Yeri finally reached out, gently placing her hand over Lianna's.
"You were a pawn in someone else's game," she said softly. "And even then, you face it righteously. That's not weakness, Sister Lianna. That's strength."
Lianna's lip trembled at the words, like they chipped away at years of self-blame.
For the first time, it felt like someone was truly on her side.
"I gambled on the fact that Zahn and I were childhood friends." Lianna murmured, her gaze distant. "We grew up together, and I truly believed that counted for something. I thought… maybe we could go back to the way things used to be. That he could see me the way he once did."
She paused, her voice catching for a moment before she continued, "We only dated briefly before marriage, but our bond went back decades. I thought if I just endured long enough, things would change."
Lianna trailed off, then continued in a mechanical voice, like reciting a sacred law. "I'm certain I followed the family rules since my marriage...always obey and listen to the matriarch. Never shame the family and prioritize its reputation. Never interfere with Zahn's work. Always consult the estate's legal advisors before making a—"
"Wait," Yeri cut in quickly, shivering at the eeriness of Lianna's tone. "Didn't Dr. Neri investigate the drugging incident?"
Even her skin prickled listening to that lifeless recitation. It wasn't just creepy—it was deeply unsettling.
Just imagining someone being forced to live under such rigid, suffocating expectations... It wasn't hard to understand how someone could lose themselves completely.
Trying to live entirely by other people's expectations will slowly makes you forget who you are.
Maybe that's why the supposedly envied and elegant 'Young Madam Neri' always looked so empty inside, despite her flawless clothes and graceful posture.
"I did ask him to," Lianna replied with a hollow smile. "At first, he said it was under investigation," Lianna continued. "But later, he became colder and more distant. Every time I brought it up, he'd look at me with resentment and ask why I was still hung up on it when we're married anyway."
Her smile was faint, bitter.
"Maybe he didn't want to know the truth, maybe he was afraid I really had something to do with it. I thought things will change once our baby arrives but just months after our son was born, he left on a medical mission abroad and stayed away for years."
Yeri stared at her, stunned into silence. No words came to mind that felt appropriate.
Lianna turned to her, her eyes quietly pleading. "Do you think… do you think he left because he thought I'd try another cheap trick? That I might ruin his career somehow?"
She looked at Yeri like she wanted to be told she was wrong.
Yeri hesitated. She didn't know what Zahn Neri was thinking—she wasn't him. So she answered honestly.
"I can't say for sure. But my mom always told me, married couples should share what's in their hearts. Misunderstandings only grow in silence."
Lianna smiled faintly, the sadness in her eyes deepening. If only it were that simple for both of them.
She knew the truth deep down—Zahn had married her out of duty, not love. A sense of obligation and moral responsibility bound him to her. And maybe she had clung to that too tightly, too desperately.
What more could she expect from someone who resented her?
She was nothing more than a foolish woman who had refused to let go—still chained to the past, still hoping for a version of him that no longer existed.
Now she was burdening a young, unmarried girl with her issues.
Is she looking for acknowledgement? Reassurance? Or seeking sympathy?
After a quiet pause, Lianna asked, "Yeri, do you remember what you said about why rebirth dramas are so popular?"
Yeri, in the middle of sipping orange juice, blinked in surprise. "Yeah? Did you watch one?"
Lianna laughed softly at the innocence in her voice. "No, not really. But you were right. On nights I couldn't sleep, I started closing my eyes and imagining those happy moments... I'd picture myself changing things, making different choices. It helped. I actually started sleeping better. And sometimes, I even feel a bit lighter when I wake up."
Yeri stared at her, a bit stunned. Then her brow furrowed in gentle concern.
"Sister Lianna, I might be out of line saying this… but I don't understand. You said you're only twenty-four, right? You're still so young. It's not too late to pursue your dreams. To live the life you want."
She wanted to say more—like how having a child shouldn't trap you in a life filled with misery, sacrificing your own well-being, or how staying in a marriage that only causes pain can do more harm than good—but she held back.
After all, hearing a story for a few minutes doesn't mean you know the person for a lifetime.
This was only Lianna's side, and Yeri wasn't the type to meddle in someone else's family matters.
"It's not too late?" Lianna whispered, "but… I don't know how to start again."
She let out a short, bitter laugh.
"Maybe I just don't want to let go. Maybe I don't want to escape this despair. So no, Yeri… I don't think someone like me deserves a second chance. Rebirth is for people brave enough to change. I'm not."
Yeri was stunned. What kind of toxic attachment is this?
This felt like one of those dark, twisted romance dramas where the female lead is crushed under the weight of love turned poison.
No one should live like this. No one wants to live like this.
Yeri could only guess—maybe it started with emotional manipulation. Maybe it was the pressure from a greedy, controlling family. And if there was no one else to rely on, it made sense to cling to anyone who showed even the smallest hint of kindness.
Even if that kindness faded long ago.
The more Yeri listened, the more she realized: Lianna Neri might not even realize she was slowly destroying herself.
And all Yeri could do was sit there and listen… and hope it made some small difference.
---
After they finished eating and stepped out of the restaurant, they unexpectedly ran into the very man they had just been talking about.
Zahn Neri stood tall in his usual crisp white shirt and blazer like he had rushed straight from work.
Sensing someone's gaze, he turned and looked surprised to see his wife with Yeri Zhi—his patient and Shin's girlfriend.
He walked over with a questioning expression. "You two know each other?"
Lianna, meanwhile, had already straightened her back and lowered her gaze, returning to the composed and impassive Young Madam Neri persona.
Yeri blinked innocently and gave a friendly smile. "Doctor Neri, you're dining here too? Don't you remember? I met Sister Lianna briefly when I was at the hospital."
Zahn's eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to recall the encounter. He did recall the two briefly passing each other then—without a word. Yet now, they seemed oddly close.
After a pause, he gave a noncommittal nod. But his eyes lingered longer on Lianna than necessary, as though trying to read between the lines of something unspoken.
He was about to ask Lianna what she was doing there, especially since their son was still in the hospital, but another woman's voice interrupted him.
"Brother Zahn, I was wondering what took you so long. Everyone's already inside, waiting."
She wore a form-fitting black mini dress, a floral blazer, and stiletto heels. Stylish and striking.
Yeri's eyes flicked curiously toward Lianna, but the latter remained unreadable.
"Is something wrong? Who are they?" the woman asked, stepping closer.
Her eyes flicked over the two from head to toe, the kind of look a socialite might give someone to weigh their outfit against the unspoken rules of high society.
Zahn didn't answer her question. Instead, he looked at Lianna. "You should go. I have a gathering to attend."
Yeri raised an eyebrow. No introduction for his wife? And judging from the woman's outfit, this didn't look like a work gathering.
Lianna simply nodded and gestured for Yeri to leave with her.
As they walked away, Yeri could still hear the woman's coquettish voice behind them.
"Brother Zahn, you're mean. Why didn't you introduce me?"
"If everyone's waiting, let's go," Zahn replied flatly.
Outside, Yeri cleared her throat. "She's probably one of his colleagues. Doctor Neri looked like he just stepped out of the hospital for a bit."
Lianna gave her a faint smile. "Don't worry. There are a lot of women like her around him. I'm used to it."
It seemed her attempt to reassure Lianna hadn't worked.
Yeri wasn't sure if she trusted him too much, was just afraid to confront him, or if she'd just stopped caring.
"You said your school's nearby. Will you be alright getting back?" Lianna asked.
Yeri nodded. "What about you? Did you bring a car?"
Lianna shook her head. "I can't drive. I'm colorblind."
"Ah… right." Yeri had forgotten.
As they parted, Yeri hesitated, then called out, "Sister Lianna… if one day you decide to walk a different path maybe I can help you. Maybe it's not about what you want… but what you need. Don't you want to see how bright the world can be again?"
Lianna's eyes welled up. Her lips moved like she wanted to say something—but in the end, she just smiled and nodded.
Watching her walk away, Yeri couldn't tell if what she just did was right or wrong.
But maybe… it was still worth a try.
Just as she neared the school gate, her phone rang. It was her father.
One of the café staff had a small accident and would be late. He asked if she could cover for a few hours.
Yeri sighed. She had no choice but to agree. Typical Dad, she grumbled internally. 'I just had my debut banquet, and he already has me working.'
She hailed a taxi, grumbling silently.
On the way, a message popped up from Shin: [What are you doing?]
Yeri almost ignored it, but then sighed and replied: [Working part-time.]
If she didn't, who knew what kind of crazy thoughts he might pull next?