August 7th, 2026
At the local airport in South Carolina - 8:03 PM
The moonlit skyline of South Carolina welcomed the late arrival of two of the world's most stunning women.
At the executive terminal of the local airport, Isabelle Ravenglass and Madison Hart stepped onto the tarmac under the shadow of a sleek private jet, escorted by four sharply dressed bodyguards.
The wind danced with their long coats and silken hair as the scent of jet fuel lingered. A long, black SUV was waiting.
They were promptly escorted to a private lounge - a place away from the prying eyes of press, paparazzi, and average passengers. It was late, quiet, and expensive. Soft jazz hummed in the background.
Isabelle sat on one side of the sleek white leather couch, her legs crossed elegantly. In one hand, she held a glass of red wine; in the other, her phone.
Her glacial blue eyes scanned the social media buzz from the Tokyo concert. Her and Foxxy's performance had ignited the fashion-music scene. Hashtags were trending. Screenshots of her stage strut and smoldering poses had gone viral.
Madison, tall and commanding like a modern-day goddess, lounged opposite her, scrolling through articles. Her latest drama film was raking in five-star reviews. Still, her attention kept flicking to Isabelle.
"So what's the plan here in South Carolina?" Madison finally asked, her voice firm yet tired.
Isabelle smirked without looking up. "To relax."
"Just relax?" Madison arched a brow.
Isabelle finally looked up, her smile still present but something colder lying underneath it. "Just relax."
Before Madison could press further, her sharp eyes caught movement through the wide tinted windows of the lounge.
"Babe," she said, nudging Isabelle and gesturing. "Look."
Isabelle turned. Her eyes narrowed. Then widened.
Victoria Everhart. The Queen of Hollywood herself. She looked perfect as always - a flowing white trench coat, blonde locks falling in curls over her shoulders, eyes shaded by designer sunglasses despite the night. Her arm linked with a man - DJ Jack Alborough, tall, handsome, and currently very annoyed.
"Victoria Everhart?" Isabelle stood slowly, her tone more intrigued than surprised.
Victoria turned, instantly recognizing the voice.
"Oh my god. Isabelle Ravenglass?" she exclaimed.
They walked toward each other. The hug was warm on the outside, all smiles and laughter. On the inside, it was stiff and calculating.
Madison remained seated, her jaw tight. Jack stood with crossed arms, his expression unreadable.
"What brings you here?" Victoria asked.
Isabelle flashed her practiced, charismatic grin. "Just a little escape. Some peace. And you?"
Jack, without a second thought, snapped, "She's here to visit another man."
Isabelle blinked, startled by the bluntness. "A man?"
Victoria's smile faltered, eyes slowly turning to Jack.
"Who?" Isabelle asked.
Victoria's voice tightened, calm but ice-thin. "That's not really your business to know."
"Bullshit! Just say it!" Jack barked, throwing his hands in the air.
Madison looked over, startled by his outburst. Isabelle didn't flinch.
"Some punk called Ian, right Victoria?," Jack growled.
Silence fell.
Isabelle's glassy smile disappeared. Her eyes didn't blink.
"Ian?" Madison repeated, rising slowly. "Ian Everhart?"
Victoria stiffened. She said nothing.
"Yeah," Jack muttered. "That asshole was her 'special someone from the past.'"
Victoria exhaled slowly. "Yes. Of course. He was once part of our family. So he's special to me."
It was a lie. A safe, digestible lie. But deep inside, she knew it wasn't the whole truth. Ian had carved out a permanent space in her soul, far beyond siblinghood. She couldn't say it aloud. Not with Jack here. Not with Isabelle watching.
Isabelle tilted her head. That slow, eerie motion.
"Special?" she asked, lips curling. "As in... like what?"
Victoria kept her face composed. "I just want to visit him."
Isabelle smiled. It wasn't warm. It wasn't friendly. It was something far more disturbing.
"How do you even know he's here?" she asked.
Victoria paused.
"Because..." she smiled sadly, "my heart says so."
Another silence stretched.
Jack expressed his infuriating heart. "Jesus Christ."
Madison rolled her eyes. "Okay, this is getting dramatic."
Isabelle, however, said nothing. She stared at Victoria. Not with rivalry. Not with jealousy. But something else. Something darker. Her fingers tapped gently against her glass.
"Ian," she repeated, so softly that only Victoria could hear.
Victoria glanced sideways. For the first time, she felt a shiver crawl up her spine.
"How about we go grab a dinner," Jack suddenly said, breaking the tension. "I'm hungry as fuck."
Madison folded her arms, eyes still on Victoria. "Yeah. Same."
Isabelle finally turned her gaze from Victoria. But not before offering her one final, unsettling smile.
"Let's eat," she said. "We have much to... discuss."
The group began to move, but the silence among them said more than words ever could. The air was thick. The emotions murky.
Victoria glanced one last time at Isabelle. She couldn't explain it, but the woman's smile unnerved her. Not because it was fake. But because it was honest.
Honest... and possessive.
The storm was beginning to form. One woman was chasing closure, or is it? One was clinging to obsession. And both had the same ghost buried in their hearts.
Ian Everhart.
Somewhere in the dark quiet of South Carolina... Ian was doing his own business. Oblivious to what came next.