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🌃 Rooftop Party
The air on the Rooftop of the Grand Mansion was thick with the scent of jasmine and the sharp, expensive tang of money. This wasn't just a party; it was a display of power. High above the glittering city, the massive glass walls of the rooftop terrace reflected the thousands of twinkling lights below, making the whole setting feel like a dream—or a gilded cage.
A handsome young man with eyes the color of warm whiskey, Felix,Who standing near Gabriella.
He smiled, a slow, captivating curve of his lips. "And by the by," he said, his voice smooth as silk, "What's your name?"
Gabriella, She wore astrikingly elegant pastel green dress, a stark contrast to the flamboyant party attire around them. The silk flowed like liquid shadow, hugging her form, giving her an aura of untouchable coolness. She was a breath of frost in a room full of fire. She met his gaze, and her smile was just as cold, sharp enough to cut glass.
"Gabriella."
Felix raised a questioning brow. "Gabriella," he repeated. "And are you Raina's friend or…?"
Gabriella's cool smile widened, hinting at secrets he couldn't guess. "More than that," she stated, her voice dropping to a seductive promise. "An inevitable person in her life."
Felix's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Something about her answer felt like a warning, a whispered threat on the summer breeze. Before he could speak, Gabriella shifted her weight, the pastel silk shimmering. "The party's about to start."
With that, she turned and walked away, melting into the pre-celebration crowd, leaving Felix to digest her cryptic words. He watched her go, a flicker of intrigue dancing in his eyes, before heading toward the main attraction.
🔥 Crimson and Lies
The center of the ballroom floor was a magnet, and at its heart stood Raina.
She was the main attraction, her twentieth birthday—a meticulously planned spectacle. Her crimson red dress was flawless, a vibrant splash of color against the white-and-gold décor. It was designed to make her look like royalty, a declaration of her position. She was smiling, but it was a little too bright, a little too perfect.
Raina's socialite mother, Bianca, called out, "Felix, dear, come stand by the birthday girl!"
Felix approached. Gathered in the inner circle were the elite: Han, Selina, Jake, and Elisabeth, all watching as Raina cut the multi-tiered cake. She fed the first piece to her mother.
Then, Felix took a piece and raised it to Raina's mouth. For a split second, the practiced smile vanished from Raina's face, replaced by a flash of annoyance. She instantly masked it with that bright, fake smile and leaned in, whispering so only he could hear, "Don't go beyond your limit."
Her smile was venomous. Felix didn't flinch. He leaned even closer, his lips brushing her ear. "It's not for me, it's for you too. I know you don't like your mother constantly parading guys for your marriage. Act with me, and you can avoid it. We're friends with benefits, remember?"
Raina bit the cake. "What's your benefit?"
Felix smirked knowingly. "You'll find out. Later."
A few steps away, one of Bianca's friends cooed, "Are they engaged?"
Bianca smiled sweetly, turning to look at the couple. "No, but soon. They truly are lovely to see together."
As if on cue, Han and Selina approached. Raina's smile froze the moment she saw Han, but she quickly recovered, introducing them as her friends to Felix.
Han and Felix shook hands. "Your company is growing fast, Han," Felix noted, a professional edge in his voice. "Everyone's eyes are on you."
"Yours too," Han replied, "Phoenix Enterprise is the leading company in the industry." They shared a knowing smile—a mutual respect or a veiled rivalry?
Selina offered her congratulations. "And to you both, happy future," she said, tugging lightly on Raina's arm. "Our friend here was hiding that she was going to engage with you!"
Felix chuckled, but his eyes were on Han.
Raina saw the look in Han's eyes—a mix of confusion and something else. She threw caution to the wind. "Yes, he is my fiancé!"
Just then, Jake and Elisabeth arrived.
"Really? Engaged?" Jake asked, his voice flat.
Felix didn't hesitate. He wrapped a possessive hand around Raina's shoulder. "Yes, we are."
Elisabeth sighed dramatically. "You guys are lovely! Look, my fiancé won't even show me a little affection." She glared pointedly at Jake, who ignored her.
Felix seized the opportunity. "Yes, I think Jake is more busy spending time with others than his own girlfriend," he mocked, raising an eyebrow.
Jake's smile vanished, but he held his temper. "And what about you? You're more interested in other business than your own." He stared intensely at Felix.
Raina watched the two men. Something was definitely wrong between them.
Elisabeth reacted instantly, turning to Jake. "Are you into another girl?!"
Jake sighed, clearly annoyed. He just wanted to leave. He looked straight at Elisabeth and said, coldly, "Honestly, I don't like you. Don't interfere in my personal life." He turned and walked away.
Raina, Han, and Selina were shocked, their expressions blank. Felix was the only one who didn't look surprised—he was smirking, clearly enjoying the drama he'd ignited.
Han leaned in, whispering coldly to Selina, "He's always like this. Doesn't understand the people who truly care for him." He scoffed.
"What?" Selina asked.
"Nothing," Han replied, excusing himself and walking away. Selina rushed to follow.
Felix's eyes drifted back to Raina, whose face was now cold and set. "Did you enjoy mocking my friend?" she demanded, straight to the point.
Felix's smile curved at the corner. "And where is your other friend?"
"Aha, Ronnie—"
"Gabriella," Felix interrupted.
Raina paused. "Gabriella?"
"Mm. She said she was inevitable in your life."
Raina smirked again, but this time it was thin, brittle. "Yeah. She is." Her eyes searched the crowd until they found her.
Gabriella was standing alone, not far from the center, her pastel green dress almost camouflaged against the night sky visible through the glass. Her face was straight, cold. Raina's expression darkened. The two powerful women locked eyes across the crowded room, vengeance burning inside them both.
✉️ A Warning in the Crowd
Gabriella moved away, heading toward the quieter food areas. The tables were laden with treats, but her mind was elsewhere.
A man, his back to her, clumsily brushed past. As he did, he dropped a tiny, folded note onto the ground. Gabriella quickly bent down and picked it up. When she straightened to return it, the man was gone. He had vanished into the dense crowd.
Gabriella unfolded the paper. Her eyes widened, locking onto the spidery script:
*******Your enemies have made an ally. They are planning something huge for you. Leave the party immediately as much as possible.*******
She quickly crumpled the note and hid it in the palm of her hand.
A hand touched her shoulder. Gabriella instantly straightened, masking her shock. She saw Dona, a cheerful woman known for her gossip.
"Oh, I have uploaded !" Dona chirped.
Gabriella forced a smile. "Did you hear about Raina's minor accident a while ago?"
"Yeah, I heard," Dona replied. "Something about rescuing a little girl. What odd behavior, right? She usually doesn't care about anyone."
"I thought so," Gabriella said, her voice deep. "She is mysterious."
Dona's eyes narrowed slightly, fixing on Gabriella's clenched fist. "What are you hiding in your palm?"
Gabriella was momentarily stunned. "Nothing."
Dona raised an eyebrow. "I saw it, Gabby. Show me."
Reluctantly, Gabriella gave her the crumpled note. Dona snatched it, read it quickly, and her jaw dropped.
"Oh, no! It's a threat! Who gave you this?"
"Someone dropped it and disappeared before I could find him," Gabriella explained.
Dona's voice lowered with worry. "Then you have to go back!"
"What?" Gabriella scoffed. "Do you want me to hide like a coward? No."
"Don't think like that," Dona pleaded, lowering her head. "I can feel that something is off here. And… I'm worried. My intuition keeps saying something very bad is going to happen. You had better listen to me."
Gabriella, her jaw tight, stood her ground. "I don't. Whatever it is, I won't be afraid. I will face it." She turned, a flash of pure anger in her eyes.
"Don't follow me," she commanded. Dona stood frozen, her eyes wide with fear and worry.
💔 The Unmasked Liar
Five minutes later, the DJ cranked up the music, bathing the dance floor in shifting neon lights.
Selina grabbed Han's arm, stopping him. "Why are you so moody today? What happened to you?"
Han turned, glancing into her eyes. "I'm okay."
Selina smiled. "Then shall we dance?"
Han nodded, but before they stepped onto the floor, he held her back. His stare was genuine, piercing. "Are you hiding anything from me, Selina?"
Selina's eyes wavered. She was afraid. Why was he asking now?
Han reached into his pocket and pulled out a delicate, familiar object: the diamond necklace Selina had claimed she'd lost. He held it in front of her. Selina's eyes widened in terror.
Does he know everything? her mind screamed.
Han was still staring at her coldly. In the crowd, his Grandma and his mother, Jannet, smiled, relieved to see the lost necklace. Han glanced at them and offered a quick, warm smile, then returned his gaze to Selina, his expression hardening.
He placed the necklace around Selina's neck. "How did you get this back?" she asked, her lips trembling. He knows, she thought.
After fastening the clasp, Han's mouth curved into a one-sided smirk. "Exactly where you lost it," he said. Selina panicked....Han continued"The thieves approached a shop to sell this necklace. I'd already filed a complaint, so the owner recognized it—it's unique and rare. He informed the police."
Selina grabbed his hand, panic in her voice. "Is he caught?"
Han smirked. "No. He escaped."
Selina exhaled a long breath of relief. Han's smile vanished instantly as their eyes met. He quickly forced it back, then began to dance smoothly with her.
Everyone's eyes were on them. Selina smiled and danced, but Han's patience was drained. He stopped their movement.
"Don't you want to say anything?" he asked, his voice low.
"What?" she asked, confused.
Han's face was filled with disappointment. He stopped dancing completely. He spoke, only loud enough for her to hear. "Everything's over, Selina."
"What?"
"Between you and me," he said coldly. He turned and started to walk away.
Selina panicked, her composure shattering. "Han, what are you saying?!" she shouted.
Han looked around, then lowered his voice, "Selina, please—"
She was furious and emotional. "How can I stay quiet after hearing this from you?!"
Han shouted loudly, finally breaking the facade. "Because no one can lead a relationship with a LIAR!"
Selina gasped, her eyes wide with shock. She grabbed his collar and shook him. "Do you know everything?! Are you playing along with me?!"
Han's eyes were buried in rage. He spoke in a deep, shaking voice. "Actually, I'm the one who should be in a rage, not you! You dare to hide the truth!" He effortlessly removed her hand from his collar.
Far away, Raina, Felix, and the others watched. Han's mother and grandmother were utterly confused, having seen them so happy moments before.
Han continued, his voice echoing in the sudden quiet. "I don't want a girl like you as my life partner, who dared to harm my sister!" He shouted. "Are you even a girl?! How could you do that to Gabriella? To set a trap to—" He hesitated, then finished in a lower voice, only for Selina to hear, "—damage her reputation?"
Selina looked around, humiliated by her fiancé's public rejection. She gave a chilling, psycho chuckle. With a mad expression, she leaned in.
"Han… are you lost your mind?" Her smile disappeared, replaced by a cold mask. "After losing your real sister, you consider that Gabriella as your sister? She isn't your biological sister, Han!"
Han's hand shot out. He slapped Selina, hard, right in front of everyone. His face was a mask of extreme outrage.
In the stunned crowd, a girl—her lipstick a striking bright shade, her face a picture of shock—whispered, almost to herself:
"Is Han… had a biological sister…?"
The girl who spoke was Gabriella.
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To be Continued....
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