Chương 2: Unveiled Intentions

Astra's eyes fluttered open as the makeup artist and hairdresser finished their work. Despite their frustration, they couldn't help but admire her transformation. The hairdresser exclaimed, "You look amazing!"

Astra glanced at them through the mirror and retorted, "That's only because I took charge of things. If I hadn't given you both specific instructions, I'd be a disaster right now."

The makeup artist defended their expertise, saying, "We've worked with countless celebrities and have a keen instinct. You should have trusted us."

Unimpressed, Astra used her phone to send them their payment, firmly stating, "Now get out."

Shocked by her attitude, the hairdresser and makeup artist exchanged glances. Sophia had said that Astra was just a mouse who didn't dare to speak up.

Little did Astra know that her stepmother had paid them handsomely to make her look like a pig for her birthday party.

However, Astra's controlling nature led her to dictate every detail of the makeup and haircut. Contrary to her stepmother's wishes, she appeared precisely opposite to what was intended. Though she had instructed them to make her look like a pig, the plan failed.

As the hairdresser and makeup artist gathered their things and left, Astra reflected on the original timeline when she let them do as they pleased.

Yet, when she asked for changes, they threatened to post online about her horrible treatment of them, using her status as the new president of Orion Arch against her.

Unbeknownst to her, this was orchestrated by her stepmother, Sophia, and stepsister, Violet. Astra vowed to make them all pay for any harm inflicted upon her, including the hairdresser, makeup artist, and stylist.

Astra had access to a robust system that could even fabricate footage, and she planned to use it to destroy their reputations and ruin their careers until they lost all their clients.

Despite threatening her, they'd still gone online to say they followed her instructions, and she still mistreated them.

People started criticizing Astra, claiming that now that she was the new president of Orion Arch, she was already looking down on others.

But Astra was prepared to take matters to the next level; she wouldn't just drag them down, but the entire galaxy would witness their downfall.

With her family's architectural company being one of the biggest and boasting a vast number of clients, her influence was substantial.

With more than 30,000 followers on Stellarnet, previously, she hadn't used the most popular platform in the galaxy to deal with her enemies, but this time she would.

After they left, Astra stood up and approached the stylist, asking with determination, "What do you have for me?"

The stylist unveiled a pink dress designed to resemble a pig costume. The garish shades of pink clashed and assaulted the senses rather than delighting them.

The cheap and poorly-made fabric made the outfit look tacky, cheapening the whole look. The attempt to mimic the pig's ears with ruffles appeared laughable, resembling distorted and mismatched flaps.

The waist-cinching bow seemed haphazardly placed, making the ill-fitted bodice sag and wrinkle in unflattering ways. The skirt, with its messy tulle layers, added bulk without grace or movement, creating an awkward and uncomfortable appearance.

The piglet-like details on the hem were unsettling, with embroidered pig faces that looked more like something from a horror movie than a cute animal costume.

The stylist claimed, "This is a new dress straight from the runway, and you would be the first person to wear it."

Astra gazed at the dress, contemplating the original timeline where she wore this monstrosity, feeling a surge of frustration.

She firmly ordered, "Get the hell out."

The stylist asked, taken aback, "What did you say?"

Astra raised an eyebrow, asserting, "Did I stutter?"

Unfazed, the stylist retorted, "Be careful how you talk to me. Do you know who I am? I've dressed the most prominent actresses and actors at all their movie premieres."

Astra sneered, "Why should I know who you are?"

Without hesitation, she sent the stylist double the agreed payment using her cell phone.

The stylist, surprised by the gesture, claimed, "I wouldn't steer you wrong; this dress will make you look amazing."

However, Astra's disdainful expression remained unchanged, showing that she had no intention of accepting the stylist's opinion.

As Astra entered the bathroom, she firmly commanded, "Be gone when I'm out."

Locking the door behind her, the stylist's assistant promptly removed the racks from the suite and placed the pig dress on the couch, hopeful that Astra might still wear it.

Astra's mind wandered to Sophia's upcoming reaction; indeed, she wouldn't be pleased with the failed attempts. Sophia wrongly assumed she wouldn't refuse anything.

Glancing at her reflection in the mirror, Astra decided it was time for a change. The person she once was had transformed, leaving behind the naive and fearful girl who allowed others to walk all over her. Now, she wanted her style to reflect her newfound confidence.

From Archana's collection, Astra picked a dress and a pair of heels, grateful for the comprehensive capabilities of the system.

It provided her with everything she needed, even allowing her to alter some physical attributes. With a smile, she changed her hair color to something more fitting.

Feeling emotional, she gently touched her necklace and eventually took it off. This piece held immense sentimental value, as it was the only thing she had left of her late mother.

When Sophia and Violet moved in a week after her mother's passing, they ruthlessly removed every trace of her presence from the house, erasing her existence from their lives.

They went to great lengths to erase any memory of her mother's presence from the house, disposing of every picture and piece of furniture she had chosen.

In place of those cherished family portraits, Sophia replaced them with a photo of herself, Violet, and Astra's father, further emphasizing the erasure of her mother's memory.

Witnessing the heartless removal of her mother's existence, Astra felt a seething anger towards her father, who was the worst of all in this ordeal.

Her father's silence during this time only deepened her resentment toward him, and she vowed to make him pay for his indifference. She harbored thoughts of inflicting him with a long and painful life as retribution.

Upon returning home and discovering the emptiness left behind, Astra silently searched for any remaining remembrances of her mother. Relief washed over her when she found a box under the bed containing her mother's necklace.

This necklace held profound significance, having been in her mother's family for 1000 years. It was a precious heirloom, traditionally worn by every woman inheriting the company when they turned 21, including Astra.

Sophia wanted to dispose of it, insisting that reminders of her mother made the house feel like it wasn't her home. When Astra sought her father's support, he remained silent, leaving her feeling betrayed.

Despite promising to keep the necklace hidden, a week before her birthday, Violet persistently demanded it, but Astra refused to part with the precious memento.

Violet requested to see the necklace up close, and reluctantly, Astra agreed, cautioning her to handle it carefully. However, Violet's true intentions were malicious, as she deliberately dropped and stepped on the precious heirloom.

Astra, overcome with anger and grief, lashed out at Violet for her irresponsibility and the destruction of her only connection to her mother.

Sophia heard Violet's cries and rushed in, reprimanding her. Even when Astra's father, Silas, arrived, he didn't give her a chance to explain what happened, and the situation escalated further.

Violet twisted the events, portraying herself as the victim, while Astra was scolded and forced to apologize.

For the first time, Astra resisted her father's orders, resulting in him slapping her. Feeling shocked and betrayed, Astra left that night, cutting ties with her family and working remotely since then.

Even her fiancé, Alexander, betrayed her, which wasn't surprising given that he was fucking Violet. Astra had warmly welcomed Violet into her life, introducing her to friends and her fiancé, only to have Violet turn them all against her.

Realizing she had only one true friend all along, Astra now knew that Violet was doing everything she could to usurp her position as the heir of Orion Arch.

This motive was why Violet engaged in a relationship with Alexander, the president of Rayne Industry, a construction company, as part of their marriage plan to merge both companies.

Orion Arch, a merger founded by Astra's grandfather, brought together her mother's and father's sides, who were close friends.

After her mother's passing, Astra inherited 35% of the company shares, while her grandmother, Camila, from her father's side, owns another 35%.

Astra's grandmother doesn't actively participate, leaving her father Silas in charge. The remaining 30% belongs to the board of directors.

Astra is determined not only to claim Orion Arch but also make Rayne Industry hers. She can't believe she once loved Alexander, who foolishly believes Violet loves him while she's actually in love with Cole and Lucian Solaris.

Violet knew she couldn't pursue a relationship with them due to the merger's necessity. In the original timeline, Violet spent 400 years with Alexander until he died, all while harboring love for the Solaris twins.

Her unhappiness with him is Astra's only solace, especially since she saw Violet's obsession with the idiot twins.

Astra plans to manipulate the twins into falling for her, just as Violet used them to her advantage. She aims to destroy their close brotherly relationship as retribution for how they interfered with her career.

Astra's sinister smile reflected her thirst for revenge; she was determined to make them all pay for their actions.

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