The sun’s golden light shone over the grand palace garden. Circular flowerbeds bloomed all around, and just beyond them flowed a clear river. A silver railing and netting surrounded the pond so no one could get too close.

A small girl—barely ten years old—played on the green grass. Her curly hair framed her face, and she wore a sky-blue frock. Beside her lay a little white puppy, Sugar. She wasn’t just talking to the puppy; she spoke gently to the black cat resting nearby.

Suddenly, a handsome fifteen-year-old boy stepped into the garden. His hair was softly waved, and he wore a white shirt with brown trousers. A mischievous smile lit his face. Approaching the girl, he scooped the puppy into his arms.

“Victor! Put Sugar down!” the little girl shouted angrily.

Victor laughed. “What if I don’t?”

Her cheeks flushed. Tears welled but she held back, standing her ground. She bent to pick up a small stone and shouted defiantly, “If you don’t, I’ll hurt you!”

Victor chuckled. “Oh? Go ahead, little princess—try me!”

Enraged, the girl threw the stone—hard. It struck Victor squarely on the forehead.

“Ah!” he cried out, dropping the puppy to the grass. He pressed his palm to his forehead, then stared wide-eyed at his hand.

Blood.

The wound bled fiercely.

The girl first froze, then turned away, her eyes fierce. “You’ll learn. If you annoy Sugar, more blood will follow!”

Victor swayed and collapsed onto the grass.

“Victor!” the girl gasped in genuine fear. She ran to him and placed her hand on his forehead.

Victor shut his eyes and whispered, “You really are a wicked little girl…”

Then everything went black.

---

Victor’s body lay limp on the grass. The girl, trembling, cried out:

“Victor! Victor, wake up!”

She shook his shoulder—no response. Blood trickled down his forehead, staining the ground.

Her heart pounded. Had she hit him too hard?

“Did I… really hurt him that badly?”

Tears welled, but her pride held them back. She sprinted toward the palace, seeking help from the adults.

---

Inside the grand marble hall she burst in, voice cracked but forceful:

“Victor is down! He’s bleeding—please, someone help!”

Immediately the entire mansion stirred. A tall man resembling Victor spun toward her.

“What did you say?!” he demanded, voice deep and stern.

“Victor is bleeding—he’s in the garden!” she cried.

A middle-aged woman in a dark red sari rushed forward and grasped the girl.

“What have you done, Lily?” she asked, her tone gentle but urgent.

Lily broke down, tears falling. “I… I didn’t mean to… I just threw a small stone… but why is he bleeding so much? Is he going to die?”

“God forbid!” the woman exclaimed. Then they all hurried back outside toward the garden.

---

In the garden, Victor lay motionless, his blood spreading across the grass.

“Victor—is he unconscious?”

His older brother quickly knelt and pressed on Victor’s cheek—no reply. He lifted him into his arms and shouted:

“Call a doctor—quick!”

A servant immediately dashed inside to fetch help.

Lily stood trembling in the distance, her heart pounding, thinking:

Was it wrong to throw the stone?

Is Victor going to die?

The air in the garden felt heavy as Victor was carried away into the house. Lily, shivering, asked in a small voice:

“Is he going to die?”

His brother, Rafael, paused, then turned his sharp gaze toward the frightened little girl.

“Did you kill him?” he asked quietly.

Lily’s eyes filled with tears. Still, she answered bravely, “I didn’t mean to! He was teasing Sugar.”

Rafael’s eyes narrowed.

---

Inside the mansion, the doctor entered the room and checked the wound.

“It’s a deep injury, but he’s not in mortal danger. Still, it bled heavily—he needs rest.”

Victor’s mother cried, “My boy is in pain!”

Lily sobbed, “I only meant to warn him! I had no idea it would turn out like this!”

Victor lay unconscious, but his eyelids fluttered. Rafael stepped forward.

“When Victor wakes, what he decides will matter most. Whether you are forgiven—that is up to him, Lily. And if he wishes, I will ensure you are punished.”

Lily’s voice trembled.

---

Victor would regain consciousness—would he forgive her? Or would something terrible happen?

Victor still lay unconscious on the bed. His forehead was bandaged, and his mother sat silently beside him, worry etched into her eyes. Rafael stood by the window, staring outside, his face clouded with concern.

Suddenly, the door swung open abruptly.

— “Victor!” a girl’s voice echoed in the room.

Rafael spun around. At the doorway stood a tall, slender girl, about nineteen, wearing a peach-toned top and black jeans. Unrest mingled in her expression.

— “Sima?” Rafael asked, surprised.

Sima rushed to Victor’s side and kneeled beside him.

— “What happened to him? I came as soon as I heard. Why is he bleeding so much?”

Rafael replied calmly,

“It was a small accident. He was hit on the head by a stone.”

Sima’s eyes widened.

— “A stone? Who threw it?”

Rafael’s face stiffened; he remained silent. Sima grabbed Victor’s hand and said softly,

— “You’re always so stubborn… but I never imagined you’d collapse like this.”

Rafael then asked,

— “Weren’t you coming with your father? Where is he?”

Sima replied,

— “He’s downstairs at a business meeting. I came up alone. I just felt this unease… his forehead feels hot—does he have a fever?”

Rafael nodded,

— “The doctor warned he might develop one. He needs rest.”

placing her hand gently on Victor’s forehead, she whispered,

— “Open your eyes, Victor… you always said, ‘I never give up.’ And now you’re lying here?”

Rafael watched her quietly.

Just then, Lily stirred a little from beside the door. Sima spotted her.

— “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Lily’s throat turned dry. She lowered her head.

Rafael stood beside her and said,

— “This girl is the one who accidentally threw the stone.”

Sima's eyes widened as she said firmly,

— “You threw a stone? Do you know how much pain it caused him?”

Summoning courage, Lily answered,

— “I didn't intend to… he was teasing Sugar…”

Sima softened slightly and continued,

— “You know Victor never forgets when someone hurts him. You may have hurt him more than you realize.”

Lily’s chest tightened, tears forming, but she remained silent. Rafael glanced at Sima and said,

— “Enough, Sima. She’s just a child.”

Sima narrowed her eyes but said nothing further. After a moment, she stood and announced,

— “When Victor wakes, let me know. I’ll wait downstairs.”

She walked from the room, leaving silence behind.

Lily still trembled. Rafael stood next to her. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and quietly asked,

— “Are you okay?”

Lily didn’t answer at first, then whispered,

— “Will Victor hate me?”

Rafael studied her face and softened his voice.

— “I don’t know. But will you have the courage to stand before him when he wakes?”

Lily nodded eyes downcast, her heart pounding. At that moment, Victor’s eyelid fluttered.

---

Victor opened his eyes slowly. His headache was intense, and he could hardly remember his own name. He whispered in the hushed room,

— “Who was there?”

By the window, Rafael stood, a cigarette between his lips (unlit).

— “Your little enemy was one. The others were just bystanders.”

Victor furrowed his forehead.

— “My little enemy?”

Rafael smirked faintly,

— “A thin, wild girl—Lily. She threw a stone at your head.”

A faint, odd smile crossed Victor’s lips. He asked,

— “Why did you spare her?”

Rafael answered,

— “For your sake... and hers. She still doesn’t know who you are.”

---

Outside…

Lily knelt in a garden corner, avoiding Rafael’s household staff as she waited.

She thought: What if he had died? Would they have blamed me? Would Rafael have punished me? No, he wouldn’t have… but what if he wakes and looks for me?

---

Inside – Lily and her mother:

Lily sat at the foot of her bed with stern eyes.

— “It’s all his fault! Victor’s.”

Her mother replied calmly,

— “How can you say that?”

Lily retorted,

— “He always tormented me—making fun of my name, calling me a child. I couldn’t take it anymore! Yet everyone’s blaming me!”

Her mother stroked her hair softly:

— “No matter who he is, you must behave responsibly. A small mistake causes blood—this isn’t a game.”

Tears streaming, Lily said,

— “I don’t want him to hate me… but I don’t want to see him either—he’s so irritating!”

Her mother comforted her:

— “Do what you feel, but one day you’ll have to face him. Speak honestly then.”

---

On the balcony – Rafael and Sima:

Rafael lit a cigarette and Sima joined him. She broke the silence.

— “You still smoke? You said you’d stop.”

Rafael sighed.

— “Not with Victor’s head wound and the tension in the house.”

Sima then asked softly,

— “Victor is very special to you, right?”

He responded flatly,

— “He’s my brother. Even though he’s younger, he’s entirely his own person. He doesn’t care about much, and that makes me worry.”

Sima smiled.

— “He’s a lot like you.”

Rafael turned his gaze away.

— “I’m not as emotional as Victor. What he thinks, that’s what he shows.”

Sima nodded:

— “Still, you always stand by him. That sets you apart.”

They both fell silent, gazing at the sky.

At that moment, a maid rushed up:

— “Dada-babu! Victor Babu is calling you!”

Rafael’s face hardened. He turned and said nothing, then walked down the stairs. Sima watched and whispered softly,

— “I’m not going in. You go.”

Rafael nodded without a word and descended.

Morning – Front Courtyard

The sun was shining brightly. A black car pulled up at the front gate. Lily was on the rooftop, hanging clothes to dry. As soon as she saw her father's car from afar, she shouted,

— “Mom! Dad’s home!”

She ran downstairs excitedly. As the door opened, her father stood there—a serious-looking gentleman around 40 years old, dressed in a formal suit with an office bag slung over his shoulder. Without waiting a second, Lily leapt into his arms.

— “Daddy! You came back after so long! I missed you so much!”

Smiling, her father replied,

— “You won’t have to miss me anymore. I’ll be staying with you all for a few days now.”

---

Inside – Living Room

Victor slowly walked in and said,

— “Uncle, I want to file a case against Lily.”

Lily’s father looked surprised.

— “What case?”

Victor pouted and said,

— “For splitting my head open! She threw a broomstick at me—”

Lily jumped in,

— “Dad! He kept pestering me and teasing me. It was his fault!”

Victor pointed to his forehead.

— “Just look at my forehead! There's still a bandage mark. Your daughter is dangerous!”

Lily’s father laughed and said,

— “Hearing your arguments, I feel like we need to set up a courtroom right in this house.”

---

Meanwhile – Rafael and His Father in the Study

Victor and Rafael’s father, a stern and experienced man, said:

— “Your brother may be young, but there’s a storm inside him. He smiles in front of everyone, but he hides all his pain from us.”

Rafael replied softly,

— “I know, Dad. Victor is very sensitive.”

— “Keep an eye on him. From now on, Sima will be helping with some office work, and she’ll be staying here for a few days. I don’t want any tension in this house.”

Rafael frowned,

— “And if Sima starts thinking too much about Victor… then?”

— “As far as I can tell, Sima still sees him as a friend. The rest, time will tell.”

Rafael nodded silently. Birds chirped outside. A new day had begun.

---

Afternoon – Drawing Room

There was silence in the drawing room. Steam rose from two cups of tea placed on the table. On one side sat Victor’s father—stern, grey-bearded, wearing thick glasses. On the other side sat Lily’s recently arrived father, a man of strong presence even after years abroad.

Their eyes met, followed by a brief silent nod of recognition. Then Victor’s father spoke,

— “We meet after so many years. Time has changed everything around us, but some people remain the same.”

Lily’s father responded calmly,

— “You still speak with the same conviction. Victor has grown up a lot. Rafael, honestly, has become a second father to him.”

Victor’s father smiled faintly,

— “You know my younger son is a bit different. He smiles in front of everyone, but hides a lot inside.”

Lily’s father sighed deeply,

— “My daughter Lily—no matter how much she pretends to be angry with him, Victor actually cares for her a lot. There’s something strange forming between them. I’ve known them since they were little… but now it’s like I’m getting to know them all over again.”

Victor’s father spoke in a firmer tone,

— “We’ll need to understand where this relationship is heading. I give my children freedom, but I won’t let them walk into a mistake.”

Just then, Rafael walked in, looking tired.

— “Dad, the tea’s finished. Shall I bring more?”

Without looking up, Victor’s father said,

— “Sit down. We’re discussing you and your brother’s future.”

Rafael paused, then quietly sat down.

Outside the door, Lily stood, listening. Her eyes were full of curiosity, her heart racing with unease.

---

Scene Shift – Lily Gets Caught

Inside, the two influential fathers were having a serious conversation, while Rafael silently listened. Lily, standing by the door, watched through a crack. Though she couldn’t hear everything clearly, Victor’s father’s voice sounded harsh.

She tried to step closer… but suddenly slipped!

— “Ahh!”

A soft thud and cry.

Everyone turned toward the door.

Rafael quickly got up and opened it.

There sat Lily on the floor, clutching her head.

Victor’s father facepalmed,

— “What was this girl doing here?”

Before Lily could get up, Rafael reached out his hand.

— “Come on. Let’s take you to your mom.”

Lily was too embarrassed to say a word. Everyone was staring, Victor’s father’s stern gaze pierced through her. Her curiosity had now turned into sheer discomfort.

Rafael gently helped her up and led her away.

---

Lily’s Mother’s Room – Moments Later

Rafael dropped Lily off and left. Lily’s mother greeted her with a knowing smile.

— “You were eavesdropping again, weren’t you?”

Lily replied with a frown,

— “Everyone is hiding something… I know it… but I couldn’t hear a thing!”

Her face showed frustration, eyes filled with doubt.

— “Even Rafael didn’t say anything… and Victor’s father just glared… are they talking about me behind my back?”

Her mother spoke gently,

— “There’s a time for everything, sweetheart. You’re still young… not everything is meant to be understood just yet.”

Lily fell silent. But in her heart, she made a promise:

This time, I’ll figure it out—no matter what’s going on!