So… it all came down to the arranged marriage.
And the pressure she forced herself to carry.
That was all Cielo said after hearing everything.
He stood there, staring at Dawn.
Fear clung to her face. Anxiety trembled through her body. He could see it—how fragile she looked now that there was nothing left to hide.
"Dawn," he called softly.
She flinched and lifted her gaze. She didn't speak. She waited.
"It's not my fault… right?" she asked quietly.
"I pity you," Cielo replied calmly. "But your choices? Your actions?" He shook his head slightly. "I won't pity those. You knew exactly what was wrong."
He exhaled.
He wasn't denying the pressure she endured.
But pressure was never an excuse to destroy someone else's life.
He handed her phone back.
"As for that picture," he said, his voice low, "before anything else… there's something you need to know."
He looked straight at her.
"I already knew everything. I knew you framed Kelly. I knew what really happened to Crisha." His eyes didn't waver. "I've known for a long time."
Her eyes widened.
"T–Then why?" Panic crept into her voice. "If you already knew, why did you still ask me?!"
"Because I wanted to hear it from you," he answered evenly. "I needed confirmation." His gaze sharpened. "Why you chose to push Crisha into the river."
She stiffened.
"And one more thing," he continued. "Why did Julie get dragged into this?"
"W–What are you talking about?" she asked quickly. "Dragged into what?"
He saw it.
She was still hiding something.
"That suspect you mentioned," he said calmly. "You knew him personally. You knew he knew Crisha. When things went wrong, he didn't realize Crisha was already dead—and he mistook Julie for her. Isn't that right?"
Her throat tightened.
She couldn't meet his eyes.
"Dawn."
"Fine!" she snapped. "That man helped my dad. I didn't know he was secretly skimming money and giving some of it back to Crisha. He knew her. I only found out later—because someone told me."
Someone told her.
Cielo didn't comment.
"Does your father know?" he asked instead.
She shook her head. "No. I didn't tell him. I don't want to see his disgusting angry face again. That man acted on his own. I never ordered him to hurt Navares."
"And who told you?" Cielo pressed gently. "And how did you know it was Navares?"
She stayed silent.
Only shook her head.
He didn't push further.
He would uncover it eventually.
"You knew Julie before she transferred here," he said.
She nodded.
Cielo turned slightly, as if ready to leave.
But she spoke again.
"Why do you care so much about her?" Her voice cracked. "I'm your girlfriend. D–Did you cheat on me?"
"Cheat?" he repeated thoughtfully.
Then he looked at her.
"Dawn… did I ever say that I loved you?"
Her breath hitched.
"W–What are you saying? You always did!"
"Oh?" He tilted his head. "Did I?" A faint smile appeared. "I think that was part of your narrative. I just went along with it."
Her face drained of color.
"As far as I remember," he continued calmly, "that 'relationship' started after the rumor incident. I never confessed. Not even once."
"W–What are you even talking about?"
He sighed.
"You admitted it yourself before. You wanted me to fall in love with you because your father needed it. You weren't in love with me either. Right?"
She couldn't deny it.
"Your plan was to control me. To prove you could. And I played my role well these past months." His eyes met hers. "You were proud of that."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "S–So you were just playing with me?"
"Yes," he answered without hesitation. "I played along. Because I wanted the truth about Crisha."
She laughed bitterly.
"So you're with Julie now?" she sneered. "Then you're worse than I thought. I even pitied her. All of this—for Crisha?"
"You misunderstood," he said calmly. "Julie is different."
"Oh, please. You like games. You used me. I'm sure you used her too."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Listen carefully. Julie and I are in a relationship. She is my only girlfriend." His voice hardened slightly. "I'm not using her. She knows about Crisha. She always has."
Dawn froze.
"J–Julie knows?" Her eyes widened. "So you planned this together?"
"Yes." His answer was firm. "She's the girl I love." A pause. "I'm sorry, Dawn."
Silence swallowed them.
"Then tell me," Cielo said, locking eyes with her, "where are Julie and Julia?"
She stopped herself from reacting.
Her fists clenched.
"Fine," she said coldly. "If you really love her, you'll be shocked when you find out who she truly is."
She smirked.
Cielo didn't react.
A secret about Julie?
He already knew.
What mattered now was where she was.
And where Vincent was.
"Thank you, Dawn," he said quietly.
Her eyes filled with questions—but she chose silence.
"You're wondering how I knew everything," he continued. "I told you before. I always find the truth. I'm not alone. I have friends." His gaze sharpened. "And I know your little group."
She walked past him without another word.
This wasn't over.
Not yet.
Someone had told Dawn about Julie.
And Vincent…
He was likely the one pulling the strings.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
A message from a friend—warning him of what awaited.
Julie and Julia were there.
He exhaled.
Julie… hold on.
I'm coming.