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🌃 Terrace of the Grand Illusion
The terrace of the Grand Mansion was a breathtaking spectacle. Crystal chandeliers shimmered against the inky canvas of the night sky, casting a thousand diamonds on the polished marble floor. Below, the city lights twinkled like a sea of scattered gold coins. Teenagers, dressed in their finest, moved like characters in a high-stakes play.
Gabriella, striking in a sleek, midnight-ash slip dress that contrasted sharply with her pale skin, stood by the stone balustrade. Her dark, carefully styled hair caught the light. She wasn't gazing at the view; her piercing eyes were scanning the crowd, a cold, focused energy radiating from her.
Snap!
A sharp, artificial chuckle broke through the music.
"What are you searching for, Gabriella?"
Raina had materialized so silently, she might as well have dropped from the sky. She was a vision of calculated danger, her dress a shimmering, blood-red column that screamed confidence. Her lips were painted the same dazzling crimson.
Gabriella didn't flinch. She simply turned her back, ready to walk away, dismissing Raina like a gust of wind.
"Hold on,. Not so fast." Raina's tone was sweet, yet laced with venom.
Gabriella was stopped by a soft, insistent tug on her elbow. She refused to speak.
"Do you know why I wear these shoes tonight?" Raina's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, but her smile widened into a terrifying, toothy grin. "Do you remember these... the royal blue stone shoes?"
Gabriella's eyes, involuntarily, were drawn downward. The stiletto heels gleamed, encrusted with stones the exact, unforgettable shade of deep, lethal blue. Her jaw tightened, the only outward sign of the turmoil within. She finally lifted her gaze to Raina's face.
Raina's smile was dazzling, that red lipstick a cruel slash of color.
"Because," Raina whispered, leaning in, her breath smelling of expensive perfume and malice, "I want to destroy your resilience this time. Not your face. Don't worry."
Raina hissed the last words.
Gabriella felt a deep, boiling heat—the memory of a ghost, a past life—surge through her veins. Raina knew exactly which buttons to push.
"Do you remember those time I wore these shoes ? When I destroyed Andria... your prior version?"
Gabriella's blood boiled. That name. It was a wound that never truly healed. She suppressed a groan.
"Now... I wear them to destroy, not just your resilience, but your confidence, and most importantly... your strength."
Gabriella met her gaze, her eyes like chipped ice. "Barking dogs won't bite, Raina." Her voice was low, colder than the night air.
Raina's fists tightened, the tendons in her wrist momentarily cording.
Gabriella offered a cool, fleeting smile, the first sign of victory in the exchange, and turned to walk away. The marble floor felt like a runway beneath her feet.
Raina watched her go, the smile gone, replaced by pure, concentrated fury. She whispered to the empty space, "You will see... this time I'm going to attack your weakness." She ended it with a slow, chilling chuckle.
🍔 The Stolen Moments
Inside a brightly lit fast-food haven at the mall, Ronnie was scrolling relentlessly on his phone, the screen casting a pale glow on his thoughtful face. He was dressed in a casual hoodie, his attention lost in the digital world.
Lara was at the counter, ordering. Suddenly, a flicker of dizziness made the room swim. She gripped the counter's edge, managed a deep breath, and forced herself straight, completing the order with a strained smile. Just tired, she told herself.
She carried the tray back to the table. Ronnie finally looked up, setting his phone down. His dark eyes, usually so playful, were filled with concern.
"Hey, why are you so dull? Are you tired? We can go back now," he said, his voice instantly softening with care.
Lara shook her head. "Not actually. I'm fine, just a little tired, that's all."
She then asked a question that made the genuine concern in Ronnie's eyes freeze: "Do you have the photo of us that we took on our one-year date?"
Ronnie stunned, his easy demeanor vanishing. He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Actually... I had, but... I lost it when I changed to a new phone. I haven't any now," he admitted, his voice barely a murmur.
Lara smiled, a gentle, understanding smile. "It's fine, honestly. I'm just curious why I even asked."
Ronnie seized the moment, his energy returning. "We can cherish our moments now onwards by taking more pictures!" He immediately grabbed his phone and started snapping selfies, pulling Lara close, making silly faces.
After a few clicks, he handed the phone to Lara. She looked at the screen, her fatigue forgotten, a genuine, delighted smile spreading across her face.
Meanwhile, the forced cheer faded from Ronnie's own face. His smile disappeared, replaced by a deep, pained regret.
I'm so sorry I lied to you, Lara, he thought, his heart sinking. Actually, we haven't dated before... but I can't lose you, however it is.
💎 The Garden Trap
The garden side of the Grand Mansion was a dark labyrinth of manicured hedges and whispering shadows. Selina, her usually flawless expression marred by frustration, stomped toward the exit. She was fuming.
A dark hand shot out from a cluster of nearby bushes and clamped over her mouth, yanking her roughly into the dense foliage. Selina gasped, her panic immediate.
Then, she saw him.
The blackmailer removed his mask. It was the waiter—the one from the sleazy nightclub—the person she had hired to damage Gabriella's reputation.
"You!" Selina's eyes were wide with shock and fury.
The waiter—a man named Marcus—smiled, a predatory curve of his lips. "Are you surprised? Didn't you expect me to visit?"
"Why are you blackmailing me?" she hissed, ignoring the scratch of the leaves.
"Because the amount you gave was not enough," Marcus stated plainly.
"What? I don't give you anymore!" Selina exploded.
Marcus's smile disappeared. His eyes darkened, turning cold and menacing. "Then I will tell everyone what you planned for Gabriella... that you set up a pervert to abuse her."
Selina's face twisted into sheer terror. "No! Don't! Please!"
Marcus smirked. "Have you ever imagined how your fiancé would react if he knew about that? His future wife set a trap for his sister."
Selina couldn't stand straight. Her legs felt suddenly boneless, wobbling dangerously. She grabbed a thorny bush for support, staring at Marcus with desperate realization.
"How much do you want? Tell me the exact amount!"
"I want one million dollars."
Selina gasped. "What?! No way! I haven't—"
"What? Did you think I was a fool? I know who you are. Give me the money, and I won't interfere with you anymore. I need to tell you... I have the footage of when you gave us the order."
Selina suddenly grabbed the collar of his hoodie. "You! How dare you record everything!"
Marcus effortlessly peeled her trembling hand away. "Then give me your necklace. I think it's worth it."
Selina was shocked. "What? Do you know how much this cost? It's beyond your imagination!" The necklace was a stunning string of diamonds with a spectacular blue-stone pendant.
Marcus chuckled. "If I told the whole truth to your fiancé, do you know how he would react? It's beyond your imagination."
Selina panicked, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Defeated, she unclasped the priceless necklace from her neck and handed it to him.
He smiled in triumph and handed her a tiny SD card.
Selina was devastated. "I don't believe you. What if you have backups in cloud storage? Delete everything in front of my eyes!"
He took his phone, navigated a few screens, and deleted files. "See? Everything gone. Trust me."
Marcus was gone, melting into the shadows. Selina's eyes turned red, and she was on the verge of tears, the loss of the necklace and the fear of exposure crushing her.
Suddenly, she heard a voice. A single, calm word that chilled her to the bone.
"Selina."
She spun around. Her breath hitched. She froze like she had seen a nightmare, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.
Ten steps away, bathed in the faint glow of a garden lantern, stood Han. He was wearing the impeccably tailored blue suit she had picked out for him, a suit that now seemed to signal impending doom.
His face was completely devoid of emotion. He was simply watching her.
Selina was utterly, hopelessly afraid.
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To be Continued....
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