Silas then gestured toward Vlad and spoke proudly,
"This is Vlad. One of my best friends from college."
Hearing that, Raya tilted her head slightly.
Helena followed Silas’s gaze and looked at Raya with curiosity. "And her?"
Vlad smiled and placed a gentle hand on Raya’s shoulder. "She’s my younger sister."
Helena nodded in understanding, her smile widening. She lifted the tray slightly and said cheerfully,
"Since you’re here, you should try so cookies. I made them myself, suited to young people’s tastes."
Raya shook her head imdiately. "I don’t want to eat."
Her tone was polite but distant. "I don’t take food that belongs to others."
As she spoke, her eyes lingered on Silas for just a mont, sharp and aningful, as if silently conveying sothing only he was ant to understand.
Before the tension could grow, Vlad caught the hint and laughed softly.
"Raya always knew how to joke," he said smoothly. "Just like back then."
Then he turned to Helena, his expression sincere.
"Honestly, I’d really love to have a bite of what you’ve made. It looks incredible."
Helena’s gaze drifted lightly over Vlad before settling back on Raya.
If the reaction had been positive, she would have dismissed it as nothing more than coincidence.
But this ti, she sensed sothing else.... deliberate. ’She is really targetting ,’ she thought, her expression remaining gentle even as her mind sharpened.
To be honest, Helena had not been careless at all.
From the mont she learned that about her daughter’s husband, she knew he would be constantly surrounded by attention, she had quietly investigated everything.
The results had co back quickly, and they had satisfied her more than she expected.
Silas had protected Ivy at every turn, shielding her from every wandering "bee" that dared to circle him.
None of them had managed to harm Ivy except Isla, who had been sly enough to torture her in the dark, out of sight.
Because of that, Helena could say with certainty that Silas was a perfect son-in-law.
Not only that, he had taken decisive action against every woman who dared to target Ivy because of him. Isla included.
Isla had always been like a venomous witch, sneaking around, finding ways to hurt Ivy in silence. So Silas had simply turned her own thods back on her.
In the end, Isla tasted the sa tornt she had inflicted on others.
There was only one woman left.
One who had never directly attacked Ivy, yet had caused her imnse trouble.
With that thought, Helena looked at Raya.
’Perhaps I should use a softer approach from the beginning,’
Helena reflected. ’If she can truly let go of her feelings for Silas, then this couple can finally live peacefully.’
Deciding so, Helena stepped forward and gently took Raya’s hand.
The mont their skin touched, Raya stiffened. Helena t her eyes and smiled softly, her voice warm and calm.
"Sotis," Helena said quietly, "it isn’t about what we already have. It’s about having the courage to try sothing new. When you do, you might discover sothing that suits you far better."
She glanced at the food and continued,
"You might think this was made only for Ivy. But I’d rather say it’s for anyone who wants to change their life. Change itself isn’t sothing to fear."
Raya froze.
For a brief mont, it felt as if Helena could see straight through her.
’Does she know?’ Raya wondered, her heart tightening. ’Is she giving a chance... to turn back?’
She lowered her gaze, thoughts tumbling chaotically. For the first ti, doubt crept in.
’Am I being too extre?’ she questioned herself. ’Is there really a need to hurt Ivy just because Silas chose her?’
Silas had never misled her. Ivy had never promised her anything. They had never betrayed her.
’Then why am I doing this?’ she asked herself bitterly. ’Is it really right?’
Just then, Ivy stepped out of her room.
When her eyes landed on Vlad and Raya, she smiled instinctively though she hadn’t wanted to smile at Raya at all.
In her previous life, Raya had reacted violently after learning that Silas had died protecting Ivy.
The only saving grace back then was that Ivy had been blind, and Raya, out of respect for the disabled, had never openly gone against her.
But she hadn’t stopped hurting her either.
She had often made Ivy painfully aware that if Ivy hadn’t existed, Silas might have survived, might have started a family of his own.
That was the reason Ivy could never bring herself to like Raya.
She understood grief from those who were truly close to Silas but Raya hadn’t even been there when Silas had desperately needed help.
Lost in thought, Ivy glanced at Vlad, who was staring at her without blinking.
Compared to before, Ivy had gained a little weight.
During their university days, she had been thi beautiful in a classic way, yet so thin that people often mistook her for soone sickly.
Now, with a bit of flesh on her fra, she looked undeniably radiant.
Vlad was montarily dazed.
That was, until Silas stepped in front of Ivy.
Realizing his mistake, Vlad quickly lowered his eyes, sha creeping over his face.
"I was just admiring... I didn’t an any disrespect."
Silas didn’t take it to heart. He knew Vlad wasn’t the type to covet another man’s wife.
Instead, he spoke lightly, "Since everyone’s here, it’s ti for dinner."
He turned to Ivy, gently brushing aside a strand of hair that kept falling into her eyes. "At least dry your hair," he said softly. "It’s still wet."
Ivy pouted. "I didn’t have ti."
Silas chuckled. "Then I’ll ask a soldier to use a fire superpower on it."
Ivy rolled her eyes. "You’ve watched too many dramas. There’s a high chance my hair would just turn black and burnt."
Silas laughed. "If that happens, I’ll dry it myself."
With that, he took her hand and led her back inside.
Raya stared at the scene, completely dazed.
Helena stepped into her line of sight and smiled gently. "Co," she said softly. "Let’s sit at the dining table."
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