-----------
The Interrogation
The air in the Grand Mansion's sprawling, manicured garden was thick with the scent of jasmine and the distant sound of classical music. The sky was a vast, inky canvas dotted with sharp, glittering stars—a beautiful contrast to the nightmare unfolding below.
Selina, wrapped in a shimmering, peach gown that seemed to absorb the moonlight, spun around from the shadow of a towering rose bush. She froze, her breath catching in her throat, her heart hammering against her ribs like a captive bird. It was the absolute, paralyzing fear of seeing a ghost. A thin layer of sweat slicked her palms.
Ten steps away, bathed in the cool light spilling from the terrace, stood Han. He was wearing the custom navy-blue suit Selina had picked out for him just last week—a perfect fit that usually made him look approachable and warm. Tonight, however, it seemed tailored for a statue. Han's face was utterly devoid of emotion, his eyes two steady, unwavering points of observation.
Did he see me? Selina's mind screamed. She clutched the heavy satin fabric over her chest, trying to calm her frantic pulse. She looked exactly like someone who had just witnessed something horrific, her eyes wide and haunted.
Han closed the distance between them, his expensive leather shoes making no sound on the gravel path. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice low and even, devoid of the usual teasing warmth.
Selina instantly plastered on a brittle, too-bright smile. "Oh,! I just came out for some fresh air. It's so stuffy inside, you know."
Han's steady gaze never flickered. "Are you hiding anything from me, Selina?"
Her smile vanished, replaced by a cold mask of seriousness. "Of course not. What could I possibly hide from you, Han? We share everything."
"You've been... odd these days," he remarked, the statement delivered so normally it was chilling. "Shall we go?"
Selina nodded, her legs feeling like lead.
Moments later, they reached the terrace, a dazzling balcony overlooking the city where Raina's extravagant birthday party was in full swing. Han's face instantly softened. He saw his mother, Jannet, and his formidable Grandma—the true matriarch of the family—standing by the champagne fountain.
Grandma, dressed in a sharp, glittering midnight-blue dress suit, instantly grabbed his arm with deep affection. "What brings you so late, my boy? You must reach before time for such an event."
Han smiled, holding up a sleek, velvet gift box. "It took time to ensure the perfect gift for Raina."
Grandma chuckled. But Jannet, Han's mother, was focused on Selina. Her sharp eyes immediately noticed the bare skin of Selina's neck. The massive, inherited diamond necklace—the one Jannet had given her to wear tonight—was missing.
"Selina," Jannet asked, her voice dangerously quiet. "Where is the necklace? Didn't you like it? Why aren't you wearing it?"
Selina's breath caught again. This time, there was no smile to cover the panic. She swallowed hard, searching for a believable lie, but the words were already tumbling out. "Actually... I'm so sorry, I lost it."
A gasp rippled through the small group. Gabriella, standing nearby, froze, her expression shifting from cool observation to outright shock. Jannet's face paled with fury.
Grandma's voice turned steel-cold. "That is our inherited necklace. Where were you last? Do you remember where you lost it?"
Jannet was furious. "How can you be this careless, Selina? That piece is worth more than this entire party!"
Selina felt the heat of their accusations and regretted the lie instantly. She glanced at Han. His eyes were locked on her, but he made no move to support her, no move to defuse the tension.
Why isn't he saying anything? The realization hit Selina with icy clarity. He wasn't her protector; he was her judge.
"Don't worry," Selina stammered, "I will look for it."
Finally, Han spoke, his voice smooth and reassuring to his family, but his eyes never leaving Selina. "Yes, Grandma. I will search for it. Don't worry." He then turned his full gaze back to Selina, the intensity of his stare piercing her. "Wherever the necklace is," he finished, the words now sounding like a threat, "I would bring it."
Selina avoided his eye contact, a new fear gripping her. Han looked different. He looked like the hunter, and she, suddenly, was the prey.
The Price of Peace
Down in the bright, cheerful lights of a town ice-cream shop, Ronnie and Lara were just stepping out when they collided with Jake.
"Bro, you?" Ronnie smiled, genuinely surprised.
Jake, stunning in a sleek black suit, didn't return the smile. He looked tense, like he wished the pavement would swallow him. The reason stepped out of the black sedan behind him: Elisabeth. She was draped in a gorgeous, slightly too-formal white gown, looking stunning but utterly possessive as she clung to Jake's arm. Jake was constantly—and subtly—trying to pry her hand off his bicep.
Lara was instantly shocked. She hissed into Ronnie's ear, "Who is she? ".
Ronnie chuckled darkly. "She is the opponent for Gabriella...Oops not...Opponent is an understatement. She's madly chasing him. The girl's obsessed."
"Wait," Lara pressed, confusion clouding her face. "Is Jake... two-timing Gabriella? How can he do that to my friend?"
Ronnie just giggled and approached Jake.
"Elisabeth, what a surprise! When did you get back from LA?" Ronnie asked, his charm turned up to maximum.
"Yesterday," she purred.
"Yeah," Jake cut in, his eyes narrowed, "she came back to destroy my peace."
Elisabeth playfully punched his arm. "What did you say?"
"Nothing." Jake changed the subject. "Ronnie, aren't you coming to Raina's birthday?"
Ronnie's smile faded. "I... No."
"Did you two fight?" Jake pressed, his gaze softening slightly. "What exactly happened?"
Lara was still glaring at the white-gowned figure clinging to Jake. Elisabeth noticed the tension, her smile widening maliciously. "Oh, man. How fast you are, Ronnie. You're actually getting girlfriends one after another."
Lara's deadly stare immediately turned to Ronnie, who instantly pulled her close, draping his arm protectively around her shoulder.
"You're wrong this time, Elisabeth," Ronnie said, his tone shifting to unexpected sincerity. "She must be my girlfriend forever. But..." he paused, his eyes turning serious as he looked at Lara. "...she will change from my girlfriend to my wife in the future. No other girl can replace her."
Lara's hard expression melted into a soft, genuine smile as their eyes locked.
Elisabeth sighed dramatically. "Ugh. You matured, Ronnie. I envy you. Look at my 'boyfriend'—he doesn't even care about me, even though I've been chasing him perpetually."
Jake reacted instantly, raising his eyebrows. "Wait. I am not your boyfriend, and I won't be in the future." He leaned in, staring into her eyes, making his statement firm.
Elisabeth smiled, unwavering. "Let's watch. You're going to be mine, only."
"I want ice cream," Elisabeth announced abruptly. She grabbed Lara's hand. "Ronnie, don't mind! I'm taking her for a few minutes. You guys wait for us." She dragged the confused Lara inside.
Ronnie and Jake watched them go. Jake immediately dropped the casual act. "What are you hiding from me? What happened between you and Raina?"
"Raina doesn't like Lara. She wants me to stay away from her," Ronnie muttered.
Jake's eyes narrowed. "For what? Raina never interfered with your personal life before."
Ronnie hesitated. He stopped himself, shaking his head. "Don't ask me anything."
"Fine. So, is that the only reason you fought?"
"Not exactly. Do you know Kevin?"
Jake paused, the name tugging at a distant memory. "Who is... Kevin?"
"Are you serious? Raina's boyfriend!"
Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Actually, I do know. You know I usually don't remember names, and Raina calls him 'Babe.' I never bothered to learn his name. Tell me, what happened?"
Ronnie explained. "When Raina told me to break up with Lara, I told her how she was madly in love with that loser, Kevin, and how she'd even forgotten us. She got absolutely pissed that I called him a 'loser'."
Jake didn't reply for a moment. "Are you upset because she didn't invite you to the party?"
Ronnie smiled faintly. "No, I'm not."
Jake put a hand on Ronnie's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll talk to her. She'll understand."
"She won't. I'm sure," Ronnie replied. "Wait, I have a doubt. Who are you like, Jake? Elisabeth or Gabriella?"Ronnie Chuckled.
Jake looked him straight in the eye. "I'm sure I won't like Elisabeth, no matter what it is." He turned his gaze away.
Ronnie chuckled. "Then what about Gabriella?"
Jake was silent, thinking deeply. He didn't answer.
"I can understand," Ronnie said, his tone strangely cold. "Whenever you're around Gabriella, you seem different. The way you look at her is different."
"But she doesn't like me," Jake replied flatly. "According to her, I am her enemy."
Ronnie smirked. "Finally, you accepted that you like her! Don't worry, I won't tell anybody. Look at me and Lara. We were enemies, but look at us now. Lovers."
Jake was confused. "Really? You're serious? You aren't just playing around with her like the other girls?"
Ronnie's face turned completely serious. "No, I'm serious now."
Jake scoffed. "Ronnie, what do you mean? Wait... How are you her enemy? Is it because she's Gabriella's friend, or... does she know why Gabriella is out for revenge against us?"
"No, not because of that," Ronnie said, hesitating.
Jake's expression hardened. "Are you trying to hide something from me?"
Ronnie took a deep, shaky breath. "Do you know why Lara's accident happened that day?"
Jake stared. "Is that... you?"
Ronnie slowly nodded.
"What exactly happened?" Jake demanded.
"Lara was blackmailing Raina because she had evidence against us—how we bullied other students. That's why Raina told me and Selina to catch her and erase the evidence. But..when we were chasing her...she got hit by a vehicle."
Suddenly, a quiet voice cut through the background noise of the street.
"Who got accident?"
Ronnie and Jake spun around.
Lara was standing there, a cone of melting ice cream clutched in one hand. Her face was pale, and her dark eyes held an unwavering, terrifying emotion. Is she had heard everything ?
Ronnie froze, the fear of what he had wanted to hide finally revealed.
***eof
-----------
To be Continued....
-----------