Reborn: The Tyrant's Obsession

"Miss Yu, this is the friend I was talking about. Lana," Lilith stood up naturally, "And Lana, this is Miss Ella Yu."

Ella did not have to look at the woman for long to remember where she had seen her.

This person had left an impression on her for a reason or two, twice.

The first time, she had encountered this woman in the supermarket during the time when Adrian’s condition had relapsed and they were staying at his condominium for his recovery.

Ella had an impression of this lady who looked quite similar to how she did before she gained weight.

The second time was the annual ball of the Kings where this woman was a waitress. She bumped into her and fled from there in panic.

The woman stepped forward, putting on a polite smile as she looked at Ella.

Ella’s footsteps slowed only for a moment before she stepped forward naturally.

However, she had just increased her pace when she felt the piercing ache between her legs. Ella nearly winced.

Cursing a certain someone in her heart, Ella walked to the place where everyone was gathered.

"Miss Yu..."

"You can call me Ella," Ella smiled at her, "I remember you from before."

"You two have met before?" Old Madam King asked.

Her voice seemed slightly warmer than how it has sounded since the revelation of her marriage to Adrian.

"I’ve met her briefly before," Ella said with an easy smile, her tone light as if it were no big deal.

But mentally, she was trying to connect the dots.

Was it such a coincidence that this lady happened to be Lilith’s friend?

And why was Lilith so excited to introduce them to each other when they could barely be considered to be on familiar terms?

Ella could not push down the strange feeling that rose in her heart.

Before anyone could ask further, footsteps echoed on the staircase.

Adrian appeared, his tall frame casting a shadow over the brightly lit hall.

"Ace," Lilith’s voice lifted almost naturally, "this is Lana, my friend. And Lana, this is Adrian King."

As she spoke, Lilith continued, "It was a pity that I couldn’t introduce you to each other because of the incidents that occurred yesterday... Ah, Ace, you seem to know her?"

Ella instinctively turned to glance at Adrian when she heard that.

The man was looking at the woman named ’Lana’, his gaze unreadable.

"No," he said flatly after a beat, turning his head away as though the subject was beneath him.

Ella blinked at him, her lips parting slightly, but in the end she did not say a word.

When she looked forward, she was met with Lilith’s graceful smile. But for some reason, it just unsettled Ella a little.

...

After breakfast, they were at the training ground once again.

The autumn air was brisk, the sun bright against the wide expanse of the field.

Kade ambled alongside Ella and Ruby, tossing a casual glance toward where Lana stood a short distance away, "You know," he said, "it’s kind of uncanny. That new girl, Lana, she looks a lot like you, Ella."

Ella’s steps slowed, thoughtful eyes flicking toward Lana’s figure.

"Ella is more beautiful," Ruby cut in suddenly, her face straight and her tone unflinching as if she was reading a daily newspaper.

Ella burst out laughing, the sound bubbling up despite the unease she felt, "Ruby..."

Ruby tilted her chin as if she had only stated a fact.

Ella’s laughter softened into a smile before her gaze sharpened ever so slightly, "Kade, you’ve been friends with Lilith and Luca for a long time, haven’t you?"

Kade nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Family friends. Since forever, actually. In fact..." He hesitated, then added, "I even heard Adrian and Lilith were betrothed by the elders before they were even born. Or so the rumors go..."

His words trailed off, as if belatedly realizing who he was speaking to.

Ruby’s brows knit as she glanced at Ella, worried.

But Ella’s face held no trace of surprise or any trace of discomfort. It was almost as if she had already known about it.

Instead, she asked mildly, "If you’ve known Lilith for such a long time, how come you never came across Lana before?"

Kade froze mid-step. For a moment, his usual easy smirk faltered, "I... haven’t," he admitted slowly, scratching the back of his neck.

"Or maybe you forgot?" Ella suggested lightly, her lips curving even though her eyes glinted with meaning.

Kade scoffed, clicking his tongue. "I’d remember a face that looks like yours. Not everybody looks like a walking nightmare, you know..."

Ella whipped him a glare that could cut steel.

Kade cleared his throat immediately, waving a hand as though to brush away his own words.

"What I mean is... no, I’ve never met her. And honestly, she doesn’t seem like someone from the social circles either. Her name doesn’t ring a bell too. It’s strange."

His voice dropped, mulling over it aloud, "And the fact that she looks so much like you... it’s too much of a coincidence."

Ella’s lips parted slightly, her thoughts trailing as suspicion flickered in her eyes. But before she could probe further—

"Place it there, yes, there!" Lilith’s voice rang sharp across the ground.

Ella’s gaze snapped forward just in time to see servants bustling around, arranging equipment, fixing targets, and decorating the space into what resembled a shooting arena.

Lilith’s voice carried a trace of nostalgia as she surveyed the servants arranging targets and adjusting the rifles neatly on stands.

She then spoke to Luca and Ronan, "It’s been so long since we did this together. Back then, we’d spend entire afternoons here, competing until the sun went down. I almost forgot how lively it used to feel."

Her gaze shifted, settling directly on Ella with a smile that seemed casual on the surface but carried a probing edge, "Miss Yu... Are you familiar with this?" her thumb pointed at the shooting arena.