Inside the Langford Mansion, the golden chandeliers blazed brighter than ever, scattering light across polished marble floors. The music drifted like velvet through the air, a gentle symphony mixing with the clinking of champagne glasses and the low murmur of conversation. On the surface, it was a night of celebration. But not everyone was smiling.
At the center of the room, Celeste raised her glass, her diamond bracelet catching the glow."I'm so lucky to be part of this family," she said, her voice sweet as honey, masking the venom beneath. "Soon-to-be Mrs. Langford."
Gasps of admiration followed, then applause.
Mrs. Langford lifted her own glass with pride."Oh dear, you're not just lucky. You're chosen. Liam is everything—and so are you."
The room erupted with cheers. Glasses touched, champagne fizzed, and laughter rose. To the crowd, it was perfect. To two people standing quietly in the shadows—it was suffocating.
Aira pressed herself against the corner of the wall, her heart still hammering from what she had overheard in the garden. Every clink of glass felt like a nail being driven into her chest.She's going to destroy them. Celeste's going to ruin everything…
Beside her, Elena whispered low, her words steady but firm."Aira, stay calm. We can't act yet."
But from across the hall, Celeste's eyes found them. Sharp, unblinking. She tilted her head ever so slightly, and then—smiled. That smile wasn't warmth. It was poison disguised as silk.
So, Celeste thought coldly, they heard. How interesting.
She glided toward the center of the hall once more. Her hands trembled faintly, but she smoothed it out by clutching her champagne flute tighter. She tilted her chin, her voice carrying effortlessly over the music.
"Sorry to interrupt again," she said sweetly, though her eyes lingered on Aira, sharp as daggers. "But I think someone tried to trip me earlier. I just wanted to say…" her smile widened, her gaze pinning Aira in place, "…I know people may not like me. But I believe love always wins."
Her words floated, heavy, barbed.
Mr. Langford chuckled, raising his glass again."Love does win, Celeste. Tonight is about joy, not bitterness."
The crowd murmured in agreement. To them, Celeste's little performance was harmless. But across the room, Alec's dark eyes narrowed. He was watching—not Celeste, but Aira. He caught the stiffness in her shoulders, the way her fingers dug into her dress, the pale strain of her face. Something was off.
Why does she look so shaken? he wondered.
At that moment, Celeste leaned ever so slightly toward her assistant, whispering behind her glass. The woman's eyes flickered with obedience before she slipped away toward the back hallway. Celeste smirked faintly, sipping her drink as if nothing had happened. The trap was already being set.
"Celeste dear, don't mind others," Lily said encouragingly. "You'll be part of our family soon."
Rayen smirked, tossing back his drink."If people are jealous, that's their problem."
Sana's mocking voice chimed in."Some people are always so dramatic."
Mira's brows furrowed. She said nothing, but her eyes shifted toward Aira and Elena. Concern lingered there, unspoken.
The two girls quietly began to edge away, slipping through the crowd, desperate to avoid attention. Alec saw it, too. His instincts prickled. Should I follow them? But he hesitated. No… maybe they just need air.
Back Hallway
The music and laughter faded the deeper they went. The corridor was dim, the golden glow of chandeliers replaced by the cold hush of wall sconces. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the stone.
Aira clutched Elena's arm. Her voice was urgent, strained."We need to tell someone. Maybe Alec, maybe Mr. Langford—anyone!"
Elena's response was firm, shaking her head."Not now. We don't have proof. If we accuse her without it, she'll twist everything. We need to—"
Her words were cut short.
Out of the shadows—two figures lunged. Masked men, dressed in black, emerged from behind the heavy velvet curtains.
Aira gasped, her body jerking back, but a gloved hand slammed over her mouth. Elena tried to scream, but another masked figure clamped her from behind, muffling her cries.
Their eyes widened in sheer terror.
Aira kicked wildly, her heels scraping against the marble. Elena bit the man's hand, her teeth sinking in hard enough to draw blood. But the men were strong—unyielding. They dragged the girls down the hallway, away from the glow, toward the cold night beyond the service door.
And then—she appeared.
Celeste.
She stepped out from the shadows, her arms crossed over her glittering gown, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Her face no longer wore sweetness. Instead, her beauty was sharpened into cruelty.
"Did you really think you could sneak around me?" she said softly, her voice cutting like glass.
Aira thrashed harder, muffled cries escaping behind the man's hand. Elena's eyes blazed with fury as she struggled, but both were powerless.
Celeste's smile was slow, cold."Good try, little mice. But this game?" She tilted her head, her eyes glinting. "This game is mine."
The masked men shoved the girls through the back door. A black SUV waited, engine humming quietly. The doors slammed open. Within seconds, they were dragged inside. The vehicle pulled away into the night—swallowed by darkness.
Back in the Hall
"Where's Celeste?" Mrs. Langford asked suddenly, glancing around.
Mr. Langford waved a hand."She was here just a moment ago."
But Alec's eyes weren't on Celeste. His brows furrowed as he scanned the room. Where's Aira? Where's Elena?
He excused himself, stepping out into the garden. The cool air hit him, but it did little to calm the unease in his chest. He scanned the gates, the shadows, the quiet pathways. Nothing.
I'm overthinking, he told himself. They probably just needed air.
He turned back toward the glowing hall. Laughter rang out. Glasses clinked again. The party went on, oblivious.
No one knew.
Two lives had just vanished into the dark.