The air froze in that instant.

With the situation laid bare, no explanation could suffice.

Kaelan's brow furrowed slightly. "You deliberately told Julian you were leaving, just to wait for me here?"

Kaia didn't answer.

Because she already had the answer she needed.

Maybe there could be two men in the world who looked identical. Maybe two men could have the same name.

But when all the coincidences piled up, it was no longer a coincidence.

Kaia stared at the teddy bear keychain clutched in his hand, her throat so dry and raw that every word she forced out was a hoarse rasp.

"Why did you lie to me?"

Kaelan watched her in silence, his dark eyes betraying no emotion.

Kaia refused to accept it. She took heavy steps, one by one, until she stood before him.

She reached out her hand, the name "Ky" that had been resting on the tip of her tongue about to be spoken.

But Kaelan took a step back.

He stood in the shadow cast by the open door, his voice finally breaking the silence, cold and distant. "I am not the Kaelan you love."

Kaia's mind went blank for a moment.

But she quickly understood what he meant.

Two identities. Two lives.

The Kaelan she had loved "died" at twenty-five.

The Kaelan standing before her began to "live" at twenty-five.

He was Kaelan Vaughn, the sole heir of a powerful family, but he was not her Ky.

After five years, Kaia felt the same heart-wrenching pain she had felt when she thought Kaelan had died.

Her eyes were bloodshot. She wanted to be calm, to talk things through properly.

But the moment the words left her mouth, they turned into a barrage of accusations. "Then why did you come here today? Why do you still have this key? And at the hotel, you knew I was coming, you deliberately pretended to kiss the wrong person—why?!"

Kaelan just stood there, his voice cold. "Does it matter?"

That single question ignited the emotions Kaia had suppressed all night. She completely broke down.

"So you were never in any difficult position, were you?"

"Last night, I was even making excuses for you, thinking maybe it was because of your status, your position, that you had no choice! The truth is, you just got tired of me, but you were afraid I'd cling to you, so you faked your death five years ago and just walked away!"

"Kaelan, you could have just told me! Why did you have to use a fake death to make me suffer?"

"Five years… I've been in pain for five years! You must be so proud of yourself, aren't you?!"

"Kaia!" Kaelan's sharp voice cut her off.

He stared at her deeply, offering only one sentence. "Leaving New York is the right choice."

"Have a safe trip."

Then, he turned and left.

In an instant, his back disappeared around the corner of the stairwell.

Kaia could no longer hold herself up.

She collapsed onto the floor by the entrance, her hands covering her face, and sobbed uncontrollably.

…

When Julian arrived at the rental, the living room was in chaos.

All the packed boxes had been torn open. Photos, clothes, and various decorations were scattered across the floor—some shattered, some crumpled.

And in the middle of it all sat Kaia, hugging herself tightly, her head buried between her knees.

"Kaia!" Julian’s heart sank. He rushed forward and gripped her shoulders.

Kaia lifted her head, her eyes empty and lifeless. "What are you doing here?"

Julian hesitated for a moment, then told her the truth. "Kaelan Vaughn asked me to check on you."

"Kaelan Vaughn?" The name made Kaia's body tremble slightly.

She took a few seconds to process it, a suspicion slowly forming in her mind. "You… you knew all along?"

Julian looked away, filled with guilt. "I'm sorry."

Kaia fell silent.

After a moment, she let out a self-deprecating laugh. "When did you know?"

"The moment you showed me the photo," Julian said slowly, each word deliberate. "After you left, I went to him to confirm it."

"I see." Kaia murmured, feeling more and more like a fool.

A truth Julian had understood with a single glance, she had to verify again and again, losing her last shred of dignity in the process.

Kaia’s gaze fell on the photo of them on the floor, which she had torn in half.

For the past five years, these memories of Kaelan had been her only comfort in the lonely nights.

Now, looking at them, they felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

The overwhelming emotions returned.

Kaia dug her nails into her flesh, just to manage a calm question. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Julian's face was filled with pity. He was silent for a long while before finally saying, "He's getting married."