Makeup was a woman’s armor and a smile was a woman’s weapon. I had practiced hard to make them both impenetrable and now, it was finally time for me to use all of that practice.
With the final stroke of red on my lips, it was time for me to leave. The face looking back in the mirror was definitely hers, but the eyes had changed.
They were no longer the soft trusting orbs she used to have. Instead, they were steel doors that locked everyone out. And tonight, those doors would slam shut on the people who destroyed me.
As I made my way toward Damian, I watched his eyes widen in surprise and he paused to take in my presence.
That moment of stunned silence... it tasted like victory.
I had to wait for him to get himself together before he finally offered me his hand.
"I apologize. I was a little... lost in thoughts... Here, give me your hand-"
Damian extended his hand toward me. I put mine in his and his grip immediately tightened. I expected that to be the end of everything and for us to leave.
But before we left, he brought my hand up to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to it.
Heat shot straight up my spine-unexpected, dizzying, dangerous.
"You look beautiful tonight. I am sure you will attract a lot of attention, so stay by my side and do not leave me. As long as you do that, I will be able to protect you from anything."
Damian was making a big promise I was not sure he could keep. Even if he looked confident now, I still recalled the young and timid child I used to see.
But then, I looked into his eyes and almost took a step back at the intensity I saw there. He looked... scary at that moment. Like a man who would burn the world before letting someone take what was his.
"Don’t be scared of Damian, Jenna. He’s on your side, so he won’t harm you."
I reminded myself before I placed my hand in his again and allowed him to escort me. He took me to the car and opened the door for me. Not once did he make me feel like I was not the one he was focused on.
Somehow, it made me feel weird and jittery. I had never been escorted like this, no matter what the occasion was.
It also made me realize just how shitty of a partner Karl had been to me.
But even if I knew, what could I do about it? I had a reputation to maintain and the evidence I had against Karl for negligence was never enough.
’Not that it matters anymore. Even if I had an excuse to make, I am not going to forgive him for all he has done.’
Forgiveness was a luxury I buried the day I saw my own funeral.
We both got into the car and took off. I had thought that this would be another quiet ride for me. But that did not turn out to be the case, which surprised me.
"Before we get there, I feel like there are a few things you should know about. The first is Rose Harvour. She is the current heiress of the Hervous family and believed to be the mastermind behind their success."
"Then there is Karl Hanson, the current fiancé of Rose. He used to be her sister Jenna’s fiancé, but... things happened. Anyway, he’s not a good person. There are a few other people as well, but we can handle them as they come."
I understood what Damian was telling me quite well. These were all the people who had caused my direct downfall.
The people who watched me break... and smiled.
"Oh, and one more thing. Make sure you are extra careful of Miss Natasha Harvour. She might look like a helpless mistress, but with how quickly she gained control of the household and managed to worm her way through the roots, I do not think she’s a normal person."
I agreed with Damian’s assessment and that was why I had done my best to keep her in check. But due to my father’s interference, there was little I could do.
My silence was enough for Damian to know that I understood what he was saying. The driver continued to drive and we soon reached the brightly lit tower where the party was being held.
Damian opened the car door for me to help me out. I took his hand and pulled myself up with his help.
The tower was brightly lit above us and it suddenly felt like it was part of another world.
In my memory, I had been part of that glamorous world not even a month ago. And yet, I felt like such a stranger now.
A ghost walking back into the world of the living.
"Pull yourself together and look sharp. Once we enter that door, any weakness you show won’t be forgiven."
Damian reminded me as he tugged me behind him.
This was my last chance to forget about my revenge and start a new life.
’Tsk, as if I can do that any longer. I decided to step in this world knowing fully well what it meant. I can no longer take a step back.’
The door opened and a beautifully lit room welcomed us. Important people mingled in the atmosphere but they all stopped to pay attention to Damian when he entered.
Naturally, the attention shifted to me as well because I was by his side, and I lifted my glass slightly in acknowledgment.
"N-No way-! That face... is she...?"
"But she is supposed to be dead? We even came to her funeral and saw her body. Then how-?"
"Do you think she’s a body double? Surely not, right?"
People gossiped but I had no interest in them. The only person I cared about stood in the middle of the room, hand clutching her glass tightly. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me.
Rose looked... shaken. But she did her best to hide her reaction.
Karl, who was by her side, had not noticed me yet, but it was only a matter of time before he did.
I could not wait to see his reaction as well. I wondered what kind of face he would make once he saw me.
The woman they buried had returned-not as a victim, but as their executioner.
’Ah, I cannot wait to turn this party upside down.’