly, while Vicky gripped the door handle tightly.

"Iris, you need to think about safety even if you're upset."

Vicky entered the villa. I didn't go inside but stayed in the car, staring blankly into the distance.

I knew better than anyone what was about to happen between Ivan and Vicky.

I wasn't jealous.

In my previous life, my brutal death had dragged my parents to ruin. It had shown me clearly that my love for Ivan was poison to him, like arsenic.

Vicky's words in the car confirmed it once again.

"Iris, he's your brother. Your twisted feelings for him forced him to study abroad. Now that he has me, it's time for you to let him go."

So, it turned out that Ivan had known about my feelings for him for a long time. He went abroad to study in order to avoid me.

If I had known earlier, I never would have undone my shirt buttons in front of him in my previous life when I saw how much he was suffering while giving him water.

Right before Vicky got out of the car, she said something else to me. "You've grown up. It's time for you to find someone suitable for marriage."

She must have been worried that I would interfere with her relationship with Ivan. But I no longer had any lingering feelings for him.

I sat in the car all night. When dawn came, I finally opened the door and went upstairs.

Ivan came down in his pajamas. He asked, "Where were you last night?"

The marks on his neck were definitely Vicky's doing. His voice was hoarse and lazy.

I replied, "I went to see Amelia."

Amelia Hackett was my best friend. Ivan had met her before.

He was still checking up on me. Perhaps he had let go of his past resentment. I quietly hoped we could return to a normal sibling relationship.

"I know you look down on Vicky's family background and think she's poor, but I'm telling you she's the woman I must marry. You should treat her with respect from now on."

When had I ever looked down on her family background? I couldn't hide the questioning look on my face.

"Don't act so arrogant. She put herself at risk to clean up the mess you caused."

I became even more confused.

"What do you mean?"

Ivan's patience was thinning.

"Don't tell me… Were you the one who gave me the drug last night? Vicky is such an innocent young woman. She intended to give herself to me on our wedding night. But you ruined it."

"I didn't."

I spoke loudly, defending myself.

Indeed, I had loved Ivan for many years, but I would never use such dirty tricks.