Around seven in the evening, Elena called Jason.
Elena: Jason, will you have dinner with me tonight?
Jason: Sure. Why not?
Elena: Really? I thought you’d make up some excuse.
Jason: Who would ever say no to having dinner with you?
Elena: All right, then come soon.
Jason: I’ll be there in a little while.
As soon as the call ended, a smile spread across Elena’s face.
She was quite happy today. She had been in a good mood since morning. She thought she might finally get a chance to talk to Jason properly.
Meanwhile, when Jason hung up, there was happiness on his face too.
But it wasn’t the same kind of happiness Elena felt.
He immediately left his room and looked toward his car parked out front.
A little while later, he reached another expensive car.
Alexander was sitting inside.
Alexander had been in poor health for some time. He was strikingly handsome, but there was always a hint of exhaustion on his face. His doctors had forbidden him from overexerting himself.
Jason opened the car door.
Jason: Let’s go.
Alexander: Where?
Jason: Come with me. I have to go somewhere.
Alexander: Where?
Jason: Just come on. You’ll find out when we get there.
Alexander looked at Jason.
Alexander: You always do this.
Jason: So, are you coming or not?
Alexander gave him a faint smile.
Alexander: Let’s go.
A little while later, the two of them arrived in front of the Rosewood family home.
As soon as Alexander stepped out of his expensive car, Elena’s mother noticed him.
She immediately came outside.
Mom: Oh, son, why are you standing out here? Come inside.
Alexander smiled and nodded.
Alexander: Yes, ma’am.
Elena came outside too.
The moment she saw Alexander, she stopped for a few seconds.
Then she remembered their meeting near the waterfall.
Elena: Oh... you?
Alexander smiled.
Alexander: Yes, me.
Jason looked at the two of them.
Jason: You two already know each other?
Elena: We’ve only met once.
Alexander: Yes, that day in the rain.
Elena laughed.
Elena: I almost fell down the stairs because of you.
Alexander: But I caught you.
Elena: Yes, but you were the one who bumped into me in the first place.
Alexander started laughing too.
Jason remained silent as he watched them.
Then his gaze shifted to his mother, who was watching everything from a distance.
The moment Elena’s mother saw Alexander, she had been delighted.
She immediately said—
Mom: Son, come inside. Why are you standing out here for so long?
Alexander: Yes, ma’am.
Mom: You must be tired. Sit down. I’ll get you something.
Elena: Mom, dinner’s about to be served.
Mom: So what? At least give him something to drink first.
Ryan sat on the sofa, watching everything.
He came over to Elena and whispered—
Ryan: Sis, what’s gotten into Mom today?
Elena: How should I know?
Ryan: Is this guy really that special?
Elena laughed.
Elena: Be quiet. He’s our guest.
Ryan: Jason’s a guest too.
Elena shot him a glare.
Ryan: Okay, I’m quiet.
Alexander smiled as he listened to everyone talking.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of warmth in someone’s home.
Elena’s mother kept asking him what he liked, what he wanted to eat, and how he was feeling.
She knew Alexander came from a very wealthy family, so she was taking especially good care of him.
Elena found this changed version of her mother a little strange.
A little while later, everyone sat down at the dining table.
Elena placed food in front of Alexander.
Elena: Eat a little at a time.
Alexander: I’m not that sick.
Elena: You certainly look like it.
Alexander looked at her.
Alexander: What?
Elena: I mean... you look a little weak.
Alexander: Yes, I haven’t been feeling well lately.
Elena: Do you see a doctor?
Alexander: Yes.
Elena: Then you’ll get better.
Alexander said nothing.
He simply looked at her.
Even such an ordinary remark had touched him deeply.
For years, people had talked to him about his money, business, and property.
No one had ever asked him so warmly whether he would get better.
Annie suddenly asked—
Annie: Alexander, are you Jason’s friend?
Alexander: Yes.
Annie: Then are you like Jason too?
Jason immediately said—
Jason: Annie!
Everyone burst out laughing.
Alexander started laughing too.
Alexander: No, I’m not like Jason.
Elena joked—
Elena: Good. One Jason is enough.
Jason: That’s enough jokes.
Elena started laughing.
After dinner, Elena went out onto the porch.
The rain had started again.
A little while later, Alexander came outside too.
The two of them stood a short distance apart, watching the rain.
Alexander: Do you really like the rain that much?
Elena: Yes. What about you?
Alexander: I didn’t used to like it that much.
Elena: And now?
Alexander looked at her.
Alexander: Now I like it.
Elena smiled.
Elena: Everything feels nice in the rain.
Alexander: Maybe.
They were both silent for a while.
Then Elena looked at him carefully.
Elena: By the way... did you already know me?
Alexander was slightly startled.
Alexander: Why?
Elena: I don’t know. When I look at you, I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere before.
Alexander gave her a faint smile.
Alexander: Near the waterfall.
Elena’s eyes widened.
Elena: Oh! You’re that guy.
Alexander: Yes.
Elena: You really scared me that day.
Alexander: And you scolded me.
Elena: Because you weren’t watching where you were going, even though you saw me on the path.
Alexander: I guess my mind was somewhere else that day.
Elena laughed.
Elena: Are you watching where you’re going today?
Alexander stared at her for a few moments.
Alexander: Today, my attention is right here.
Elena didn’t understand what he meant.
She smiled and went inside.
Alexander stood there, watching her walk away.
A completely different kind of happiness showed on his face.
He couldn’t understand why seeing a girl for only the second time made him feel so good.
He looked up at the sky.
Raindrops fell onto his face.
For years, his life had passed between illness, medication, and loneliness.
But today...
For the first time, he felt that life wasn’t so bad after all.
Maybe the world really was beautiful.
Maybe he should keep living.
He took a small pillbox from his pocket.
He held it in his hand for a few moments.
Then he took out a pill and swallowed it with water.
Alexander looked toward the window of Elena’s room again.
The light was on inside.
A smile spread across his face once more.
He stood there for a long time.
Meanwhile, Jason was heading toward his room.
Suddenly, he noticed Alexander.
He was looking toward Elena’s room.
Jason stopped there for a few moments.
Then happiness spread across his face.
Jason: So my plan worked.
He smiled quietly and went into his room.
He felt that the scheme he had devised was working perfectly.
Alexander was beginning to fall for Elena.
And that was exactly what Jason wanted.
But Jason didn’t know that in the game he had started for his own benefit...
the biggest move was still to come.