Chapter 4 The Beginning of the Game

Chapter 4

The Beginning of the Game

Rain continued long into the evening.

The Vale mansion glowed beneath the storm, servants rushing through marble hallways as preparations for the charity gala reached their final stages.

Inside her bedroom, Seraphina stood silently before the mirror.

A stylist carefully adjusted the final details of her appearance while maids moved nervously around her.

No one dared speak too loudly tonight.

Because something about Lady Seraphina felt different.

Dangerously different.

“Lady Seraphina,” one maid whispered carefully, “your gown is ready.”

Seraphina lifted her eyes toward the reflection.

The dress was breathtaking.

Black silk wrapped elegantly around her figure, the fabric shimmering like liquid darkness beneath the chandelier lights. Silver embroidery curled across the corset like delicate thorns.

Not soft.

Not innocent.

Beautiful in a way that felt untouchable.

In her previous life, she wore pale colors to appear gentle.

Tonight—

she had no intention of looking harmless.

“You’re all dismissed,” Seraphina said calmly.

The room instantly emptied.

Silence returned.

For several long moments, Seraphina simply stared at herself in the mirror.

Then slowly—

her fingers brushed against the diamond necklace resting at her throat.

A gift from Adrian.

In her previous life, she treasured it dearly.

Now it felt disgusting against her skin.

Without hesitation, she unclasped it and tossed it onto the vanity table.

The diamonds cracked against the wood.

A cold smile touched her lips.

Perfect.

—

The charity gala was already overflowing with influential guests by the time Seraphina arrived.

Crystal chandeliers illuminated the massive ballroom while soft classical music drifted through the air. Nobles, businessmen, socialites—

all dressed in luxury.

All hiding knives behind polite smiles.

The moment Seraphina stepped inside—

the ballroom quieted.

Eyes turned toward her instantly.

Because this was not the Seraphina Vale society remembered.

Whispers spread rapidly across the room.

“Is that really her?”

“She looks different tonight…”

“What happened to Lady Seraphina?”

She ignored them all.

Graceful and composed, Seraphina descended the grand staircase slowly, black silk trailing behind her like a shadow.

And for the first time in years—

she felt powerful.

Near the ballroom entrance, Adrian’s expression visibly shifted when he saw her.

Shock.

Then confusion.

Because the woman walking toward him no longer looked like someone desperate for love.

She looked unreachable.

“Seraphina,” Adrian said carefully as she approached. “You look…”

He stopped.

Beautiful sounded too weak.

Dangerous felt more accurate.

Seraphina smiled faintly.

“Disappointed?” she asked softly.

Adrian frowned slightly. “Why would I be disappointed?”

Because you preferred me obedient.

The words almost escaped her lips.

Instead, she simply walked past him.

Leaving Adrian standing there in stunned silence.

For the first time—

he felt something unfamiliar.

Unease.

—

Across the ballroom, Evelyn watched everything carefully.

Her smile remained perfect.

But internally, panic slowly began crawling through her chest.

Something was wrong.

Her sister was no longer reacting the way she should.

And that terrified her.

Still—

it didn’t matter.

Because tonight’s plan was already prepared.

A server quietly approached Evelyn from behind.

“The documents have been placed,” he whispered discreetly.

Evelyn’s lips curved slightly.

Good.

Tonight would still be the beginning of Seraphina’s downfall.

Just like before.

—

Meanwhile, on the upper balcony overlooking the ballroom—

Lucien Ardent observed everything silently.

One hand rested inside his pocket while the other held a glass of untouched wine.

His dark gaze followed Seraphina through the crowd below.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

The rumors hadn’t exaggerated.

She truly changed.

Lucien had attended enough social events to recognize performances when he saw them.

But this?

This wasn’t an act.

The coldness surrounding Seraphina Vale felt genuine.

As though something inside her had died recently.

Then suddenly—

Seraphina lifted her gaze.

Their eyes met across the ballroom.

And for one brief moment—

the noise,

the music,

the crowd—

everything disappeared.

Lucien saw it instantly.

Pain.

Buried deep beneath her elegance.

A dangerous kind of pain.

Instead of looking away, Seraphina held his gaze calmly.

Fearless.

Lucien slowly smiled.

Ah.

Now this was interesting.

—

An hour later, the gala reached its peak.

Guests gathered near the center stage as donations and financial reports were prepared for presentation.

Exactly like the previous life.

Seraphina stood quietly beside a champagne tower, watching the ballroom with unreadable eyes.

Every detail matched her memories perfectly.

The timing.

The people.

The trap.

Soon—

someone would “discover” falsified documents connected to her name.

Then the rumors would begin.

Fraud.

Embezzlement.

Corruption.

The first crack in her reputation.

In her previous life, she panicked.

Tried defending herself emotionally.

Tonight—

she almost felt amused.

A sudden commotion erupted near the presentation table.

Gasps spread rapidly through the crowd.

“What is this?”

“Those numbers—”

“Impossible…”

Evelyn lowered her gaze instantly, pretending shock.

Adrian stepped forward with a deep frown.

Right on schedule.

A nervous employee held several scattered papers in trembling hands.

“These financial records…” he stammered. “They were submitted under Lady Seraphina’s authorization…”

Murmurs exploded across the ballroom.

Seraphina could already feel society turning against her.

Just like before.

Except this time—

she smiled.

And that smile sent a strange chill through the entire room.

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