By Zephyria 
Koi froze as if turned to ice when the manager hurried over. He quickly pushed past the staff, pulled out another menu book, and began to speak.
“I apologize, guest. This one is the correct one. We were changing the menu books and mistakenly gave you a sample. Please understand.”
The manager handed Koi two different menu books, one on each side, and immediately collected the previous one. The new menu book Koi received was identical in price to the one she had seen before.
“Oh, I was so surprised! I thought the prices were astronomical.”
Julie laughed, patting her chest. But Koi couldn’t bring herself to smile. The manager’s words didn’t make sense. He said they were changing the menu books, but the one she had just received was no different from the one she had been given moments ago. The only difference was the amount.
…Could it be?
Ashley’s face, smiling at her, flashed in her mind. What had Ash said when she first came here? That the prices were like this because it was a membership club? So, was this a members-only menu book? No, if it was a membership club, only members would come. Then there wouldn’t be a need for a separate members-only menu book.
Maybe Ash lied to me…
Julie was still talking, but Koi couldn’t concentrate. Her mind kept returning to Ashley, repeating endless questions.
“Hoo.”
After excusing herself, Koi went to the restroom. She washed her face with cold water to compose herself. She checked her phone, but there were still no missed calls.
Should I contact him first?
She told herself she had to wait for Ashley, but that was just an excuse. She realized that the fear of Miss Burness still lingered in his heart.
Get a grip, Ashley is what’s important right now.
Koi slapped her cheeks hard several times, then looked at herself in the mirror, steeling her resolve. Once the examination was over and he had some free time, Ashley would contact her. She had looked it up; when a rut came, it lasted at least two days, and sometimes up to five days of sleep.
He said he had briefly regained consciousness but then fell asleep again, so she would have to wait a bit longer.
Even with simple calculations, there was still time left. Don’t be impatient, she told herself.
First, think about why I came here.
Koi tried her best to be calm. She had come here to sort things out before meeting Ash again. It was also a courtesy to Ae. For now, she should focus on Julie.
If Ash lied to me, it was for my own good.
Hoo, she let out a deep sigh, comforting herself, and returned to the table. Fortunately, time passed uneventfully until they finished their meal. As they were paying and leaving, they bumped into someone who was just entering. Unlike Koi, who instinctively stepped back, Julie stopped in her tracks, her face lighting up.
“Oh, Mel! Meeting you here!”
“Julie!”
Seeing them holding hands and greeting each other warmly, they seemed to be close friends. Koi stood there, watching them blankly. The elegant beauty, who looked like a young lady from a wealthy family, was smiling with a radiant face. Julie continued to speak.
“How have you been? It’s so good to see you, how long has it been?”
“I know, right? I’ve been well. I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch, I’ve been a bit busy.”
Seeing the shy smile and the ring on her clasped hands, Julie’s face brightened even more as she spotted the man standing behind her.
“Oh, really? Seriously?”
“Yeah,” her friend nodded, and introduced the two of them to each other. Upon hearing the word “fiancé,” Julie beamed and opened her arms wide. The two embraced affectionately, looking at each other with sparkling eyes, then Julie stepped back.
“Tell me all about it later, promise.”
“Yeah, I’ll call you.”
Her friend glanced at Koi, then gave Julie a meaningful look before leaving. Watching her friend’s retreating back, Julie finally turned to Koi with an apologetic expression and said,
“I ran into my friend unexpectedly. It’s been so long, I got carried away. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. It happens when you meet someone after a long time.”
Koi answered readily, took the car keys from the staff member, and got into the car. While driving Julie home in the car Ariel had lent her, Koi broke the awkward silence.
“She seems like a close friend.”
Julie nodded and readily added,
“We’ve been friends since high school, she’s really kind. Her family is very wealthy, but she never shows it off, and she’s always quiet, so everyone liked Mel. I haven’t been in touch because I’ve been busy, but I didn’t know she was engaged. It’s a relief she seems okay now.”
“Something bad must have happened.”
As she turned a corner, Julie sighed and replied,
“She almost got engaged in college, but it fell apart. She went through a lot then. I don’t know the exact reason, but that man was in the wrong, absolutely.”
As if recalling the memory, Julie spoke with a somewhat agitated voice.
“Anyway, how could she have gotten involved with such a bastard? She was so unlucky.”
Julie’s house began to appear in the distance. Koi, thinking of what to say to her, replied dismissively.
“She was unlucky. But it’s good she met someone good now.”
“That’s true. Oh, you can park over there.”
The car stopped where Julie indicated, and she said with a smile,
“Well, it’s not like she’d meet another bastard like Ashley Miller.”
Koi, who was about to unbuckle her seatbelt and get out of the car, froze. It took her a few seconds to react.
“…What did you just say?”
Ariel, sitting in the living room reading a book, jumped up at the faint ringing of the doorbell and headed for the door.
“Welcome, you did well today, right? What did Julie say…?”
Ariel’s voice gradually faded. Koi walked past her, heading straight for the living room. The smile disappeared from Ariel’s face, which had been lit with curiosity and welcome, and Ariel hurried after Koi.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Watching Koi anxiously as she poured a full cup of water in the kitchen and drank it down, Koi wiped her wet lips and finally spoke.
“Ae, I have something to ask you.”
“Uh, uh-huh. Tell me, quickly.”
Ariel stammered, which was unusual. Waiting with her brow furrowed by a bad premonition, Koi asked in a low voice,
“Did you know Ash was engaged before?”
Ariel was momentarily flustered and speechless. Seeing her wide eyes and open mouth, Koi muttered with a sense of futility.
“You knew.”
Ariel tried to say something but soon gave up and lowered her gaze. Unable to meet Koi’s eyes, she hesitated before speaking.
“I didn’t have a chance to tell you.”
“You should have! You knew!”
Koi exclaimed, uncharacteristically emotional.
“You knew I’d come this far, only looking at Ash for over ten years, so why…?”
Having said that much, Koi covered her face with both hands. Letting out a stifled sigh, she apologized in a devastated voice.
“I’m sorry.”
Her voice was muffled by her hands, making her pronunciation unclear. But Koi continued, still covering her face.
“I know it’s not your fault. I’m the one who came here, regardless of whether Ash had someone else. …I should have known that even if I’m alone now, I could have done that in the past.”
Through her trembling breaths, she poured out her words.
“Ash told me, he said it was always only me, that I was the only one he loved.”
“Koi.”
“He said it was only me, like me, that he only loved me, and so I… if he hadn’t said that, I… this… like this…”
“Koi.”
Ariel hugged her friend urgently and confessed quickly.
“I’m sorry, I should have told you sooner… You were so happy, I couldn’t say anything. It was a long time ago, and I didn’t think you’d find out like this. I knew Ash was deceiving you… but you were so happy, and I thought maybe Ash’s feelings had changed… I’m sorry, Koi. I’m truly sorry.”
Koi could only let out ragged breaths, her face still buried in her hands. For a while, Ariel just held her. Koi, who seemed to have finally regained some composure, spoke.
“Is there anything else?”
Her voice hoarse, she continued.
“Anything else you know about Ash deceiving me?”
Ariel couldn’t answer immediately. She swallowed hard and hesitated, saying, “Well,” then let out a sigh and confessed.
“Ash doesn’t love you.”