Belle stood rigid in the shadows, the opulent engagement gala a cruel mockery of her shattered dreams. The sound of Zhenting's voice, thick with barely restrained longing as he spoke to Xia in the conservatory, echoed in her mind, each word a fresh wound. The rain intensified, mirroring the tempest of fury and desperation raging within her. She would not be discarded. She would not be replaced. Tonight, she would seize control.
Her crimson lipstick was a stark contrast to the pallor of her face as she slipped through the bustling ballroom. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and champagne, a sickeningly sweet aroma that mocked her impending defeat. She had to act, and act decisively. Failure was not an option. Not now. Not ever. Her gaze darted around, finally settling on her target – a disgruntled member of the Lu family security detail, a man easily swayed with promises of wealth and a simmering resentment for Zhenting's iron grip.
"I have a proposition for you," she hissed, pulling the guard into a darkened alcove. The man’s eyes widened, greed already clouding his judgment. "A task, if you will, that will be handsomely rewarded. A task that will remind Lu Zhenting of the price of crossing those who once were closest to him."