Chapter 4

Selena's POV

Christian's expression instantly turned grim. "Selena Gunn! How can you still be this malicious?"

He jumped up from his seat and bellowed, "Why can't you just give in to Freya for once? She's been raised by the family since she was young! Who are you to ask her to leave?"

I looked up at him with a deadpan expression. "What about me, then? Isn't that my home, too? I merely asked a single hypothetical question, yet you're already this furious. Has there ever been a moment of fairness between us? And let me remind you again that I'm Selena Lister, not Selena Gunn."

Christian tried to speak up, but he had no counterargument. He looked away, turned, and strode out of the office, never appearing before me again for the next few days.

I was more than happy to have the peace and quiet as I threw myself entirely into the final preparations.

I received an encrypted call on the morning of the final day. "Your identity erasure has been processed, and your records have been transferred. You'll be discreetly extracted at 8:00 pm tonight, so please have all your personal affairs wrapped up beforehand, Ms. Lister."

Just as I was packing up my belongings, Christian showed up at my office again, looking conflicted. "Mom and Dad said they'd consider your demand. They said that if you two genuinely can't live together once you return home, they'll discuss the matter of Freya moving out then."

I didn't know what to feel about this. In my previous life, they made every effort to avoid me, yet this time around, their stance had softened. I remained silent for a moment before saying, "Okay. I'll head back with you."

I decided to treat it as a proper final farewell.

Christian looked pleased. "Let's go, then. The car's parked downstairs.

…

The scenery outside the window zipped past, gradually shifting into familiar streets until we pulled into the very villa that had trapped me for a decade.

Yet, right as I walked through the door, I caught the sound of someone weeping. Freya was on the couch in the living room, holding Mom's arm and sobbing uncontrollably. "I don't want a sister! Isn't this my house? Why should I move out just because she's back? Do you guys not want me anymore?"

Mom gently patted her back, looking distressed. "It's going to be alright, Freya. No one is asking you to move out. Please stop crying, alright?"

Dad was sitting off to the side, his brow furrowed deeply.

Freya sprang off the couch once she spotted me walking through the door. She pointed at me and yelled, "Get out of my house! Who allowed you to come here?"

Christian scowled as he stepped forward to reprimand her. "Watch your mouth, Freya."

Freya paused for a beat, then sobbed even harder, throwing herself into Mom's arms. "Christian actually yelled at me, Mom! He took an outsider's side over mine! I don't want to live anymore!"

Mom went pale with fear as she gathered Freya into a tight embrace. "How can you say that? I won't allow anyone to yell at you as long as I'm here, Freya!"

Christian remained in place, a grim look on his face. He had no choice but to turn toward me when neither Mom nor Dad bothered to look at me. He then asked softly, "Why don't you stay at the other villa for the time being, Selena? We'll discuss this after Freya calms down."

"Didn't you say that Freya was the one moving out?" I asked.

Christian's expression shifted slightly before he sighed. "Look at the state she's in right now, Selena. What if something happens to her again? Why don't you just give in to her one last time?"

I looked at the four people before me and smiled, amused that I had held onto hope for them up until this moment. "That won't be necessary."

I looked away and said calmly, "I'm heading back to the research institute."

Christian froze for a second before saying, "I'll give you a ride."

Freya yelled through her tears, "You're not allowed to give her a ride! Nobody is allowed to give her a ride!"

Christian looked torn. He hesitated for a moment before muttering under his breath, "Be careful on your way back then."

I turned on my heel, opened the door, and walked out without a second glance.

…

Third-Person POV

It took the Gunns all afternoon just to calm Freya down. She eventually wore herself out crying, ate a little, and finally went upstairs to rest.

Tricia Foster, Selena's mother, sat on the couch, rubbing her temples. "Selena really had to put up with a lot today, but after what happened to Freya in our previous life, it's only natural we're being extra cautious this time."

Joseph Gunn, Selena's father, nodded in agreement. He remained silent for a moment before saying, "We promised Selena that we'd have Freya move out eventually. Selena is still our daughter, so I'm certain that she wouldn't really want to stay away from home forever."

Tricia let out a sigh. "That's a relief, then."

Christian remained in his seat, his elbows on his knees and his brow still furrowed. He couldn't stop thinking about how distant Selena had been these past few days and the way she had firmly walked out of the Gunn residence.

He grew even more anxious with each passing thought. He couldn't help but wonder if it was possible that Selena would never return. He abruptly stood up, grabbed his coat, and walked to the door. "I'm going to the research institute to look for Selena."

He sped down the road, streetlights whizzing past one by one. He had just rounded the last corner when he caught sight of the research institute in the distance. He was horrified by what he saw—dense smoke was streaming upward while raging flames engulfed the building.