The private room glowed in warm golden light, soft steam curling through the air like silk.
The scent of rose, lavender, and warm oils floated everywhere. Marble floors shone faintly beneath scattered petals.
A long crystal tub bubbled quietly at the center, surrounded by reclining couches layered with white towels and satin cushions.
Three girls and Natasha were already half-submerged in comfort.
One lay stretched on a massage bed while two attendants pressed warm oil into her shoulders, their hands moving in smooth, practiced rhythm.
Another had her feet soaked in a crystal bowl of milk and petals while a technician carefully polished her nails, tiny brushes gliding with precision. The third girl reclined lazily as a hair specialist rinsed her hair with scented foam, water trickling softly down into a silver basin.
Soft instrumental music hummed in the background. Somewhere outside, distant laughter, footsteps, and rolling carts echoed faintly — the spa was alive.
Ria walked in slowly, silk robe brushing her legs, eyes calm, unreadable.
She sank gracefully into a reclining chair, letting two attendants wrap her arms in warm towels and begin a gentle hand massage.
Damn… this is life, Ria thought lazily.
Dumball appeared beside her — tiny, ridiculous — wearing a robe, cucumber slices on his eyes, face mask thick across his cheeks, lying on an invisible chair.
Only she could see him.
Ria almost smirked.
After a while, she rose and walked toward the hot bath chamber, steam swallowing her figure.
Time Passed
Water dripped softly from the ceiling stones. Towels rustled. Oil bottles clicked. Low chatter floated between attendants.
Then—
The door opened.
The receptionist stepped in politely, tablet in hand, smile professional.
"Ma'am, may I take your cards for payment first?"
The first girl, face buried in a massage pillow, waved lazily.
"Take it from our bags."
"And mine too," Natasha added smoothly.
"No, no, Natasha. We said we'll pay," Girl Two said with a proud smile.
The receptionist nodded and left quietly.
Minutes Later
The door opened again.
But this time—
Her smile was thinner.
"How would you like to pay the remaining balance?"
Silence.
Girl Three slowly lifted her head.
"Remaining… what?"
The massage stopped.
The room temperature seemed to drop.
"All three cards have been fully charged," the receptionist said calmly. "But the total bill is not yet complete."
Girl Three's eyes widened violently—
Her body jerked—
She choked—
And nearly spat blood from sheer shock.
"What do you mean?!"
She shot up from the bed, knocking over a tray of oils that crashed to the floor.
Girl One scrambled for her phone, fingers shaking — checking her account.
Zero.
Her face drained of color.
"How dare you— HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY MONEY?!" she screamed, voice cracking, eyes wild.
Girl Two grabbed her phone too—
Saw the empty balance—
Her face twisted—
She hurled the phone across the room, smashing it against the wall.
"My allowance… the month just started… WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE ON?!" she shrieked, yanking at her hair in rage.
Girl Three's breathing grew shallow—
Her eyes rolled—
She collapsed.
Fainted.
Attendants gasped softly but dared not interfere.
Around them, background workers whispered quietly, exchanging looks.
Not sympathy.
Disdain.
Beggar behavior.
Natasha watched silently, lips pressed thin.
Pathetic, she thought coldly.
She slowly reached into her bag and handed over her card.
"It's fine. I'll handle it."
But inside—
Damn it. I said I wouldn't use my money.
The card was swiped.
The receptionist paused.
Then looked up.
"It is still not enough."
Natasha's smile froze.
Her lip twitched.
"What… did you say?"
"It is still not enough, ma."
A tiny crack appeared in her composure.
But she laughed softly, controlled, elegant.
"I see… perhaps there's a mistake. Let's wait for Ria."
The receptionist hesitated.
Then—
"Miss Ria has already left."
Silence.
The air froze.
Natasha's eyes slowly narrowed.
"She said… since you all insisted on paying, she allowed you the chance to shine. She has already paid for herself."
The words dropped like knives.
Flashback
Steam faded.
Ria stepped out of the bath, dressed neatly in her uniform.
She did not return to the private room.
Instead—
She walked straight to the elevator.
To the garage.
To her waiting car.
And left.
Back to Present
Natasha's fingers slowly curled .
"Then why… is the bill still so large?"
The receptionist smiled politely.
"Miss Ria ordered the Full Supreme Beauty Ritual — for everyone in the building."
Silence.
"…What?"
"All guests, all rooms, full service, full care — placed under your payment tag."
The door opened.
Music blasted.
Firework sparklers flared.
A group of extremely handsome shirtless men walked in carrying golden trays — expensive wine, towering seafood platters, glittering desserts — steam rising dramatically.
They began dancing.
The spa erupted in celebration.
For the generous sponsors.
The three girls stared in horror.
Their faces twisted.
Their eyes burned.
Natasha stood still.
Smiling.
But her nails dug into her palm hard enough to draw blood.
Far away—
Inside a moving car—
Ria leaned back lazily, watching the city lights blur past.
Her lips curved slowly.
A villainess smile.
.....
The celebration inside the spa did not last even three seconds.
Girl One's hand trembled violently. Her face twisted, eyes bloodshot, pride shattered beyond repair.
She suddenly grabbed a bottle of expensive wine from the tray—
And hurled it.
Glass exploded across the marble floor. Red wine splashed like blood across the dancing men's chests and the white tiles.
"Did we ask for this?!" she screamed, voice cracking, almost hysterical.
"Did we ask for it?! Who does she think she is?! Are we a bank?! She's the one who wanted to pay for everyone — WHY ARE WE PAYING?!"
Girl Two staggered forward, chest heaving, eyes unfocused. Rage boiled so violently inside her that her body could not hold it—
She coughed—
A streak of blood touched her lips.
Girl Three, who had just been revived, looked around in confusion, heard the numbers again—
And fainted once more.
Workers rushed quickly, trying to keep order, but the atmosphere had already shattered.
Girl Two stormed forward and—
SLAP.
Her palm struck the receptionist's face.
The room froze.
The receptionist's head tilted slightly from the force. The polite smile disappeared completely.
Her eyes hardened.
thought you were wealthy. Turns out you are scammers tsk following miss ria around but are actually begger wonder how they became her friend."she thought
"Are you done?" she continued sharply. "If you are finished, you still have to pay.
Otherwise we will call the police. You will be banned from this spa — and every top beauty spa. This entire scene is being recorded. Everyone in this building is watching. When someone sponsors the full ritual, it is broadcast and placed on the Wall of Fame."
She looked at them with open disgust.
"Please. Continue disgracing yourselves."
Girl One's breathing turned erratic. Her hands shook uncontrollably. Girl Two wiped blood from her mouth, vision spinning.
Then—
"Enough."
Natasha's voice cut through the chaos like ice.
Her face was calm. Expressionless. But her eyes were dark.
She pulled out another card—
Just as her phone rang.
The name on the screen froze her blood.
Ria.
Natasha answered.
Before she could speak—
Ria's voice came through, calm, clear, sharp.
"Natasha, I remembered something. I gave you one of my cards before. I want it back. You said you borrowed it, but you never returned it. Every time my brother sends money, it goes there and I can't use it. Return it."
Silence.
Everyone in the room could hear.
The spa fell deathly quiet.
Workers stopped moving.
Attendants froze.
Cameras recorded.
Natasha's face drained of color.
Her fingers tightened painfully around the card in her hand.
She felt every gaze.
Every whisper.
Every judgment.
Caught.
Exposed.
Humiliated.
"I… was about to use it I was thinking of—"
"It's fine," Ria cut in smoothly. "You can still borrow from it. Just write an IOU and give it to the receptionist. Write the amount."
The call ended.
Cold.
Clean.
Cruel.
Inside Natasha
Her mind went blank.
She had always used Ria's card.
Always.
She never asked her parents for extra money.
And now—
Everyone knew.
The shame burned hotter than fire.
A worker handed her a small ledger and pen.
"Ma'am, please write the IOU. The total bill is 25 million. Your three friends paid 5 million combined. You paid 5 million. 15 million remaining."
Natasha's nails dug deep into her palm until blood surfaced.
Fifteen million was not impossible for her.
But paying it—
To Ria—
Was humiliation.
Slowly… mechanically… she handed over the card.
Wrote the IOU.
Signed.
Returned the pen.
Then stood up.
And walked out.
Without looking back.
Ignoring the screams of the three girls behind her.
Ignoring the whispers.
Ignoring the cameras.
Her dignity dragging behind her like broken glass.
Meanwhile — In The Car
City lights streaked past the window.
Ria leaned back lazily.
Her phone vibrated.
Message from Father.
"Don't worry. I saw your message. Philip will handle it. I will send you money. If you need anything, contact my assistant."
Ria smiled slowly.
Cold.
Satisfied.
"Phase two… begins."
The driver glanced at her through the mirror.
And for a brief moment—
He felt a chill.
The moment Ria stepped into the mansion, a strange chill ran down her spine.
The grand hall was quiet — too quiet.
Crystal chandelier glowing softly. Marble floor cold beneath her heels. The air heavy… tense.
And then she saw him.
Leaning against the long table, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes burning with anger
Milo.
Her twin.
No… fake twin.
Not related by blood.
Only she knew.
Ria's lips curved instantly into a sweet, harmless smile.
"Brother…"
Her voice soft. Innocent.
But Milo exploded.
"Shut it. Don't even start," he snapped, voice sharp like broken glass. "What the hell did you tell Dad? That I bullied you? Are you serious?!"
His fists trembled.
His eyes were red — not from rage alone.
Ria's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Clear.
Bright.
Fragile.
Like she would shatter any second.
Milo froze.
Took a step back.
Eyebrows lifting.
"What… is that?" he asked slowly. "What is that expression?"
Ria blinked.
And just like that—
The tears vanished.
Her face returned to normal.
Calm.
Smooth.
Perfect.
"It's called acting, baby boy," she said lightly, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "I'm the favorite. You should know that. If I cry, everyone will crush you. So… don't make me cry."
Her smile was sweet.
But her words were poison.
Milo stared.
Speechless.
Disbelieving.
Before he could speak—
A calm voice came from above
.
"What is happening here?"
Both looked up.
Standing on the staircase, one hand resting on the railing, face composed, eyes unreadable—
Philip.
Their elder brother.
Authority.
Cold.
Unshakable.
In the next second—
Ria ran.
Her steps quick, light, desperate.
"Big brother—!"
Tears returned instantly, rolling down her cheeks as if they had never stopped.
"Milo is bullying me… my poor heart…" she sobbed softly, burying herself into Philip's chest.
Philip gently tapped her head.
Not warm.
Not cold.
Controlled.
"It's okay. Go to your room. I will handle it."
Ria nodded weakly, wiping tears, obedient.
Then Philip looked at Milo.
And the temperature in the room dropped.
"Your allowance is cancelled for two months."
Flat.
Final.
Milo's eyes widened.
"Hell no!" he shouted, stepping forward.
"Brother, are you serious?!"
He pointed behind Philip—
Ria was standing there.
No tears.
Making faces at him.
Mocking.
Smiling.
Then she ran upstairs like nothing happened.
Milo's chest rose and fell violently.
"Brother, why are you doing this? You know I didn't bully her!"
Philip looked at him calmly.
"I know."
Milo froze.
"…Then why?"
Philip turned slightly, already walking away.
"Father wants you punished. So accept it."
His steps echoed across the hall.
Then he added—
"Next time… don't make her angry."
And he left.
Milo stood alone.
Fists clenched.
Jaw tight.
Heart burning.
Upstairs—
Ria closed her bedroom door softly.
And smiled.