Chapter 54: The Memories


    He nodded slowly, his voice trembling as he tried to exin the overwhelming emotions he was


    experiencing. "Yesterday... was the day Lily passed away, Lyka. It marked the anniversary of her


    death," he said softly. I stayed silent, allowing him the space to share his feelings.


    "I don''t really know why, but the memories of her flooded back yesterday. Everything that happened


    between us came rushing back, and it left me feeling overwhelmed," he continued, his voice barely


    above a whisper.


    "I felt the need to drown those memories, drown them in alcohol, to try and forget her... forget


    everything."


    "So, I drank all night, hoping to numb the pain. And then morning came," he looked at me with a mix


    of regret and confusion, "and you were there, in my room, when I woke up. I can''t remember what


    happened afterward... I don''t know what I did or said to you."


    I lowered my head in response, closing my eyes momentarily to absorb his words. But inside, I felt


    empty, unsure of how to process it all.


    "Why didn''t you just tell me yesterday? Why keep it a secret?" I asked, mustering the courage to


    confront the situation and looking each of them in the eyes.


    "L-lyka, we noticed something’s going on between you and Sir Kiro," Miss Linda replied, her voice


    gentle. I was taken aback by her honesty and sneezed involuntarily. Turning to Kiro, I asked if he


    had confided in them.


    "You two are too obvious, Lyka." Miss Linda admitted with a sheepish smile.


    At that moment, I realized that Miss Linda and Madam had already seen through the unspoken


    connection between Kiro and me. The nces we exchanged, the way we cared for each other - it


    was all written on our faces. And now, the truth was out in the open.


    A mix of emotions swirled within me - surprise, vulnerability, and a hint of relief that I no longer had


    to bear the weight of this secret alone. I felt grateful for Miss Linda''s candidness, as ufortable


    as it made me at first.


    Miss Linda continued, "We care about you, and we were worried, Lyka. We do not want you to see


    Kiro drinking because of his ex, we don’t want to hurt you." N?velDrama.Org owns this text.


    A sense of vulnerability washed over me, making me feel exposed.


    "Are you saying that you''re not hiding anything from me now? Do you truly care?" I questioned


    Madam, feeling a mix of hope and anxiety.


    "No more secrets, Lyka! We''re sorry," Joday said, her expression reflecting regret.


    I nodded, epting their apology, but I needed space to process everything. "I''m going to rest," I


    announced hastily, eager to escape the tense atmosphere in the room. The weight of his actions,


    driven by memories of Lily''s death anniversary, perplexed me.


    As I left the room, a whirlwind of emotions swirled inside me. Confusion, anger, and a deep sense of


    loss clouded my thoughts. Was I just a recement for Lily in Kiro''s heart? I couldn''t help but


    wonder if his feelings for me were genuine or merely a response to the past. Was it because he


    remembered his dead ex in me?


    I needed time to sort out my own emotions and decide what to do next. One thing was clear – the


    walls that held my heart were getting higher and stronger, and it seemed like nobody would break


    through them.


    Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, I couldn''t help but wonder if I would always have to adapt to


    Kiro''s emotional triggers. Memories of Lily seemed to haunt him, affecting our rtionship and


    making me question my ce in his heart.


    Sitting on my bed, my head spinning with thoughts, I suddenly felt nauseous, and a wave of


    dizziness washed over me. Struggling to keep myposure, I rushed to the bathroom, barely


    making it in time before I vomited into the toilet. My body trembled with both physical and emotional


    turmoil, leaving me feeling weak and vulnerable.


    Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, tears welled up as I tried to make sense of everything. My


    face, usuallyposed, now looked disheveled and worn with the weight of the revtions that had


    just unfolded. I sshed some water on my face, hoping to calm myself down, but the tears kept


    streaming down my cheeks.


    I had believed things were going well between Kiro and me, but now it seemed like everything was


    falling apart. The pieces of our rtionship, once so beautifully arranged, now appeared scattered


    and out of reach. The realization that he couldn''t remember what happened that night shook me to


    my core.


    I felt a mix of anger and sadness, not just for Kiro''s actions but also for the fact that he hadn''t


    confided in me earlier. Why did he keep it a secret? Was our connection not strong enough to


    weather the storm of his grief together?


    The questions circled in my mind, and the uncertainty weighed heavily on my heart. I wanted to be


    understanding and supportive, but I also needed to protect myself from further hurt. It was a delicate


    bncing act, one that I wasn''t sure I was equipped to handle.


    Leaning against the sink, I took deep breaths, trying to steady myself. The sound of running water


    mixed with the sound of my own quiet sobs, creating a symphony of emotions in the small


    bathroom.


    I longed to escape, to have some time to myself, but I couldn''t ignore my family''s dependence on


    me. And what about Kiro and me? It felt like my feelings were genuine, while his were unclear,


    clouded by memories of the past.


    Taking a deep breath, Iposed myself and left the bathroom, only to find Miss Linda waiting for


    me on my bed. Her sudden avoidance had troubled me, and now she appeared concerned about


    my well-being. I was still hurt by her actions.


    "L-lyka, are you alright?" she asked, her voice filled with worry. I didn''t meet her gaze and pretended


    to search for something in the maid''s quarter.


    "I''m fine," I replied, trying to keep my emotions in check.


    "Are you sure you''re telling the truth?" she probed gently. I couldn''t bear her usations.


    "When have I ever lied to you? I''ve always been honest with you since I arrived here…you are the


    only one who keeps hiding something from me," I responded firmly, meeting her eyes with a serious


    look.


    "It''s not like that, Lyka. I''m sorry," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. I couldn''t ignore the


    sincerity in her words, but the pain I felt made it hard to forgive so easily. I turned away, pretending


    to be upied with the cab to hide my tears.


    "L-lyka... that''s not what I meant. I didn''t mean to hurt you. I thought... I thought it would be best for


    both of us if I distanced myself," she exined, her voice cracking as she apologized. I struggled to


    hold back my own tears, trying to appear strong.


    I still do not get her. I do not get her reason at all.


    Taking a deep breath, I finally turned to face her, allowing vulnerability to show. "It hurt when you


    avoided me. I thought of you like a second mother in this mansion, but then you pulled away so


    suddenly," I admitted, my voice trembling with raw emotion.


    "L-lyka, I''m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I was just scared…” she confessed, tears


    streaming down her face. Hearing her honesty softened my heart, and I allowed myself to let go of


    the hurt.


    "I understand, Miss Linda. We all have our struggles," I said, reaching out to hold her hand, offering


    forgiveness.


    We both shed tears.


    "It''s okay, I''m used to it," I replied, trying to put on a brave face despite the tears welling up inside


    me. As Miss Linda approached, I quickly wiped away the tears, not wanting her to see my


    vulnerability. But she could sense my pain, and without a word, she enveloped me in a warm


    embrace.


    "Lyka, my dear, I used to think of you as my own child too," she said, her voice filled with affection


    and sorrow. I turned to face her, holding back my tears as I hugged her back tightly. The floodgates


    opened, and we both cried on each other''s shoulders, finding sce in the shared pain.


    "Miss, I don''t understand what''s happening anymore," I confessed amidst my tears. The burden in


    my chest felt both heavy and light as I clung to her. Herforting hand on my back made me feel


    secure, and I tightened my embrace.


    "You don''t have to understand everything. You can always tell me what you''re feeling," she


    reassured me gently. I nodded, appreciating her support, and we allowed the silence to envelop us.


    At that moment, I realized how much I missed Miss Linda''s presence. Even in the absence of


    words, her love and understanding were enough to make me feel safe and supported. I knew I


    could always lean on her, just as I had done before.