"I understand that you're friends," Estelle said as they stepped inside the house, "but Rosette, you know—"
"Is this still about the past?" Rosette interrupted, her voice calm but firm. "He's done nothing wrong, Estelle. He's my friend. I don't see anything wrong with us being close."
"I'm just worried," Estelle replied, frowning. "Knowing your history, you could be—"
"Used?" Rosette cut in, turning to Bryan, who had started to speak. "You don't really know him. He would never use me—or anyone—for his own gain." Her gaze shifted back to Estelle. "And you, of all people, should know that better than anyone."
The couple fell silent, caught off guard by Rosette's conviction.
"James, aren't you going to say something?" Estelle asked when James entered, but he simply walked past them toward his room.
"I have nothing to say," he muttered, his tone clipped.
Rosette blinked. The James she knew would've exploded at just the mention of Dranred's name.
"I'll rest for a bit," he said before opening his door. "I still have practice later."
Estelle watched him disappear into his room, then turned back to Rosette. "You know what happens when you keep being stubborn. He may not be saying anything now, but that doesn't mean he isn't holding something inside."
"I know," Rosette said softly. She knew all too well that James hadn't forgiven Dranred—not yet.
"I think we should go," Bryan said gently. Then, to Rosette, "Estelle's just worried about you. Don't take it the wrong way."
"I know," Rosette replied, managing a small smile. "And I'm sorry for making you worry."
Inside, though, she wanted to tell them there was nothing to worry about. Dranred wasn't a stranger—he was one of them.
He always said she was like a sister to him. And even if those words stung every time, she could only smile and accept them. She'd stay by his side, no matter what. Even if that meant being nothing more than his number one fan.
When Estelle and Bryan finally left, Rosette lingered in the hallway. She waited for James to come out, but when he didn't, she hesitated before knocking on his door. Her hand hovered midair, then slowly dropped.
Instead, she turned and went to her own room.
On her shelf, she placed the ball Dranred had just given her beside another baseball he'd given her years ago. Next to them sat his basketball plaque — a gift, and a reminder.
She smiled faintly.
These were her treasures — the quiet pieces of him she could keep.
"Estelle."
Dranred's voice was calm but guarded as he entered the restaurant. He'd received her message earlier, asking to meet. It was the first time she'd reached out since her wedding to Bryan. Though uncertain of her reason, he had agreed—part curiosity, part closure.
"You came," Estelle said, her tone a mixture of surprise and relief.
"You asked me to," he replied evenly. "What is it you wanted to talk about?"
"You sound so indifferent," she murmured, gesturing to the seat across from her. "Please, sit. Let's talk properly."
Dranred hesitated for a moment before taking the empty chair.
"What should we order?" Estelle asked, scanning the menu.
"I'm fine with anything," he said. He doubted she had invited him here just to share a meal.
Estelle gave a small, dry laugh. "Some things never change." She gave her order to the waiter, who nodded politely and stepped away.
"Well then," she said after a pause. "I'll get straight to the point—you seem busy, anyway." Her voice grew colder. "Stay away from my sister. It's not appropriate, and it doesn't look good."
Dranred's brows furrowed. The words struck a nerve. Just a few days ago, James had said the same thing. "And how exactly is it not appropriate?" he asked, his patience thinning.
"Rosette is not someone you can toy with."
"To toy with?" His voice hardened. "What do you take me for?"
Estelle met his gaze steadily. "I know you still have feelings for me. You're using Rosette to get back at me, aren't you?"
Dranred froze, disbelief flashing in his eyes. "Excuse me?"
"You don't need to deny it," she said, her tone soft but cutting. "If you truly felt nothing, then why give me this?"
She reached into her purse and placed a small box on the table. Inside was a ring.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Dranred stared at the ring—once, it had meant everything to him. But that was a long time ago.
"That ring," Estelle continued quietly, "told me you were still hoping we could fix what was broken."
He looked up at her, his expression unreadable. Once, she might have been right. But now… she was just a part of a life he had already let go.
"I told you, I bought that ring for you," Dranred said evenly. "I admit, I had big plans for us once—but that was before. I gave you those rings so you could do whatever you wanted with them. They're yours now."
"You're lying to my face," Estelle snapped.
"Why would I?" His tone stayed calm, almost weary. "There's no reason to lie. Honestly, I'm happy for you, Estelle. I mean it."
Estelle's hand clenched into a fist under the table. Happy for her? If she told him the truth—that her marriage to Bryan was nothing more than a contract—would he come back to her? Would he finally leave Rosette alone? The thought of Rosette being close to him, of taking the place that used to be hers, burned like acid in her chest. Maybe she had been too hasty in marrying Bryan.
"Stay away from Rosette," she said, forcing the words out. "She's not someone you can use to fill a void—"
"Is that what you think of me?" he cut in sharply. "You think so little of me that I'd treat her that way? Rosette is special to me. Don't insult her—or me."
"You know what we had—what we were—"
"What happened in the past," he interrupted, "is already behind us. We can't stay there forever."
He met her gaze with quiet conviction. "Not everyone learns how to move forward, I get that. But I've accepted what happened. Even if I offered my life in exchange for the past, it wouldn't change anything. Rosette taught me that."
Estelle fell silent. There was something in his voice—an unguarded warmth—that made her chest tighten. The way he said Rosette's name, the light in his eyes… it hurt to hear. He spoke about her like she meant more than family.
"You expect me to believe that?" she asked bitterly.
"I can't make you believe anything," he said softly. "But just as you can't order me to stay away from her, I can't force you to understand. I won't comply."
"I won't let you hurt my sister."
"What makes you think I would ever hurt her?"
"Please." Estelle lowered her gaze, her hands trembling. "You've always been able to have any woman you want—just… not Rosette."
Dranred's brows drew together. "What are you talking about?"
Her voice cracked. "Do you have any idea what I had to do just to forget you?"
When she finally looked at him, tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes.
"Estelle," Dranred said quietly, meeting her eyes.
"It was unfortunate that our relationship ended because of—"
"There's nothing we can do about it," he cut in. "We were too young to fight for what we had."
"Can't we bring it back?" she asked softly.
Dranred frowned. The question caught him off guard. What does she mean by that? It was just like during the wedding — she hadn't said anything then, but wearing the ring as a necklace had been a silent message. He ignored it back then, thinking he was finally over her.
"I know I'm being unreasonable when I say this but—"
"Yes, you are," he interrupted firmly. "It took me ten years to finally let you go, Estelle. Ten years of trying to forget. And now you're asking if we can go back? Why now? You're married."
"My marriage doesn't mean anything. I did it because—"
"Because what?" His voice rose. "I didn't know you could take marriage so lightly. Did you even think of your husband's feelings? Or mine—when you told me you were marrying someone else? Did you expect me to just smile and say, 'Yes, let's go back to what we had'?"
Tears welled up in Estelle's eyes.
So this is it, Dranred thought bitterly. Maybe the rings she wore weren't for closure — maybe they were a message, telling him not to move on. But why now? What did she really want from him?
"Honestly," Estelle said, voice trembling, "I can't stand how close you've become to Rosette. It feels like she's taking you away from me. She's just a kid—"
"I can't believe you," he cut in sharply. "She's not taking anything from you. You let go of me, Estelle. That was your choice. Don't drag Rosette into this. This is between us."
"Then stay away from her," she pleaded. "Because if you keep getting closer to her, then I'll think you—"
"You're being unreasonable."
"I know I am," she admitted, tears spilling now. "But the only way I can find peace is if—"
Dranred's jaw tightened, irritation flashing across his face.
Estelle pressed on, desperate. "If it's impossible for us to be together, then please… this is a request from someone who once loved you. Court anyone but my sister."
Dranred fell silent. Her words stunned him—not because he still wanted her, but because of how much they revealed. How did she become like this? How could she ask him to deny his own heart just to soothe hers?
That night, he couldn't shake her words from his mind. Not because he wanted her back, but because he didn't understand how she could say such things. If she still had feelings for him, why hadn't she fought for them before? Why let the past ruin them both?
In the following days, his teammates noticed the change. Dranred became distant, distracted, his pitches losing focus. Even Nathan grew frustrated with his off rhythm, and their constant clashes left everyone uneasy. There was a heaviness around him — an aura that told everyone to keep their distance.