The music swelled again after Elara's toast, but the atmosphere of the banquet had shifted. Guests who once dismissed her as meek and ordinary now whispered behind fans and glasses, casting curious glances her way.
Elara moved through the hall like a queen returning to her throne. Each step was measured, each smile deliberate. She spoke little, but every word carried weight.
Serena followed closely behind, her hands clenched tightly in her skirts. Humiliation still burned in her chest. Why? she thought furiously. Why is Elara suddenly so sharp? She was supposed to be naive, easy to toy with…
She wanted to strike back immediately. But with so many eyes on them, she had no chance.
Adrian Holt, the man Elara was soon to marry, approached at last. Tall, sharp-suited, his every movement exuded power. In her past life, his presence had made her heart race with nervous admiration.
Now, she only felt a cold, bitter sting when she looked at him.
"Elara," Adrian greeted, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs. "You surprised me tonight."
His gaze lingered on her longer than usual, as though trying to unravel the secret behind her sudden confidence.
Elara tilted her head, her lips curving in a faint smile. "Surprised? Surely your fiancée isn't so dull that she cannot change."
Gasps echoed softly nearby. No one had ever heard Elara speak to Adrian with such poise before. In the past, she would have blushed and stammered under his attention.
Adrian's brow arched in faint amusement. "It seems I have underestimated you."
"You did," Elara replied smoothly, raising her glass again. Her tone was calm, but her words struck like ice. "But that is your mistake, not mine."
For a brief moment, silence reigned. Then murmurs filled the hall once more, guests leaning in to gossip with wide eyes.
Adrian's lips curved upward, but it wasn't anger that flickered in his expression—it was intrigue. He had always disliked weakness, and yet the woman before him was no longer meek but sharp, untouchable.
Serena's chest tightened with unease. The plan had gone wrong, and worse—Adrian seemed fascinated by Elara's transformation.
She quickly stepped forward, trying to regain ground. "Brother Holt," she said sweetly, clutching his arm, "isn't Elara just nervous about the engagement? She doesn't mean to sound so… bold."
Elara's gaze snapped toward her, cold and unwavering. "Do I need you to speak on my behalf, Serena? Since when did my voice not carry enough weight?"
The hall went utterly still.
Serena's face paled. The mask of sweetness cracked for a heartbeat before she forced a laugh. "Of course, sister. Forgive me if I overstepped."
But the damage was done.
Elara had flipped the roles: for the first time, it was Serena who looked like the meddling younger sister while Elara stood proud and untouchable.
Adrian released a soft chuckle. "It seems tonight is full of surprises." His gaze lingered on Elara, sharp with interest. "Perhaps I should pay closer attention to my bride-to-be."
Elara's smile didn't waver, but inside, her thoughts burned. Attention? If only you knew what your 'attention' cost me in my last life…
The banquet continued, but the whispers grew louder, and all eyes seemed to follow Elara. When at last she excused herself and stepped into the cool night air, she allowed herself the faintest sigh of relief.
The moonlight washed over her pale skin, calm and cold. She gripped the balcony rail tightly.
One hand brushed over the pendant necklace lying against her chest. A gift from Adrian—one she had once treasured. Now, it only felt like a chain.
"Adrian Holt," she whispered under her breath, her eyes flashing with hatred. "Serena White. You both thought me weak. But from this night on… I'll be the nightmare you can't escape."
Behind her, footsteps echoed.
Elara turned swiftly.
A man stood in the shadows of the balcony, leaning lazily against the stone pillar. His suit was dark, his expression unreadable, but his eyes gleamed with faint amusement.
"Interesting," he said softly. "The forsaken bride isn't so forsaken after all."
Elara's breath caught. She didn't know him—but she would soon learn he was no ordinary guest.