"Hugo, you disappointed me," Hera said. She never expected her younger brother to derail at such a critical time.
Hera touched her head with one hand and turned her gaze to Leanna, who was still in shock.
"Can you tell me who she is? Or do you want to blame Lea again for something she didn't do? Huh," Hera sighed deeply, her eyes full of disappointment as she stared at Hugo.
Hugo looked at the video in disbelief. He had no memory of kissing someone behind Lea's back, but the evidence was right in front of him. He couldn't deny that the man in the video was him.
He didn't know what to do and ended up blaming Lea, who had done nothing wrong. Hugo was completely lost.
"Big sister, listen to me. I really don't know what happened here, but I have no memory of that kiss.
You know that Athania is the only one I love, and of course I wouldn't betray her behind her back.
I didn't do anything wrong, and our families were the ones who forced me to marry Leanna.
After marrying her, now you want to blame me for not giving her my heart? Is that my fault or someone else's?" Hugo said without hesitation.
Hugo wasn't wrong about their families forcing the marriage, and it was true he couldn't give his heart to Leanna.
Hera felt a headache coming on dealing with such a stubborn younger brother. He was more upset about betraying Athania than Leanna.
She could hear how dissatisfied he was with the marriage. Unsure of what to do, Hera decided to take Leanna with her for the time being.
Hera realized she couldn't force Hugo to be with Leanna forever. "I understand. We'll talk later.
Lea, you're coming with us," Hera said, looking at Leanna's disbelieving eyes. Leanna nodded quietly in response.
Hera shook her head helplessly. She knew Leanna loved her younger brother, but he returned that love with betrayal.
Hugo was stunned. "Big sister, why would Lea go with you? Leanna and I live together. She's my wife, so it's normal for her to come back with me."
"You don't have the right to tell me what to do. You lost that right when you said you love another woman in front of Leanna," Hera said furiously.
Hugo had no response. He didn't know why it made him uncomfortable that Leanna wasn't returning with him.
"Let's go," Hera said to her Omega and Leanna. Rika nodded and helped Leanna to her feet. Then they left.
Hugo felt an emptiness in his heart, but he didn't know what it was.
He could only watch Lea's back as she walked away, not looking back like she used to.
---
(On Micky's Side)
Micky had left before Hera and the others exited the private room. He walked toward his own private room to meet a client.
He could still conduct business without issue, but his heart was anything but calm.
After finishing, Micky returned quickly. He usually didn't return before meeting up with his friends, but this time was different.
By chance, Micky ran into Athania, who used to be his most beloved older sister. He always sided with Nia over his biological sister.
He didn't know why Nia was there, but he had a bad feeling. His hunch was right—Nia was up to something.
Micky saw her hand a sum of money to a girl he recognized—the same girl who had kissed Hugo earlier.
Suddenly it clicked. That girl. Nia had orchestrated it all. Micky couldn't believe the dark heart hiding behind Nia's pure, gentle facade.
He overheard her voice while hidden behind a wall.
"I won't let Leanna live in peace. I'll be the one who destroys her life.
Hahaha! I'll have everything she has in my grasp. No one will be on her side," Nia laughed loudly, oblivious to her surroundings.
Micky hid, making sure Nia wouldn't notice him. His heart pounded painfully, and he knew he had to leave.
He rushed to his car and sped away, choosing to stay at a nearby hotel to calm down.
Once in his hotel room, he locked the door, leaned against it, and slid to the floor.
He couldn't believe what he had just seen. He always thought Nia was pure and his sister was the one with a dark heart. But now, he realized his sister had only been a victim.
Suddenly, something unexpected came back to him—memories of a past life. Micky had been reborn.
He remembered the moment he saw his sister's lifeless body. She had been pregnant with Hugo's child.
(Flashback to the Past Life)
His sister had never known happiness. Her husband never loved her, and she lived without affection.
Everyone saw her as a crazy woman desperate for love. But no one saw how lonely she truly was.
Micky had been blind to her pain. After her death, he realized the depth of her sadness.
Hugo wasn't there when she was kidnapped by human traffickers. They had demanded money, but Hugo didn't even answer her call. He was with Nia, who had just given birth.
To Hugo, Nia was his treasure, while he made no space for Leanna.
Leanna tried to escape the traffickers but was brutally murdered. Her body had been covered in stab wounds.
Micky had panicked when his secretary informed him of her death. He rushed to the scene.
He saw her lifeless, bloody body, and his world collapsed.
He couldn't speak. His father and older brother stood silently nearby.
When Hugo arrived with a guilty expression, Micky couldn't hold back. He punched the scumbag husband.
"Lea…," Hugo called out, but she would never answer him again.
Micky couldn't forgive either of them—Hugo, or himself—for her death.
Micky had no idea why he had distanced himself from Nia after she married, nor why he hated his sister for chasing Hugo.
But now he understood. His sister had never received the love she craved, and that desperate need had turned her into someone he couldn't stand.
He was furious at Hugo for abandoning her when she needed him most.