Serena POV
"You spilled champagne on a five-thousand-dollar gown, you clumsy bitch!"
The slap came before I could even dodge it.
My head snapped to the side, the sting spreading across my cheek. I clutched the empty tray tighter, keeping my eyes down, also keeping my face blank.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Chen," I whispered, my voice small and meek…exactly what they expected from a lowly waitress at the Sterling Charity Gala.
"Sorry, don't fix my dress, you idiot. You're lucky I don't have you arrested."
I bowed my head lower, letting my hair fall over my face. Good. Let them think I'm weak. Let them think I'm nobody.
But inside, I was smiling.
Because in five minutes, when Mrs. Chen returned to her table, she'd find her purse missing.
And the USB drive I'd just planted in Damien Sterling's coat pocket would start uploading every file on his private server.
I straightened up, mumbling another apology, and disappeared into the crowd.
The marble floors clicked beneath my heels as I weaved through the guests. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting golden light on women dripping in diamonds and some men discussing million-dollar deals over champagne. This world used to be mine.
Once.
Five years ago, I wore those diamonds. Five years ago, I attended parties like this one on my father's arm.
Now, I served drinks and cleaned up their messes.
"Miss! Another glass of champagne over here!"
I turned, forcing a polite smile. "Of course, sir."
A balding man in his fifties held out his empty glass. I recognized him. Senator Blackwell.
One of the men who testified against my father at the trial.
"You look familiar," he said, squinting at me.
"Do I know you?"
My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my face neutral. "I don't think so, sir. I just have one of those faces."
"Hmm." He studied me for another second before waving me away. "Well, hurry up with that champagne."
"Right away."
I walked toward the bar, my hands steady even though my pulse raced. That was close. Very close. Too close. I'd changed my appearance, dyed my hair darker, lost weight, wore colored contacts…but some people had sharp memories.
I couldn't afford to be recognized. Not yet.
"Psst. Over here."
I glanced to my left. Another server, a young guy named Marco, gestured frantically from behind a pillar.
"What?" I hissed, stepping closer.
"Did you get it?" he asked, his voice low. "The access card?"
I reached into my apron pocket and pulled out a thin plastic card. "Third-floor security clearance. Lifted it from Sterling's head of security ten minutes ago."
Marco's eyes widened. "You're insane. If they catch you…"
"They won't." I tucked the card back into my pocket. "Did you plant the devices in the east wing?"
"Yeah, all three listening bugs are active. But Serena, are you sure about this? Damien Sterling isn't someone you want to mess with."
I leaned closer, my voice dropping to ice.
"Damien Sterling destroyed my life. He destroyed my family. So yes, Marco, I'm sure about this."
He swallowed hard and nodded. "Okay. Just… be careful."
"Careful doesn't get revenge."
I turned and headed back into the main hall, my mind already moving to the next step. The USB drive would give me access to Sterling's financial records, but I needed more. I needed something personal. Something that would ruin him the way he ruined me.
My father didn't deserve to die in prison. He didn't deserve to be branded a criminal while Damien Sterling walked free, celebrated as a hero, a philanthropist.
But the world didn't care about truth. It cared about power. And right now, Sterling had all of it.
Not for long.
I passed through the crowd again, my eyes scanning for my next target. There…a woman in a red dress, one of Sterling's board members.
I'd seen her earlier, drunk and loud, waving her phone around.
"Excuse me, ma'am," I said, approaching with a tray of champagne. "Would you like another glass?"
"Oh, yes! Thank you, dear." She grabbed a glass and took a long sip. "These parties are exhausting. All the small talk, all the fake smiles."
"I can imagine," I said sweetly, glancing at her purse on the table beside her. "Must be difficult being in such high demand."
"You have no idea." She laughed, turning to talk to someone else.
I set down the tray, pretending to adjust the glasses, and slipped my hand into her purse.
My fingers closed around her phone. I pulled it out, swiped it open…no password, perfect, and quickly forwarded her recent emails to my encrypted account.
Ten seconds. That's all it took.
I dropped the phone back into her purse and picked up my tray, moving on before anyone noticed.
This was what I'd become. A thief. A liar. A ghost haunting the edges of their world.
But I didn't care. They took everything from me. My father. My family's reputation. My future.
Now, I'd take everything from them.
I reached the hallway near the grand staircase and paused, pretending to fix my shoe. A massive portrait hung on the wall…the Sterling family, all polished smiles and expensive suits.
Damien stood in the center, tall and commanding, his dark eyes staring out like he owned the world.
I stared back, my jaw clenched.
I'm coming for you, I thought. Every lie you told, every life you ruined…I'll make you pay for all of it.
A wave of dizziness hit me suddenly, and I gripped the wall to steady myself. My vision blurred for a moment, my breath catching in my throat.
Not now. Not here.
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe slowly. The dizziness passed after a few seconds, leaving behind a dull ache in my chest.
I couldn't afford to be weak. Not tonight.
I pushed off the wall and continued down the hallway, my steps quick and purposeful.
Sterling's private study was on the third floor, tucked away from the party. If I could get inside, I could access his personal computer, find the files he kept hidden from the world.
The files that would prove my father's innocence.
I reached the staircase and glanced around. No one was watching. Good.
I slipped off my heels and started climbing, my bare feet silent on the marble steps. The third floor was quieter, darker. Most of the guests stayed downstairs, mingling and drinking.
I finally reached the top and pulled out the stolen access card. Sterling's study was at the end of the hall, behind a heavy wooden door.
I swiped the card against the reader. A soft beep, and the lock clicked open.
My heart pounded as I pushed the door open, stepping inside…
And then I heard it.
A child's scream.