Lucian had spent the morning at his office, catching up on work after grabbing a quick breakfast. Meanwhile, Lia had just wrapped up her vocal lessons and was feeling the itch to get out and do some much-needed shopping.

Felix, for once, was on time, waiting for her downstairs as they set off together. Surprisingly, their ride was unusually peaceful—no bickering, no teasing, just casual conversation and music playing softly in the background.

As soon as they arrived at the mall, Lia took a deep breath, exhaling in pure happiness.

"Ahh… It's been months since I last went shopping."

Felix scoffed. "Oh, really? So the t-shirts you sneakily added to your closet last week just magically appeared?"

Lia huffed. "That doesn't count. Online shopping is completely different from physically walking into stores."

Felix rolled his eyes. "Wow, someone is in denial."

Lia ignored him and practically skipped into the Celine store, her eyes lighting up as she browsed through the latest collection.

However, what she didn't notice was that someone else was in the same store.

On the opposite side, a sharp, demanding voice rang through the air.

"Get me that dress!"

A sales clerk nervously scrambled to grab the item as a woman stood there, her arms crossed, tapping her foot impatiently. It was none other than…Ophelia.

Her basket was already overflowing with clothes, but her dissatisfaction was evident.

"Are you sure, Miss? It might not really suit your style—"

"What do you know?" Ophelia scoffed, cutting the poor woman off. "Your sense of fashion is obviously nonexistent. Just put it in my basket."

The clerk hesitated but did as she was told, carefully adding the dress while Ophelia strode ahead with an air of superiority.

Meanwhile, across the store, Felix held up two shirts, looking at Lia expectantly.

"Okay, which one?"

Lia barely glanced before pointing. "That one’s nice. The other? Hard pass."

Felix laughed, shoving the rejected one back on the rack. Then, he picked up a tank top and held it up against her.

"This would look cute on you." His eyes flickered between the top and Lia, a teasing smirk on his lips.

Lia grinned and dramatically placed a hand on her chest. "Oh my, what beautiful taste you have, Lady Felix."

Felix burst into laughter as Lia chuckled along, completely unaware that someone had just noticed her.

Across the store, Ophelia had been in the middle of inspecting another dress when she heard the laughter. It was light, teasing, familiar.

Something about it made her pause.

She turned her head, scanning the store until her gaze landed on a silhouette moving past the clothing racks.

Her breath hitched.

Her vision blurred for a second, her mind refusing to process what her eyes were seeing.

A woman. Long, dark hair. The way she carried herself.

Her stomach twisted in knots.

No. It can't be.

Her fingers trembled as she clutched the dress in her hands, her heart pounding.

"Apr… April?" she whispered, barely able to get the name out.

Memories crashed into her like a tidal wave.

The screaming. The struggle. The way April’s body had disappeared beneath the cold ocean waves. The final desperate cry for help—one that no one answered.

She had drowned.

She had died.

So how… how was she standing here?

Ophelia’s throat went dry, and she blinked rapidly, her pulse hammering in her ears.

"Miss… are you okay?"

The store clerk's voice pulled her back.

Ophelia flinched, whipping her head toward the woman.

She turned back—but the figure was gone.

She scanned the store frantically. Nothing. No sign. No trace.

Her hands clenched into fists.

"I couldn't have imagined it."

It was her. She was sure of it.

Ophelia swallowed hard, her jaw tightening as she stared at the empty space where she swore she had just seen her dead sister.

The store clerk, now visibly nervous, tried again. "Um… Miss? Are you sure you're alright?"

Ophelia ignored her.

Instead, she kept staring.

April was back.

And if she was back… that meant everything Ophelia had built was at risk of shattering into pieces.