Kyle noticed my reaction, whispering, "Bro, seems you got played by them a lot in your past life too? Shivering? Cold?"

I forced calm. "Don't know what you mean. Let go."

He announced loudly, "Everyone, my brother says he's so happy for me, he wants to toast you all, thanking you for your support and guidance!"

My heart sank.

Those women looked at me with even more brazen eyes.

"Toasting everyone? How generous of you," one of them purred.

This was an industry party celebrating Kyle's first lead role. The Chambers had dragged me here through a social obligation I couldn't refuse.

The room was full of producers, investors, and people whose smiles never reached their eyes.

I recognized some of them. In my past life, they were the ones the Chambers had offered me to.

My hands trembled, but I clenched them behind my back.

"I'm afraid my brother is mistaken," I said smoothly, matching their smiles. "I only toast people I respect. And I haven't found any here yet."

Silence.

Kyle's face contorted. He hadn't expected me to fight back.

In our past life, the Leo raised by the Chambers was broken. Obedient. Trained to smile and endure.

This Leo was raised by a Yandere.

I'd learned a few things from Gwen. Like how to turn a room cold with a single sentence.

One of the older women leaned forward, wine glass in hand. "What a sharp tongue. You must be fun at parties."

"I wouldn't know. I don't attend parties where the hosts sell their children."

The room went dead silent.

Kyle grabbed my arm, hissing, "What are you doing?! You'll ruin everything!"

"Your everything, not mine."

I turned to leave. Kyle blocked the door.

"You can't just—"

My phone buzzed. Gwen's name on the screen.

I picked up. "Hey, Gwen."

"Where are you?"

"At a party. Leaving now."

"I'm outside."

I blinked. "You're... what?"

"I tracked your phone. The guest list for this event flagged three individuals on my watchlist. I brought security."

Kyle's face went white as the entrance doors swung open.

Gwen strode in, flanked by two bodyguards, wearing an expression that could freeze lava.

She surveyed the room, then locked eyes with Kyle.

"If you ever drag my brother into one of these cesspools again," she said, her voice silk over steel, "I will dismantle your career piece by piece. And I'll enjoy it."

She took my arm and walked me out.

In the car, her hand was still gripping mine—too tight.

"You're shaking," she said.

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You're shaking, and you're lying to me."

I looked out the window. The city lights blurred.

"Gwen... some things happened to me. Before. In... in another version of my life."

She turned to me, eyes sharp. "What kind of things?"

"Things I can't say yet. But I need you to know—you saved me from them. Just by being you."

The grip on my hand loosened. Then tightened again, gentler this time.

"I don't need to know everything right now," she said. "But whoever hurt you? I will find out. And they will regret it."

I believed her. That was the terrifying and beautiful thing about loving a Yandere.

She meant every word.