Just as Aaron was about to say something more, Elena suddenly stood up.
"Forget it," she said flatly, her gaze cold.
"I'm not eating anywhere with my love's enemy."
With that, she turned around and started walking away without sparing him another glance.
Aaron froze for a second.
…What?
"Is this girl crazy?" he muttered under his breath.
"We were talking about food… how did it turn into this?"
Realizing she was actually leaving, he raised his voice,
"Elena—!"
No response.
She didn't slow down.
She didn't look back.
Watching her disappear, Aaron let out a helpless chuckle.
"Well done, Second Brother," he thought.
"You really picked an interesting woman."
They're perfect for each other.
One doesn't think at all…
and the other thinks way too much.
With no other choice, Aaron paid the bill and left the restaurant.
Outside, Elena walked a few steps ahead before stopping.
The anger on her face vanished—
replaced by a mischievous smile.
She hailed a taxi, got in, and leaned back against the seat.
As the car pulled away, her smile only grew wider.
Elena returned home and rested for a while before settling down on the sofa in the living room.
Her mother, grandmother, and grandfather were already there, chatting casually, and Elena soon joined the conversation, her posture relaxed, her expression perfectly normal.
That was when the front door opened.
Ivan and Leo walked in.
The moment she saw them, Evelyn smiled and said warmly,
"You two must be hungry. I've kept some snacks in the kitchen. Go and eat."
Without even turning around, Leo replied while heading straight toward their room,
"No, Aunt. We're not hungry."
With that, he disappeared down the hallway with Ivan.
Evelyn frowned slightly, confusion flickering across her face.
That's strange…
They usually rush to the kitchen the moment they come home. Since when do these two skip food?
Grandma chuckled softly, clearly unconcerned.
"It's fine. They'll eat later if they get hungry."
Elena had been quietly watching everything.
Unlike the others, she hadn't just seen their backs.
She had noticed the bruises on their hands—
and the slight swelling on the side of Leo's face.
But she said nothing.
Instead, she continued talking with her mother and grandmother, laughing at the right moments, acting as if nothing were out of place.
She knew that if she went to their room now, it would only raise suspicion.
So she stayed.
That night, during dinner, Ivan and Leo still didn't come out.
They had asked for their food to be sent to their room instead.
Leo's explanation was simple.
"We have a school project. We're working on it together tonight."
Evelyn nodded in understanding.
It must be something important, she thought. That's why they didn't even come out to eat.
When the others asked why the boys were missing from the table, Evelyn repeated Leo's words. No one questioned it further, and dinner continued as usual.
Elena ate quietly, her behavior completely normal.
After finishing her meal, she went to her room and went to bed—just like any other night.
But when the house finally fell silent…
Elena opened her door.
She stepped into the hallway, her movements light and careful, and walked toward Ivan and Leo's room.
Standing in front of the door, she raised her hand and knocked softly.
Inside, Leo stirred from his deep sleep.
"Who is it…?" he muttered groggily as he opened the door.
The moment he saw her, his eyes widened in shock.
Elena stood there calmly, looking straight at him.
Leo quickly snapped out of it and forced a smile.
"Sis…? Is something wrong? Why are you here so late?"
Elena answered casually,
"Yes. I need to talk."
Before he could react, she gently pushed past him and walked straight into the room.
The moment Elena stepped fully into the room, her gaze went straight to the bed.
Ivan was asleep.
Peacefully.
Like a man who had absolutely no idea that his life was about to fall apart.
Then her eyes shifted to his face.
…Oh.
There it was.
A very clear, very ugly bruise.
Elena didn't gasp.
She didn't rush forward.
She didn't even frown.
She simply stared.
The silence stretched.
Then she slowly turned around.
Leo had just finished closing the door behind them and was standing a little too stiffly, like a student caught outside the principal's office. The bruise on the side of his face was impossible to miss now.
Elena looked at him.
Her eyes were calm.
Her expression was neutral.
And somehow… that was worse.
Leo felt a chill run down his spine.
Okay.
This is bad.
This is very, very bad.
He forced a smile.
"Sis… you needed something?"
Elena didn't answer him.
Instead, she raised her hand and pointed at the bed.
"Wake him up."
Leo blinked once.
Twice.
Wake him up?
That's it?
"…Now?" he asked carefully.
Elena's eyes flicked toward him.
Leo instantly nodded.
"Right. Yes. Of course. Waking him up. Immediately."
She's angry.
Like… calm-on-the-outside, murder-on-the-inside angry.
He turned and walked toward the bed.
"Ivan," he whispered, shaking his shoulder.
"Ivan, wake up. Sis is here."
Ivan groaned and pulled the blanket over his head.
"Leo… if this is about homework, I swear—"
He yawned.
"—why are you waking me up like there's an earthquake?"
Elena quietly reached for the glass of water on the side table.
Leo saw it from the corner of his eye.
His heart dropped.
No.
No no no no.
She wouldn't—
SPLASH.
The entire glass emptied itself onto Ivan's head.
Ivan shot up like he'd been electrocuted.
"WHAT THE—?!"
Water dripped from his hair, his face, his shirt.
For a solid two seconds, he just sat there, frozen, trying to understand where his life went wrong.
Then he heard a familiar voice.
"Well," Elena said calmly,
"no earthquake… but a river did decide to visit."
Ivan slowly looked up.
His eyes met hers.
"S… Sis?" he stammered.
"You're here… at this time?"
Why is my sister standing in my room at midnight?
Why am I wet?
And why does she look like she's judging my entire existence?
Elena crossed her arms.
"I came to check on your school project," she said casually.
Then she lifted a finger and traced the air near his face.
"Looks very… hands-on."
Ivan froze.
Leo froze.
She noticed.
Of course she noticed.
Both boys instinctively raised their hands to their faces, touching the bruises like idiots who had just remembered they were injured.
Elena watched them and slowly sat down on the chair nearby.
"Oh, don't hide them now," she said lazily.
"These are awards."
She tilted her head.
"You should display them proudly."
Leo glanced at Ivan.
Ivan glanced back.
We're doomed, both of them thought at the same time.
Ivan swallowed and spoke first.
"Sis… please," he said quietly.
"Don't tell anyone at home."
Leo immediately nodded.
"Yes, Di. Please. Just… don't say anything."
Elena smiled.
A very small smile.
"That," she said smoothly,
"depends on me."
She leaned back in the chair, completely relaxed now.
"Not on you."
Then she pointed at both of them.
"First," she said,
"you're going to explain—"
Her finger paused on Ivan's face.
Then shifted to Leo's.
"—this decoration."
She looked up at them.
"Every detail."
The room fell silent.
And both Ivan and Leo knew one thing for sure—
There was no escaping Elena tonight.