Some people fight fire with fire.
Liana Zhou?
She brings gasoline, a lighter, and a live recording.
Scene: Afternoon – Five-Star Hotel Lounge
Shen Ruoyi was already there, sipping champagne like it was blood.
"Liana," she said, eyes gleaming. "You look surprisingly alive."
Liana sat across from her in crimson—sharp heels, sharper smile.
"Disappointed?"
Ruoyi's smirk twitched. "Just confused. You were always so... obedient. Now you're storming boardrooms and outplaying Damon like you've grown teeth."
Liana's voice was silk-wrapped venom. "I always had teeth. I just stopped biting myself."
Scene: The Conversation Begins – Voice Recorder Active
Liana's clutch bag held more than lipstick.
Inside, a pin-sized wire sent every word to a receiver across the street.
The PI was already recording.
Ruoyi leaned forward, conspiratorial. "Look, I don't hate you."
"Of course not," Liana said dryly. "Just tried to kill me once. What's a little arson between girlfriends?"
Ruoyi flinched, but kept smiling. "We were all under pressure. Damon... he wasn't thinking clearly. But you came back. Miracles happen."
"Mm. I prefer revenge."
Ruoyi's eyes narrowed. "Is that what this is? You playing CEO Barbie just to win him back?"
"I'm playing survivor," Liana said. "And you should worry—survivors remember everything."
Scene: Ruoyi Slips
Ruoyi laughed, cold and brittle. "Please. I've seen the footage. You think anyone will believe you? Damon made sure no one found that warehouse. No one found your body."
Oops.
Liana blinked slowly. "Interesting choice of words, Ruoyi. Almost like you just admitted involvement."
Ruoyi's eyes flicked to the side—too late.
"Oh," Liana added, voice sugar-coated poison, "this part's definitely going in the recording."
Ruoyi's face drained of color. "What?"
Liana tapped her clutch. Once. Twice.
"This isn't a meeting, darling. It's a confession."
Scene: Across the Street – Surveillance Van
The PI grinned, adjusting the headphones.
"Got her," he whispered.
Backup drives auto-uploaded the audio to three separate servers.
Liana Zhou wasn't just fighting a mistress.
She was building a case.
Scene: Lounge – Now War Zone
Ruoyi leaned in, feral now.
"You think you can win? Damon will never believe you."
"Oh, I'm not trying to convince Damon," Liana said, rising. "I'm preparing his downfall."
"You're bluffing."
"I never bluff," Liana said calmly. "Only threaten. And I keep those."
Ruoyi lunged, gripping her wrist. "You ruined me—!"
Liana didn't flinch. Just stared down.
"Let go."
The voice was soft.
But the security guards were already on the move.
Ruoyi froze. Stepped back. Fixed her smile.
"Careful, Liana. You're playing with fire."
Liana turned, her exit surgical.
"I am," she said. "But I'm not the one who's going to burn."
Scene: Damon's Office – Later That Night
He was watching her again. On security footage. On his phone.
The meeting with Ruoyi.
The moment Ruoyi grabbed her wrist.
The way Liana never looked scared. Never blinked.
He leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable.
"She's not scared of anything anymore," he murmured.
And for the first time since she'd said "yes" again...
He was.
The PI texted Liana.
> "Got the evidence. We're ready to move on Damon."
Liana replied with a single line:
> "No. Let him twist a little longer."
Then she shut off her phone.
Smiled in the dark.
And began writing wedding vows.