章 1: The Grand Ballroom's Secrets
Amidst the grandeur of a charity ball, a center of tension forms around three individuals; Selene, Adrian, and Vivian. The heated exchange between them became the center of attention in the elaborately decorated ballroom.
"You conniving witch! You tricked my grandfather!" Adrian's accusation echoes through the silenced room. His words are venom, his expression one of utter disdain.
Selene sighed internally, finding it almost comical how he couldn't see the truth even when it stood right before him. "Can we discuss this outside, away from the public?" she proposed.
Adrian scoffs, refusing to take the conversation elsewhere. "No, let everyone here know the kind of gold-digger you are!"
Vivian, sensing an opportunity, leaned in closer to Adrian, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Adrian," she began, her voice quivering with emotion, "Do you remember the times we spent together before she came into the picture? The laughter, the shared dreams? We were so close, so in tune with each other. But then she appeared, and everything changed."
She paused, taking a moment to let her words sink in, her gaze fixed on Adrian, searching for any sign of recognition or sympathy. "I've had to watch from the sidelines, forced to see you with her, knowing that she's only after your money and name. It's been torture, Adrian. Every day, every moment, I've yearned to be by your side, to be the one you confide in, to be the one you turn to. But she took that away from me."
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, absorbing Vivian's dramatic display of affection and Selene's calm composure in the face of accusations. Selene could almost see the invisible strings Vivian was pulling to paint her as the villain, but she chose to remain silent for now.
Inside, Vivian's heart raced with anticipation. "I'm almost there. Adrian will be mine, and this life of luxury will be mine. Selene is nothing compared to me. The position of Adrian's wife is rightfully mine," she thought, tightening her grip on Adrian's arm. Her eyes glinted with an almost maniacal gleam, but she quickly veiled it under a mask of faux innocence and concern.
As Vivian continued her act, Selene's mind wandered. She looked at Adrian, who seemed to be completely taken in by Vivian's act. "A simple-minded fool," she mused internally. "For all his prowess in the business world, he understands nothing of human emotions or the deeper currents that run through one's heart."
She could feel Vivian's eyes on her, burning with a venomous glare hidden behind a facade of innocent love. Selene's eyes narrowed slightly, the only indication of her brewing storm within. "Vivian, you may play your petty games now, but make no mistake," Selene thought, her resolve turning into a cold, hard steel within her, "I never forget a slight. And I always pay back in double measure."
"Adrian, are you sure you want to cancel our engagement?" she asked, her voice steady.
"Of course," he snarled, the assurance in his voice not reaching his eyes.
Vivian's fists tightened in concealed excitement, thinking victory was within grasp.
Selene turned her gaze towards the grandfather, their eyes meeting for a brief moment. In that fleeting connection, a myriad of emotions passed between them. *I'm sorry, Grandpa,* she thought, her eyes conveying the depth of her regret and understanding, *but this is best for all of us.*
A wash of relief surged through Selene, making her realize that this chapter of her life was finally coming to a close. As this realization settled in, her demeanor visibly shifted, and a sincere smile broke on her face. "Well, we have witnesses. The engagement is over."
Without a backward glance, she walked away, her demeanor radiating a newfound freedom that left the crowd in whispers. Adrian watched her leave, a mixture of shock and confusion painting his face. He turned to his grandfather, who shook his head in disappointment before leaving with his butler.
As Adrian stood there, a blend of emotions churned within him. He looked around at the thinning crowd, the whispers growing louder with each passing second. "Did I make a mistake? Why was grandfather so quick to agree? I thought he wanted this marriage," he pondered, his mind a whirlpool of doubts. But as he looked around, he concluded, "No, I must have read too much into it. Grandfather has realized who she truly is. I'm better off without that scheming gold digger."
Outside the venue, in the cool embrace of the night, Selene pulled out her phone, her face illuminated by its glow. She sent a text that read two words "I'm back".
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