CHAPTER FIVE — THE MOMENT HE CAUGHT HER

Darkness came in fragments.

Voices.

Footsteps.

The sharp scent of expensive perfume mixed with panic.

“Elena!”

“She coughed blood—”

“Call the doctor!”

The noise sounded distant, like water closing over her head.

Then—

Warmth.

Strong arms catching her before her body could hit the marble floor.

For one brief second, Elena thought the system had finally killed her.

But then she heard it.

A heartbeat.

Steady.

Controlled.

Familiar.

Cassian.

Even unconscious, her body recognized him instantly.

How pathetic.

The thought drifted through her fading mind before everything disappeared again.

—

When Elena opened her eyes, silence greeted her first.

Soft golden light flickered against dark walls.

A fireplace burned quietly somewhere nearby.

No orchestra.

No whispers.

No ballroom.

Her breathing slowed cautiously.

A private room.

Not hers.

The realization made her tense immediately.

Then she noticed the coat draped over her shoulders.

Black.

Expensive.

Faintly carrying the scent of cedarwood and smoke.

Cassian.

“…You’re awake.”

The cold voice came from across the room.

Elena’s gaze lifted slowly.

Cassian Arden stood beside the window, sleeves rolled slightly upward, silver eyes unreadable beneath the dim light. His tie had been loosened carelessly, like someone who had been interrupted halfway through losing patience.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Elena sat up too quickly.

Pain exploded behind her eyes instantly.

She sucked in a sharp breath.

Cassian’s expression darkened slightly.

“The doctor said you should rest.”

Elena ignored him.

“What room is this?”

“One of the private suites upstairs.”

“…Why am I here?”

Cassian looked at her for a long moment before answering.

“You collapsed.”

Right.

The blood.

The penalty.

The humiliation.

Elena’s fingers tightened against the blanket.

God.

She could already imagine tomorrow’s headlines.

Lady Elena Causes Another Scene at Arden Gala.

Cassian watched her quietly.

“You don’t remember?”

“I remember enough.”

Her voice came out colder than intended.

Cassian’s gaze sharpened slightly at her tone.

The silence stretched.

Heavy.

Uncomfortable.

Then—

“You really coughed blood.”

Elena blinked once.

What kind of observation was that?

Cassian looked almost irritated by the fact itself.

Like reality had contradicted something he firmly believed.

“You thought I was pretending,” Elena said flatly.

Not a question.

A fact.

Cassian didn’t deny it.

“That would’ve been consistent with your previous behavior.”

There it was again.

That version of Elena.

The one she kept paying for despite never being her.

Something bitter twisted inside her chest.

“You must’ve hated her a lot.”

The words slipped out quietly.

Cassian’s brows furrowed slightly.

“…What?”

Elena realized her mistake too late.

Not her.

Original Elena.

But to Cassian, they were the same person.

She looked away first.

“Nothing.”

The fire crackled softly between them.

Cassian studied her in silence again.

Too carefully.

Like he was noticing details he had ignored before.

Finally, he spoke.

“You’ve changed.”

Elena almost laughed.

If only he knew how literal that statement truly was.

Instead, she replied calmly,

“People usually change after almost dying.”

Cassian’s silver eyes narrowed slightly.

Again.

That phrase.

Near death.

Like she had already experienced it before.

The system screen suddenly flickered weakly at the corner of Elena’s vision.

[WARNING.]

[Male Lead Awareness Increasing.]

Elena internally cursed.

What did that even mean?

Was she supposed to become suspicious now too?

Before she could think further—

A knock interrupted the room.

The door opened carefully.

Seraphina Laurent stepped inside.

And immediately froze.

Her blue eyes landed first on Elena sitting on the bed—

Then on Cassian standing beside her.

Something flickered across her expression.

Brief.

Tiny.

Almost invisible.

But Elena caught it.

Not sadness.

Not concern.

Calculation.

Interesting.

“Lady Elena,” Seraphina said softly, recovering quickly. “I heard what happened. Are you alright?”

Her voice sounded gentle enough to melt ice.

Perfect heroine behavior.

Elena almost admired the performance.

“I’m alive,” Elena replied calmly.

Seraphina smiled faintly, though her eyes lingered on the coat around Elena’s shoulders for a second too long.

Ah.

There it is.

Cassian noticed it too.

His expression became unreadable instantly.

“I told the staff not to let anyone upstairs,” he said coldly.

The room went quiet.

Seraphina looked slightly surprised.

“I was worried.”

“You should be downstairs.”

His tone wasn’t harsh.

But it wasn’t warm either.

And somehow—

That made the atmosphere stranger.

Because in the original novel, Cassian would never speak to Seraphina this way.

He was supposed to soften around her naturally.

Protect her.

Prioritize her.

Instead—

He sounded distracted.

Irritated.

Focused elsewhere.

Focused on Elena.

The system screen glitched suddenly.

[WARNING.]

[Original Narrative Destabilizing.]

[Heroine Route Divergence: 12%]

Elena’s stomach dropped.

No.

No, no, no.

This was bad.

Very bad.

Because if the main storyline broke too early—

What would happen to her?

Seraphina looked between them quietly.

Then she smiled again.

Elegant.

Perfect.

Untouchable.

“I’m glad you’re alright, Lady Elena,” she said softly. “Tonight would’ve been tragic otherwise.”

The words sounded harmless.

But Elena heard the hidden meaning beneath them immediately.

Tonight would’ve been easier if you died.

A chill slid down Elena’s spine.

Not because of fear.

Because suddenly—

For the first time—

She wondered something horrifying.

What if Seraphina wasn’t as innocent as the novel claimed?