The Blackwood Estate was not a home; it was a fortress disguised as paradise.
Iron gates, twelve feet high and topped with gold spikes, swung open silently. The driveway was lined with century-old oaks that cast long, claw-like shadows over the pristine lawn.
As the Rolls-Royce crunched over the white gravel, Elena saw them.
The guests.
Hundreds of them, spilling out onto the terrace. Women in pastel fascinators and men in linen suits, holding crystal flutes of champagne. They looked like a painting by Monet—soft, blurry, and expensive.
But when Julian Blackwood stepped out of the car, the painting froze.
And when he helped Elena out, the painting cracked.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. It wasn't just because Elena was beautiful. It was the dress.
The emerald green silk. The sharp, architectural shoulders. The way it hugged her dangerous curves.
"Is that...?" An elderly woman near the fountain dropped her fan. "Is that Isabella's dress?"
"The Emerald Armor," a man whispered. "She wore that to the divorce hearing in 1998."
Elena held her head high. Her gold-rimmed glasses caught the sunlight, hiding the rapid stream of data flowing across her vision.
[LOCATION: THE VIPER'S NEST] [THREAT LEVEL: HIGH] [HOSTILITY DETECTED: 85%]
Julian placed a hand on the small of her back. His touch was warm, possessive.
"They recognize it," he murmured in her ear. "Keep walking. Do not stop for anyone."
They walked through the parting crowd like royalty. No one dared to approach the "Tyrant of Wall Street," but their eyes were like knives on Elena's skin.
"Julian! My darling boy!"
A voice, sweet as poisoned honey, cut through the silence.
Lady Catherine Blackwood emerged from the conservatory. She was dressed in pale lilac lace, holding a pair of silver gardening shears. She looked every inch the benevolent matriarch—except for the cold, dead look in her eyes when they landed on Elena.
Or rather, on the dress.
For a split second, Catherine's mask slipped. Her knuckles turned white around the shears.
[TARGET: LADY CATHERINE]
Role: The Usurper / The Step-Mother.
Hidden Emotion: RAGE.
Heart Rate: Spiking to 130 BPM.
"Catherine," Julian nodded stiffly. He didn't smile.
"You're late," Catherine said, recovering her composure instantly. She walked over, ignoring Elena completely. She reached out to touch Julian's lapel. "And you look tired. Is the company... troubling you?"
"The company is fine," Julian stepped back, avoiding her touch. "I believe you haven't met my Chief Strategy Officer."
He gestured to Elena.
Catherine finally turned. She looked at Elena not as a person, but as a stain on her carpet.
"Oh, yes. The... auditor." Catherine laughed softly. "I heard you fired poor Frank Miller. Such a shame. He had a family."
"He had a yacht bought with stolen money," Elena said calmly. "I assume you knew about that?"
The crowd went silent. You could hear a pin drop on the grass. No one spoke to Lady Catherine like that.
Catherine's smile didn't waver, but her eyes turned to ice.
"You are very... direct, Ms. Vance. It's charming. In a rustic sort of way."
She stepped closer, invading Elena's personal space. She smelled of expensive roses and decay.
"But be careful," Catherine whispered, her voice low enough that only Elena could hear. "Wearing a dead woman's dress is bad luck. In this house, ghosts have a way of... disappearing."
Elena didn't flinch. Her Data Eye focused on the diamond brooch pinned to Catherine's chest.
[ITEM DETECTED: The "Star of the South" Brooch] [STATUS: FAKE / REPLICA] [REAL LOCATION: Pawned at auction house "Christie's" - 3 months ago]
Elena smiled. A genuine, terrifying smile.
"I don't believe in ghosts, Lady Catherine," Elena replied loud enough for the nearby guests to hear. "I believe in balance sheets. And yours... seem to be missing a few assets."
Catherine's eyes widened. She instinctively covered the fake brooch with her hand.
"How dare you—"
"Mother!"
A young woman's voice interrupted them. It was Victoria Belmont, running over in her white dress, looking flustered. Behind her trailed a very pale, very sweaty Arthur Sterling.
"Mother Catherine!" Victoria grabbed Catherine's arm. "You promised to show me the Orchid House! The rare black orchids are blooming!"
Catherine took a deep breath. She smoothed her lilac dress, regaining her control.
"Of course, my dear." She looked at Elena with a renewed sense of calculation.
"Ms. Vance," Catherine said, her voice sweet again. "Why don't you join us? The men can talk business here. But the Orchid House... is for ladies only. We have so much to discuss."
It was a trap. A blatant, obvious trap.
Julian stepped forward. "Elena stays with me."
"It's fine, Julian," Elena placed a hand on his arm. She looked at Catherine, then at the terrified Arthur, then at the arrogant Victoria.
[MISSION UPDATE: THE LION'S DEN] [OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE THE TEA PARTY] [REWARD: DIRT ON THE STERLING FAMILY]
"I love orchids," Elena lied. "Lead the way."
Julian grabbed her wrist. His eyes were urgent. "Elena..."
"Don't worry," she whispered, tapping the emerald at her throat. "I'm wearing armor."
She turned and followed the three women into the glass conservatory. The heavy doors clicked shut behind them, sealing them in the humid, suffocating heat.
Julian stood alone on the lawn, watching her go. He took a bite of his apple, his grip crushing the fruit.
The war had begun.