When Love Rewinds

To my shock, the lab's security alarm went off.

Right after, Lucy posted on social media again:

[My graduate thesis nearly complete! Here I come—a rising star in pharmaceutical development!]

The photo showed her in a lab coat, wearing full makeup.

Not even wearing a mask, just posing next to a microscope. In her hand was my research journal.

The lab alarm continued blaring.

On the security feed, the two of them were pressed together on the lab table.

Lucy, eyes unfocused, was straddling Leon, her mouth slightly open, moving up and down.

My pristine white lab coat that I'd always taken such care with lay on the floor, buttons torn off.

Though I already knew Leon didn't love me, seeing years of my hard work being trampled still hurt more than I'd expected.

In disbelief, I wiped tears from my face with the back of my hand.

I rushed to the lab.

Leon and Lucy were kissing passionately on the lab counter.

The air had a disgusting, sickening smell.

"Breaking into a restricted lab, stealing research data—I could sue you both into bankruptcy!"

—

Interrupted mid-makeout, Leon wiped the lipstick from his mouth, visibly irritated.

"Come on, Aria. I funded half this lab anyway. They're just a bunch of numbers!"

"You're going to publish this research eventually, so what's wrong with letting Lucy use it for her thesis?"

"Besides, your experiment isn't even finished. Whoever publishes first gets the credit, don't you know that?"

I couldn't believe his nerve and pointed at the security camera.

"I have all the evidence right there."

Leon smirked.

"What wouldn't you do to get my attention, huh?"

I felt the air around me heating up with my visible rage.

Perhaps because he'd never seen me this furious before, he hesitated slightly.

Just then, another message from my father arrived: [He's landed. He'll be at tonight's event too.]

A tall man wearing sunglasses, pulling a suitcase, striding through the airport.

Dressed entirely in a black suit, like a dark shadow.

It was Leon's brother, Zachary Williams.

The man I was arranged to marry.

At the same time, Leon seemed to receive a message as well.

His previously concerned expression instantly transformed into confidence.

"Aria, if you really want to take this to court, go ahead."

"But don't say I didn't warn you—my brother is one of the top lawyers in the field."

He took out a cigarette, about to light it.

"No smoking in the lab!"

I finally grabbed my water glass and dumped it over his head.

Ignoring the man's curses and the woman's screams behind me, I walked away.

Evening brought the first family gathering between the Smith and Williams families before the formal engagement.

Surprisingly, Leon brought Lucy along. I deliberately sat away from them.

Seeing my terrible mood, Leon smugly took a seat next to me, draping his arm over the back of my chair. He blew smoke into the air with a smirk.

"Someone's in a mood?

"Done playing hard to get and now trying to actively provoke me?"

When I didn't react, he leaned in closer.

"I can take you throwing water on me as playful, but you scared Lucy. After dinner, make sure you apologize to her."

Noticing my bare fingers, he frowned.

"Where's the ring I gave you?"

I finally turned to look at his face, frowning.

"You're in the wrong seat. This is for the head of the table."

My stare made him instinctively put out his cigarette, but then he felt embarrassed.

"What's the problem? Today is basically our public engagement. I'm the main person here, aren't I?"

Before he finished speaking, the private room door opened.

A tall figure walked in, custom leather shoes making crisp sounds against the marble floor.

Leon immediately stood up, glaring down at me arrogantly.

"Still planning to sue? My brother's really here."

He turned to greet the person walking in, his face full of ingratiating smiles.

"...Zach!"