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

As the servant approached, Aika reached out to take the tray herself. The servant flinched and pulled the tray back quickly, looking terrified, as if expecting Helena to slap her for getting too close.

"It's okay," Aika said gently, giving the servant a small, reassuring smile. "I can take it."

She took the tray and whispered a quiet, "Thank you," which left the servant standing there in a complete trance of shock. No one had ever heard Helena D'Arven thank a servant before.

Aika placed the tray on the low table, staring at the pill like it was a tiny explosive. The Grandfather settled back into his seat and gestured toward it. "Go on, dear. Eat it."

Aika's eyes widened. She pointed a finger at herself, her face a mask of disbelief. "Right now?" she squeaked. "I mean... can't I take it later? After... after I settle in?"

Noel and Ren watched from the side, Ren trying to hide a smirk at her obvious stalling. The "Ice Queen" was officially terrified of a tiny pill.: The Bitter Gulp

"Okay... I really have to do it right now?" Aika asked, her voice hovering an octave higher than usual.

The Grandfather gave a firm, slow nod. "Right now. Your health is the most important thing."

Aika looked down at the small pill. In her past life, she could memorize periodic tables and complex formulas, but she couldn't overcome her childhood fear of medicine. She picked it up with trembling fingers, looking at it like it was a poison dart.

"Right now?" she asked one last time, hoping for a miracle.

"Yes," the Grandfather insisted, his eyes warm but unmoving. "Eat up, child."

Okay, who cares? Just close your eyes and do it. It's just chemistry in a tiny package. It's fine. Everything is fine. She looked at the Grandfather and gave a jerky nod. "Okay... here goes."

"Yes, yes," he encouraged, leaning forward as if his moral support would help it go down easier. "Eat up. Then we are having dinner."

Wait... what?! Aika froze. Who eats a full dinner right after taking medicine? You're supposed to eat first so you don't get an upset stomach! Grandpa, your logic is scientifically flawed! But she looked at the scary-yet-sweet old man and the silent twins, Ren and Noel, and realized she didn't have the courage to start a lecture on pharmacology.

She squeezed her eyes shut so tightly her eyelashes hurt. With a desperate breath, she tossed the pill into the back of her throat and followed it with a massive, frantic gulp of water. She drained the whole glass in seconds.

As the pill went down, her face immediately contorted. The bitter, medicinal aftertaste exploded on her tongue, and the smell hit her nose—a sharp, herbal scent that made her eyes water. Her expression turned into a hilarious mask of disgust, her nose scrunching up as she tried not to gag in front of the most powerful man in the family.

"Ugh..." she whispered, her voice strained. "That was... very 'effective' medicine."

Ren let out a snort of laughter, quickly turning it into a cough when the Grandfather glared at him. Even Noel had a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. The Bitter Test

As Aika stood there with her face scrunched up from the bitter taste, she realized the room had gone from tense to... lighthearted? The Grandfather was chuckling, and even the "Stone Wall" Noel had a visible smile on his face.

"My granddaughter really has lost her memories," the Grandfather said, shaking his head with a fond smile.

Aika looked around, her eyes wide and confused. "What? Why is everyone laughing? Did I swallow it wrong?"

The Grandfather didn't answer; he just gestured for them to start moving toward the dining room. As they walked down the long, polished hallway, Aika hurried to catch up with Ren. She nudged his arm with her elbow.

"Hey," she hissed. "Why were you all laughing? Did I do something embarrassing?"

Ren glanced down at her, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Yeah, you did. Grandfather was testing you. He wanted to see if you were really suffering from amnesia or just playing a very long, boring trick on us."

Aika stopped in her tracks. "Testing me? With medicine?"

"It wasn't medicine, Helena," Ren laughed. "That was a bitter appetite supplement. The 'Old' Helena would never, in her entire life, have eaten that before a meal. You used to throw a tantrum if someone even suggested a vitamin. You were a nightmare about bitter things. But you just sat there, asked three times if you had to eat it, and then gulped it down like a brave soldier."

He patted her shoulder. "You passed the test. He's convinced now."

Aika's face didn't soften. Instead, a spark of genuine anger lit up her eyes.

Are you kidding me? Are they treating me like a lab rat or a student in a psych exam? Who tests their own family members like this? She felt a wave of disgust. What a typical, messed-up, psychological nightmare of a family. This is why people in these novels are always so crazy! I'm out here struggling to survive, and they're playing 'Gotcha!' with bitter pills.

"Are you all taking me for a toy?" Aika snapped, her voice louder than she intended. "Is this family just a series of tests? Eww. My mouth still tastes like I ate a rotten tree branch, and for what? A prank?"

Ren and Noel both paused, surprised by the sudden bite in her tone. The "Innocent Aika" was gone for a second, replaced by a very annoyed 20-year-old who was tired of being manipulated.The Leak

The words had left her mouth before she could catch them. Ren and Noel both stopped dead in their tracks, staring at her with wide eyes. Even a few servants at the end of the hall paused, their heads tilting in confusion.

Aika froze. The silence of the hallway felt heavy.

Oh, no. Did I just say 'rotten tree branch' and 'messed-up family' out loud? She felt the heat rush to her face, turning her ears a bright, tell-tale pink. She cleared her throat loudly, looking anywhere but at Ren's amused face.

"Oh..." she squeaked, her voice dropping back into that polite, "innocent" tone. "I... I didn't mean to say that out loud. Just... ignore me. My brain is still a bit... bitter."

She didn't wait for them to respond. She turned on her heel and continued walking toward the dining room, her steps a little too fast, her shoes scuffing against the wood.

Great job, Aika. Real professional. You're supposed to be a mysterious amnesiac, not a grumpy teenager complaining about her vitamins. Just keep walking. Don't look back. If you don't look back, the embarrassment can't catch you.

Behind her, she heard Ren let out a soft, genuine snort of laughter. "She's definitely different," he whispered to Noel.

Noel didn't respond, but he didn't look angry either. For the first time, he looked... curious.

They reached the massive double doors of the dining hall. The scent of rich, savory broth and roasted meats began to replace the bitter taste of the supplement. Aika took a deep breath, trying to reset her "Boss" persona. Food. Just focus on the food. If I'm eating, I can't accidentally insult anyone else.The Silent Feast

The dining hall was less of a room and more of a cathedral of food. As the doors opened, the sheer scale of the spread made Aika's eyes widen. It wasn't just a dinner; it was a feast. Silver bowls glinted under the warm chandelier light, filled with steaming broths, colorful seasoned vegetables, and marinated meats that smelled heavenly.

Aika took her seat, her movements careful.

Is this for four people or forty? she wondered, scanning the table. Her eyes landed on a dish of stir-fried glass noodles and vegetables—her favorite from her previous life. Her stomach gave a traitorous growl, but she suppressed it. Stay calm. Don't look like a glutton. You're a 'lady' now, remember?

She picked up her rice bowl and used her chopsticks to place a single small piece of vegetable on top. Across from her, Ren and Noel had already started. Ren was digging in with his usual casual energy, and Noel was eating with silent, mechanical precision.

But Aika didn't move. She held her bowl, her back straight, looking toward the head of the table where the Grandfather sat.

In her old life, even without parents, she had been taught that you never start until the eldest does. It was a habit etched into her soul. So, she sat perfectly still, waiting for the Grandfather to pick up his spoon.

The silence at the table began to stretch. Ren stopped chewing, his chopsticks frozen halfway to his mouth. Noel looked up, his brow furrowed in confusion.

The Grandfather, who had been about to reach for his water, stopped. He looked at Aika, then at her full bowl, then back at her eyes. A strange, heavy emotion crossed his face—surprise mixed with a deep, aching sadness.

"Helena?" he asked softly. "Why aren't you eating? Is the food not to your liking? I made sure they prepared your favorites."

Aika blinked, realizing everyone was staring at her. "Oh... no, it looks delicious, Grandfather. I was just... waiting for you to start."

The clatter of Noel's spoon hitting the ceramic bowl was the only sound in the room. Ren actually choked slightly on his rice.

"Waiting... for me?" the Grandfather repeated, his voice barely a whisper.

Oh, crap. Did the old Helena used to start eating before him? Was she that rude? Aika felt the cold sweat returning. I'm trying to be polite, but apparently, being a decent person is the most 'suspicious' thing I can do in this house! The Price of a Signature

The Grandfather smiled at her, a genuine, warm expression that reached his tired eyes. "Child, start eating. You don't need to wait for me."

Aika nodded and finally took a bite. As she ate, she didn't realize that three pairs of eyes were fixed on her. To the Grandfather, she looked like a different girl entirely—not the arrogant granddaughter he used to know. To the twins, Ren and Noel, she was a complete mystery. She only ate the vegetables, picking at her food with a quiet, thoughtful grace that was the opposite of "Chaebol" luxury.

When she finished, Aika did it again. She sat perfectly still, slowly sipping her water, waiting for the eldest to stand. When Ren finally pushed his chair back, Aika moved to stand as well, but the Grandfather's voice stopped her.

"Sit back down, Helena. I need to talk to you."

Talk at the dinner table? Is this a family meeting or an interrogation? This is new. She sat back down, her hands folded neatly in her lap.

The Grandfather wiped his hands with a silk tissue, his expression turning grave. "So, what have you decided? I've been informed that your shares in the company have been frozen. Your main project was taken from you and handed over to Marcus. And I heard... you actually signed over the Orphanage project."

He looked her in the eye, his voice heavy with disappointment—not in her, but in the situation. "Helena, what were you thinking? Why didn't you oppose them?"

Aika took a breath, her "Science Student" logic taking over. "As you know, Grandfather, I don't remember anything. If they froze my shares because I have amnesia, they have a logical reason. It's not safe for an 'unaware' person to manage millions in assets. I can't work if I don't know the business."

She paused, her voice dropping. "And about signing the orphanage project... it was a trade. The Chairman told me I had to sign it if I ever wanted my other projects back. I didn't have a choice."

The room went deathly silent. The Grandfather's eyes turned into cold flint. He looked as if he wanted to burn the whole world down.

"That brat..." he hissed, referring to his own son, the Chairman. "He is tormenting you far too much. He took advantage of your memory loss to rob you?"

Noel and Ren looked at each other. They knew the storm was coming. The Grandfather wasn't just angry; he was ready for war.The Shield of the Patriarch

The Grandfather slammed his hand onto the table, though his eyes remained fixed on Aika with deep sympathy.

"You don't have to listen to a single word he says anymore," he declared, his voice echoing with authority. "Now that I am back, I want to see who dares to oppose you. You are staying here, in this house. You don't need to go back to that man's home ever again. Do you understand?"

Aika felt a lump in her throat. Stay here? In this warm, traditional house with the slippery floors and the twins? Instead of that cold mansion with Clara and the Chairman?

"And that woman... Clara," the Grandfather's eyes narrowed. "Did she do something to you while I was away?"

Aika shook her head quickly. "No... nothing I couldn't handle."