Anneliese caught every word Jonathan said.


    Her eyshes quivered. A fineyer of tears slid down her cheeks, and she stopped sobbing, her vision slowly clearing.


    There it was—his gaze, earnest and pressing, soft yet powerless.


    She drew in a steadying breath, letting her hups settle before speaking.


    "So you really never had a first love that stuck? But everyone—your friends, your cousin, your mom-they all insist you''ve had someone on your mind for over a decade. I even saw the room you prepared for her. You put so much effort into it..."


    Noticing herposure returning, Jonathan cautiously took a small step closer. Hisrge hand cradled her wet face, his thumb brushing the red-tinged corners of her eyes.


    "Even if I had a first love, there''s no need for jealousy or pain, because she—"


    Anneliese''s eyes narrowed sharply at his words, and the brief relief she''d felt vanished instantly.


    Before he could continue, the elevator doors opened with a chime. A familiar, startled elderly voice rang out from outside.


    "Anne! What on earth are you two doing?"


    Startled, Anneliese turned past Jonathan and saw her grandma at the doorway, brows furrowed as she scrutinized them.


    "Grandma? Weren''t you asleep?" Anneliese eximed.


    She remembered that Nishay had already gone to bed when she left home.


    Of course, Nishay had followed her. She''d noticed signs over the past few days that her granddaughter might be in love.


    A peculiar text that evening had confirmed her suspicion, though Anneliese hadn''t shared it, leaving Nishay worried.


    She had slept lightly, caught the movement, and tracked her granddaughter, taking another elevator down. She searched the building and outside, finding nothing, before heading back, disheartened. But when she pressed the button, there she


    was.


    Late at night, hiding in an elevator with a man, their posture suggesting intimacy— their connection was unmistakable.


    Nishay''s gaze fell on Anneliese''s swollen eyes, frowning deeply, then fixed on Jonathan, who hadn''t even noticed her yet.


    "You brought my granddaughter out in the middle of the night and left her in tears


    like this, right in front of me. Care to exin yourself?"


    Jonathan''s shoulders tensed. His brows drew together.


    He had nned to return to Oceaton and have à proper, calm


    tbe


    conversation with Anneliese, not thrust into this chaotic scend


    before


    a single word could be exchanged.


    Unlike Anneliese, whose memory of those early years was hazy and didn''t even include his name, Nishay had met him before and knew exactly who he was.


    This was certainly not the moment for a revtion.


    Yet there was no avoiding it now. Jonathan met Anneliese''s eyes with unwavering focus.


    She stared back, panic, urgency, and anxiety swirling in her gaze.


    He offered a small, reassuring smile, wrapped an arm around her, and stepped from the elevator.


    "Hi, Ms. Morris. I should have visited sooner, but I''ve been caught up-"


    He didn''t get to finish; Nishay interrupted sharply.


    "What''s your name? How are you connected to Anne?"


    From the instant Jonathan faced her, Nishay studied him closely. Her eyes


    narrowed, and fine lines around her eyes twitched.


    That face-those features. Distinct, striking.


    Even after more than ten years, the neat, guilty expression of that young man was still etched in her memory-and it perfectly aligned with the man before her.


    Yet she clung to a faint hope that it might merely be a coincidence.


    Seeing Nishay''s unreadable, harsh expression, Anneliese panicked and rushed to support her, blurting out,


    "Grandma, his name is Jonathan Fullbuster. We''re together. I''m sorry for keeping it from you..."


    "What did you just say his name was?"


    Nishay turned sharply to Anneliese, then abruptly removed her hand, shaking off the support forcefully.


    From Nishay''s eyes, Anneliese saw pure hurt, betrayal, and disbelief.


    She froze, lips trembling, utterly stunned, tears prickling hot again.


    Nishay, usually gentle, hadn''t snapped at her like this in years. The intensity of her gaze threw Anneliese back to the traumatic years following her adoptive parents'' ident.


    Anneliese was frozen in shock when a protective shadow appeared—Jonathan


    stepped forward, cing himself between her and her grandma.