As the car door opened, Aika felt the bite of the cold night air. But it wasn't the cold making her teeth chatter; it was the sheer adrenaline .aika thought be like 

Stop it. Stop smiling! Why can't I stop this stupid habit? She felt her lips curling into a stiff, nervous smile. In her past life, she smiled when she was scared to hide her weakness, but here, in the body of a "Villainess," a smile looked like a death threat. Aika, be calm. This isn't a dream. If you keep smiling like a psycho, they're going to throw you in a psych ward instead of a bedroom!

She took one step out of the car, trying to look "Boss-like," but the sight that met her made her brain short-circuit again.

Standing in the courtyard wasn't just the Grandfather. There were rows upon rows of servants, guards, and maids, all bowing their heads so low they were practically folding in half. It looked like a scene from a historical movie.

"Welcome home, Young Miss!" they shouted in unison, their voices echoing off the traditional tiled roofs.

Aika's foot hit the gravel, she took one look at the small army of people, and her survival instincts took over. Nope. Absolutely not.

Without a word, she spun around on her heel and scrambled back into the car, slamming the door shut.

Ren, who was standing by the door to escort her, froze in a trance-like state. The Grandfather blinked, his hand still reaching out in the air. The entire courtyard went dead silent.

[Inside the Car]

Aika pressed her back against the leather seat, clutching her chest. Damn it! Why are there so many?! Is this a house or a kingdom? What is this?! I can't face a hundred people while my heart is doing 120 BPM!

Outside, she could hear Ren's muffled, confused voice. "Miss Helena? Is... is there a problem with the temperature?"

Aika rolled down the window just an inch, her nervous smile still plastered on her face, making her look incredibly suspicious. "Ren," she whispered harshly. "Tell them to go away. All of them. Or I'm staying in this car until morning!": Walking on Glass

Aika finally stepped out of the car, her fingers digging into the fabric of her skirt. She had tried to prepare herself, but as she looked at the man standing at the center of the entrance, her blood felt like it had turned to ice.

He was terrifying. The Grandfather didn't look like a "hugging" type of old man; he looked like a statue carved from granite. His face was set in a deep, grumpy scowl, and his eyes were so sharp they seemed to pierce right through her "Aika" soul.

Ren walked a few paces ahead of her, carrying her small backpack with that effortless, floating grace he always had. Aika hurried to catch up, leaning in to whisper urgently.

"Ren," she hissed, her eyes darting toward the old man. "Who is that?"

Ren didn't stop, his voice a low murmur. "That is your Grandfather, Madam."

"I mean... why is he looking at me like that?" she whispered, her heart doing a frantic 110 BPM. "Did I do something wrong already? He looks like he's about to fire me from existence."

Ren glanced back at her, his expression unreadable. "I don't know," he replied simply. "You should probably ask yourself that. Your history with him is... complicated."

Aika gulped. Great. Just great.

As they reached the top of the stone steps, she stopped before the old man. She forced her lips into that nervous, shaky smile again. "Good evening, Grandfather," she managed to speak

The Warmth Behind the Stone

The moment the last servant pulled the sliding door shut, the atmosphere in the room shifted violently. Aika stood stiffly near the entrance, her hands clasped in front of her, waiting for the "Granite King" to take his seat. Her heart was still thumping, her eyes darting between the grumpy old man and the silent, watchful Ren and Noel.

But as the Grandfather sat down, the cold, terrifying mask he wore outside shattered. His face softened, the deep wrinkles around his eyes crinkling with genuine, raw pain.

"Helena... my dear child," he breathed out, his voice no longer like grinding stones but like a worried parent. "How have you been? Are you truly alright?"

Aika's brain hit another "System Error." She stared at him in shock, her mouth slightly agape. Wait, where did the scary CEO go? Who is this sweet old man?

"I... I am okay, Grandfather," she stammered, her voice small.

"Why are you standing there like a stranger? Sit. Sit here beside me," he commanded, but this time it was a request of love, not an order. He patted the space right next to him.

Aika moved toward him, her feet still a bit shaky on the floor. As she sat, she realized the room was much warmer than the hallways—almost as if it had been pre-heated just for her. She took a deep breath, the scent of expensive sandalwood calming her nerves. Okay. He loves her. I can work with love. Love is easier to handle than hate.

"Have you eaten anything?" he asked, leaning in to inspect her face for any paleness.

"Yes," Aika nodded, thinking of the protein bar Ren gave her. "I've eaten."

The Grandfather's eyes flickered with relief for a split second before turning ice-cold again. He looked past Aika, his gaze landing on Ren and Noel like a pair of twin daggers.

"And as for you two," he barked, making Noel flinch and even Ren stiffen his posture. "Where were you? How did you clearly fail to care for your sister? Did I not leave her in your care before I left for Europe?"

He slammed his hand lightly on the low table, the sound echoing in the silent room. "Ren. Noel. I am asking you something. How did she end up in a hospital while I was gone?" The Wrath of the Patriarch

Noel stood his ground, though his jaw was tight. He looked at the Grandfather with a flicker of defiance. "She is not a child, Grandfather," he replied coldly. "And besides, she is under the care of her father while you are away. Why would I interfere in the Chairman's household? I have my own responsibilities."

The Grandfather's eyes darkened, a dangerous glint appearing in them. The room felt like it dropped ten degrees.

"So, you are still holding onto your old grudges, huh?" the Grandfather's voice was a low, vibrating growl. "She was in a life-threatening accident, and today I find out she suffered from food poisoning as well. And I also discovered that you were present when it happened, Noel. Is this how you take care of her? By standing by and watching her suffer?"

Aika sat frozen, watching the fire in the old man's eyes. She had never seen someone defend her with such ferocity.

"Even her engagement was broken off right after the accident," the Grandfather continued, his voice rising in anger. He gestured toward Aika, his hand trembling with rage. "What are you all doing?! My granddaughter is being treated like a nuisance in her own home, and you—her own family—act as if it's none of your business!"

He turned his piercing gaze toward Ren, who remained stoic but alert. "And you, Ren. I trusted you to keep me informed. Why am I only hearing the full extent of this mess now that I've stepped off a plane?" The Softness of a Lion

The roar in the room was so sudden that Aika—now Helena—couldn't help it. She flinched, her shoulders jumping and her eyes widening as the Grandfather's voice thundered against the walls. For a second, she wasn't the 20-year-old CEO; she was just a girl startled by the raw power of the old man's protective rage.

Noel and Ren both saw it. The flinch was clear, a small crack in her "Ice Queen" mask that made them both go silent.

Seeing her reaction, the Grandfather immediately checked himself. His face, which had been a mask of fury, melted into deep regret. He lowered his voice until it was a gentle hum, the kind of voice one uses to wake someone from a nightmare.

"Helena... my dear child," he whispered, leaning closer. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you."

He reached out, his weathered hand hesitating before lightly patting hers. "Tell me... have you remembered me at all? Is your memory truly a blank slate? Have you been taking the medicine for your amnesia, or..."

A small, sad smile touched his lips, one that reached his tired eyes. "...or have you gone and forgotten your old Grandpa too, huh?"

My heart is still thumping from his shouting, but the way he's looking at me now... it's making my throat feel tight. In my past life, if I made a mistake, people yelled to hurt me. But he's yelling because he's scared for me.

She looked at the old man, seeing the genuine fear in his eyes—the fear of being forgotten by the only person he seems to truly love in this cold house.

"I..." she started, her voice a bit shaky. "I remember that you are someone important to me, Grandfather. Even if the specific memories are blurry, my heart feels... safe here."

She wasn't lying. For the first time since she "woke up" in this novel, the 100 BPM heart rate wasn't from fear. It was from the shock of finally being home. The Truth Behind the Masks

The Grandfather stood up, his heavy robes rustling. "I'm going to my study to fetch the specific medicine the doctor in Europe gave me. Stay here. And you two," he pointed a stern finger at Noel and Ren, "don't you dare upset her while I'm gone."

As the door slid shut, the heavy, formal atmosphere evaporated. Aika didn't wait. She dropped the "scared granddaughter" act, her eyes turning sharp as she looked at the two men sitting across from her.

"Okay, enough," Aika said, her voice firm. "My head is spinning. I've met too many people today, and half of you are giving me different stories. If I'm going to survive in this house, I need the truth. Right now."

She looked at Ren, then at Noel. "Who are you? Really? And what is this family?"

Noel sighed, his "serious" mask finally cracking into a look of slight exhaustion. Ren, on the other hand, let out a loud, bright laugh—not the silky, polite chuckle from before, but the laugh of a mischievous boy.

"I told you she really forgot, Noel!" Ren grinned, leaning back and stretching his arms. "The 'Old Helena' would have thrown a tea cup at me for calling her 'Madam' by now."

Ren turned to Aika, his eyes sparkling. "I apologize for the prank, Helena. I'm Ren, and this grumpy guy next to me is my twin brother, Noel."

Aika blinked. "Twins? But you look..."

"He's the 'serious' one who inherited all the gloom, and I'm the 'fun' one," Ren teased, ignoring Noel's glare. "We were the ones no one wanted—the last kids left behind at the orphanage. Your Grandfather didn't just 'adopt' us; he picked us out of the dirt himself and raised us to be the shield of this family. We don't share your blood, but we owe him everything.". Your real brothers—the ones sharing your blood—are Marcus and Julius. They stay at the Chairman's house."

Aika felt a weight lift off her chest. So Ren isn't a mysterious servant, and Noel isn't just a random mean guy. They're her adopted brothers.

"And Vahn?" she asked.

"Just a childhood friend," Ren shrugged. "And as for my 'Sir' and 'Assistant' act in the hospital? I just wanted to see if you were faking the amnesia. You were so polite and confused, I knew for sure the 'Ice Queen' was gone."

He gave her a playful wink. "Don't be mad. I'll make it up to you!"

Aika couldn't help it. For the first time, a real, genuine smile spread across her face—not a nervous one, but a relaxed one. "You're a brat, Ren. But fine. I accept the apology."The Secret Behind the Vipers

"Okay," Aika said, rubbing her temples as she looked at Ren and Noel. "So everything is different. What Airon told me and what is actually happening... it's like two different stories. And... I'm sorry. For not recognizing you."

Noel looked away, his expression softening just a fraction. "It's okay," he muttered.

Finally! He spoke! I thought he is still angry on me on making him vahn bf oh my foul stupid mouth now i am gonna think 2 times before speaking and he was a statue programmed only to look annoyed. "Whatever you want to know, just ask," Ren said, leaning forward. He jokingly elbowed Noel in the ribs, trying to break the heavy tension. "Right, Noel? We're your favorite brothers, aren't we? Much better than those stiff-necks Marcus and Julius."

Aika looked at them, her heart finally slowing down. In her previous life, she was a 20-year-old science student buried in books. She had parents back then, but she had zero experience with "socializing" or "sibling banter." She thought she was being a mature "Boss," but to Ren and Noel, her wide-eyed confusion and polite apologies made her look like a completely different person.

She wasn't the 23-year-old "Ice Queen" Helena who ran businesses and insulted people for fun anymore. She was just Aika—a girl out of her depth.

"Airon... he told me things were different," Aika said, trying to use her 'science brain' to logic this out. "He made it sound like I was alone. Why would he do that?"

Ren's smile faded slightly. "Airon has his own games. He likes to see people isolated. But you aren't alone here. Grandfather brought us into this family because your mother wanted us to have a home. We might not share blood, but we've seen you at your worst—and your worst was pretty bad, Helena." He chuckled. "You used to be so rude. If a servant breathed too loud, you'd have them fired."

Aika felt a cold sweat. The real Helena was a nightmare! No wonder I'm struggling. I'm a science nerd trying to play a ruthless CEO.

"Well," Aika said, squaring her shoulders. "Since I don't remember being a 'rude' person, let's just start over. I'm... I'm glad you're here."

Noel looked at her, truly stunned by her kindness, while Ren just beamed. The Bitter Pill of Reality

The sliding door opened, and the Grandfather walked back in. Behind him followed a servant carrying a silver tray with a crystal glass of water and a single, intimidating pill.

"Here, Helena, my child," the Grandfather said, his voice warm but firm. "Take this. It was specially prescribed by the doctors in Europe for memory recovery and amnesia. It will help clear the fog in your head."

Oh, no. Anything but medicine. Aika felt a shiver run down her spine. In her previous life as a student, she could handle complex chemical equations and 10-hour study sessions, but she hated swallowing pills with her whole heart. Damn it! Why is everything I hate coming at me at once? Creepy brothers, slippery floors, and now this? I can't say no to Grandpa, but I definitely don't want to say yes.

She gave a small, stiff nod. "Okay..."