Capítulo 3: The Mask of Deception (1)
The grand staircase loomed before Selene like a portal between the past and present. Each step she took down the polished, mahogany stairs resonated with a quiet echo, mingling with the distant clinking of silverware from the dining room below.
The house, with its rich tapestries, chandeliers, and meticulously arranged antiques, was a hauntingly beautiful reminder of the life she once knew—a life that now felt like a cruel illusion.
The air was thick with the scent of coffee and freshly baked bread, just as it had been every morning in her youth. Yet, this time, everything felt different. The walls that once seemed to shelter her now appeared to close in, the air heavy with secrets and betrayal.
As Selene descended, she clung to the banister, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings, seeking some form of stability in a world that had been irrevocably shattered. Memories of her previous life flooded her mind, each one more painful than the last.
She had adored her father, idolized him even, believing in his love and guidance. But now, she knew better. The man she had once cherished as a protective figure had been the architect of her greatest sorrows—a master manipulator who had meticulously crafted the downfall of her mother and, ultimately, Selene herself.
The corridor at the foot of the stairs led her to the dining room, a place that had once been the heart of their home. Her steps faltered as she approached the entrance, the sounds of morning routine filling her ears.
She could already picture the scene—her father, Alexander, seated at the head of the table, his demeanor composed, his every move exuding an air of controlled authority. He would be the perfect image of a loving father, as he had always been, masking the darkness that lay beneath.
Selene paused just before the dining room, her heart pounding in her chest. The weight of her memories threatened to overwhelm her. She was no longer the naive girl who had once believed in the goodness of her father. The truth was far more sinister, and the man she was about to face was a stranger to her now, despite his familiar features.
In her past life, Selene's world had crumbled when she was only eleven years old. Her parents' divorce had seemed amicable, a mutual decision for the betterment of the family—or so she had been led to believe.
Her mother, Lisana, had reassured her that everything would be fine, that they would remain a family, even if they lived apart. But soon after, tragedy struck. Lisana was involved in a horrific car accident that left her in a coma, and the young Selene had spent countless nights praying for her recovery, clinging to the hope that her mother would one day wake up and everything would return to normal.
But Lisana never woke up. She remained in that coma for years, until Selene's 22nd birthday, when Beatrice, Cassandra's mother and the woman who had taken everything from her, removed her life support. The young woman who had once believed in the kindness of fate was left to mourn alone, her grief compounded by the cold, calculating presence of her father, who had ensured that the inheritance her mother left behind was firmly under his control.
Selene had been so blind, so trusting. She had believed that the car accident was a tragic, unforeseen event—a twist of fate that had ripped her mother from her. But now, with the clarity of hindsight and the knowledge she had gained in her final moments, she knew the truth. Alexander had orchestrated the entire thing.
The accident, the coma, her mother's death—it was all part of his plan to seize control of the vast fortune that her mother had inherited from Master Ralph Gu, a fortune that Alexander had coveted from the moment he met Lisana.
Lisana had been the sole heiress to the Gu fortune, a vast empire built by her father, a shrewd and powerful investor who had amassed billions in assets.
When Ralph Gu passed away, his wealth was passed down to Lisana, who, despite her immense wealth, had always been a gentle and loving woman, more concerned with her family than with the business empire she had inherited. She had met Alexander when he was still a rising entrepreneur from a middle-class family, and they had fallen in love—or so she had thought.
The truth was far more sordid. Alexander had seen in Lisana not a partner, but an opportunity. He had courted her, won her trust, and eventually married her, all while hiding his true intentions. He had played the role of the devoted husband, supporting her through the ups and downs of their marriage, while secretly scheming to gain control of her wealth.
And when the time came, he had struck a deal with Lisana: after ten years of marriage, they would divorce, with half of her wealth going to him. The other half would remain in trust for Selene, to be managed by Alexander until she came of age.
Selene had been just a pawn in his grand plan, a means to an end. She had trusted him completely, allowing him to manage her inheritance, never once suspecting that the man she called father was the very person who had orchestrated the downfall of her family.
Even as she grew older, as she began to take an interest in the family's affairs, she never questioned his motives. It was only in her final moments, as she lay dying, that the ugly truth had come to light.
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