CHAPTER TEN
1923 Words
Grand Elite Party – Main Hall (Night)
Bright chandeliers lit up the hall.
Music played softly.
Elites gathered, laughing, networking, watching.
At one side of the hall—
Mr. Blackwell and Mr. Kingsley stood together, drinks in hand.
Mr. Blackwell spoke first.
“I’ve been thinking… it’s about time we move forward with the marriage.”
Mr. Kingsley raised a brow.
“Dominic and Aria?”
Mr. Blackwell nodded.
“It would strengthen both families.”
A small smile.
“And they seem to… get along.”
Mr. Kingsley chuckled.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Just then—
A familiar voice joined them.
“Mr. Blackwell. Mr. Kingsley.”
They turned.
Mr. Vander.
“It’s been a while,” he added.
The men exchanged handshakes.
Mr. Blackwell smiled.
“How’s Ryan?”
Mr. Vander smirked faintly.
“Fine. As troublesome as ever.”
Mr. Kingsley laughed.
“Boys are always like that.”
Mr. Blackwell teased—
“How would you know? You never had a son.”
They all laughed.
Mr. Kingsley shook his head.
“Trust me, daughters are stressful enough. I can only imagine how much worse sons would be.”
More laughter.
Then—
Mr. Blackwell’s tone shifted slightly.
“…And that child?”
Silence.
Mr. Vander’s expression darkened for a brief moment—
Before he forced a small smile.
“It’s nothing.”
Mr. Kingsley sighed.
“You still haven’t forgiven them?”
Mr. Blackwell added—
“Don’t you think it’s about time you did?”
Mr. Vander looked at both of them.
Then calmly—
“Some people…”
A pause.
“…don’t deserve forgiveness.”
Without another word—
He turned and walked away.
Mr. Blackwell and Mr. Kingsley exchanged a look.
Something was clearly unresolved.
Another Side of the Hall
Dominic and Aria stood together, slightly away from the crowd.
Dominic looked at her.
“How are you?”
Aria smiled faintly.
“I’m fine.”
A pause.
Then Dominic asked—
“Do you have feelings for me?”
Aria tilted her head slightly.
A small smile playing on her lips.
“What are feelings… exactly?”
Dominic laughed.
“You’re playing games.”
Aria smirked.
“Or maybe I’m just hard to get.”
Dominic nodded slightly.
“Our parents want us to get married.”
He glanced around.
“That’s probably why they dragged us here.”
A pause.
“I don’t even see Ryan or Rosette.”
Aria let out a soft laugh.
“If they want us to get married…”
She stepped a little closer.
“What would you do about it?”
Dominic looked directly into her eyes.
“I don’t have feelings for you.”
For a split second—
Aria’s heart sank.
But she smiled anyway.
“Then who do you have feelings for?”
Dominic didn’t hesitate.
“Rosette.”
Silence.
Aria’s expression didn’t break—
But her eyes changed slightly.
“Then why are you sleeping with me?” she asked.
Her voice calm.
But sharp.
“What do you see me as?”
Dominic leaned back slightly.
Unbothered.
“Two people… having mutual needs.”
Aria frowned.
“Mutual needs?”
She stepped closer.
“That’s what couples have.”
A pause.
“Aren’t you supposed to take responsibility?”
Dominic laughed.
“Responsibility for what?”
A shrug.
“Isn’t this normal?”
Aria’s expression hardened.
“Normal?”
Her voice dropped slightly.
“So you just go around sleeping with girls?”
Dominic didn’t answer.
He only smiled.
Then—
He stood up.
And walked away.
Leaving Aria standing there.
Alone.
Thinking.
What are we…?
Monroe Group – Rosette’s Office (Same Day)
Rosette sat behind her desk, going through documents.
The door opened.
She looked up.
Ravenna Blaze walked in.
Rosette wasn’t surprised.
It was almost like she had been expecting her.
Ravenna scanned the office before sitting down casually.
She crossed her legs and smiled.
Ravenna: “Hello.”
Rosette dropped the documents and leaned back slightly, facing her.
Rosette: “I knew you would come… I just didn’t know why.”
A pause.
Rosette: “So what are you doing here?”
Ravenna chuckled softly.
Ravenna: “You’ve always known my weak point.”
She leaned forward slightly.
Ravenna: “You’re the only one who can get to me so easily… and I hate that about you, Rosette.”
Rosette smiled faintly.
Rosette: “Do you?”
Ravenna’s expression darkened slightly.
Ravenna: “I want to make you pay for that little threat of yours.”
Rosette laughed.
Soft. Mocking.
Rosette: “And how exactly are you planning to do that?”
Ravenna slammed her hand lightly on the table.
Ravenna: “I don’t know yet.”
A slow smile formed.
Ravenna: “But I like things that take time…”
She leaned closer.
Ravenna: “Slow… creeping pain. By the time you realize it—”
A pause.
Ravenna: “You’re already broken.”
Rosette laughed again.
Rosette: “Interesting.”
A pause.
Rosette: “Is that how you treat an old friend?”
Ravenna’s smile faded instantly.
Ravenna: “Friend?”
She scoffed.
Ravenna: “I don’t have friends. I only have enemies.”
Rosette leaned back, unfazed.
Rosette: “You had friends.”
A pause.
Rosette: “You just turned them into enemies.”
Her eyes sharpened.
Rosette: “And now you hate them for hating you?”
A beat.
Rosette: “Shouldn’t you be the one begging for forgiveness?”
Ravenna laughed loudly.
Ravenna: “I am the strongest woman in this city.”
She stood up slowly.
Ravenna: “With a snap of my fingers, I can make everyone bow.”
Rosette’s smile turned cold.
Rosette: “Then why don’t you?”
A pause.
She leaned forward slightly.
Rosette: “Oh right… because I’m here.”
Silence filled the room.
Rosette: “There can’t be two rulers in one city… can there?”
Ravenna’s eyes locked onto hers.
Ravenna: “Rosette Monroe…”
She began walking around the office slowly.
Ravenna: “Who would’ve thought that sweet, innocent girl…”
A faint laugh.
Ravenna: “Would turn into this?”
She stopped behind Rosette.
Ravenna: “You think you’re a leader… but I don’t see it.”
Rosette smiled calmly.
Rosette: “You don’t hunt a lion by rushing in.”
A pause.
Rosette: “You move quietly… look harmless…”
She turned slightly to face Ravenna.
Rosette: “And when they least expect it…”
A faint smile.
Rosette: “You strike.”
Ravenna laughed softly.
Ravenna: “Of course… that’s your style.”
A pause.
Ravenna: “Slow. Calculated.”
She stopped walking.
Ravenna: “So tell me… what are you really planning?”
Rosette tilted her head slightly.
Rosette: “I think you already know.”
Silence.
Ravenna stared at her for a long moment.
Then smiled.
Ravenna: “Someday… you’ll pay for everything.”
Rosette stood up.
Rosette: “Interesting.”
A step closer.
Rosette: “Now that you’re done talking…”
Her voice turned cold.
Rosette: “You can leave.”
Ravenna smirked.
Ravenna: “You’re dismissing me?”
Rosette didn’t blink.
Rosette: “I’m waiting.”
A pause.
Ravenna turned and walked to the door.
Then—
She slammed it shut behind her.
Silence.
Rosette stood still for a moment.
Then smiled slightly and returned to her documents.
Monroe Group – Rosette’s Office (Same Day)
The door slammed shut after Ravenna’s exit, leaving a heavy silence behind.
Rosette stood still for a moment, then exhaled softly and returned to her seat, picking up the documents she had been working on as if nothing had happened.
A few seconds later, there was a knock.
Without looking up, she spoke, her tone slightly impatient.
“Ravenna, I thought I told you to—”
The door opened.
Her words died midway.
She looked up.
A man walked in.
For a brief second, her brows furrowed. He looked familiar… yet something felt off.
“Ryan?” she called, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
The man smirked and walked in casually, taking a seat like he belonged there.
“I thought I should come see my girlfriend.”
Rosette blinked, then frowned.
“Girlfriend?” she repeated, leaning back slightly. “Ryan, are you alright? We’re not dating. Just because you helped me once doesn’t mean anything.”
The man only smiled, unfazed.
“Right.”
Rosette’s gaze sharpened.
“So… what are you really doing here?”
“I was bored,” he replied with a shrug. “So I came to see you.”
She studied him carefully.
“This is becoming a habit,” she said. “You showing up uninvited.”
He leaned back, his smirk deepening.
“Maybe I just want your attention. You’re a very beautiful woman, Rosette Monroe.”
Something about him felt wrong.
Subtly wrong.
Rosette tilted her head slightly, observing him more closely.
“Did you bring sweets this time?” she asked.
The man hesitated.
“I… forgot.”
Rosette nodded slowly.
“Right. So you know what to bring next time?”
“Ice lollies?” he guessed.
She shook her head.
“No. The cake. The one you brought last time.”
“Ah… right. The cake.”
“And don’t forget the flavor,” she added.
“Chocolate, right?”
Rosette’s eyes locked onto his.
“Yes… chocolate.”
She stood up.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Then walked toward him.
He watched her, still smiling—until she placed her hand on his shoulder.
And squeezed.
Hard.
Her voice dropped, cold and precise.
“You’re not Ryan Vander.”
A pause.
“Who are you?”
The man burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the office.
He stood up, still amused.
“Wow… you figured it out already.”
Before he could say more, the door opened again.
This time, it was Ryan.
His steps halted the moment his eyes landed on the scene in front of him—Rosette standing close to another man who looked exactly like him.
His expression darkened instantly.
“What the hell…?”
Rosette stepped back, her gaze shifting between the two identical faces.
Confusion flashed across her features.
“Okay… what is going on?” she muttered. “Is this some kind of joke?”
Ryan didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he walked straight to her, grabbing her wrist lightly and pulling her behind him, placing himself between her and the other man.
His eyes turned cold.
“Sebastian,” he said.
A pause.
“What are you doing here?”
The man—Sebastian—smiled wider, clearly entertained.
“Relax, brother. I just wanted to meet my future sister-in-law.”
Ryan’s jaw tightened.
“She’s not,” he said flatly. “And you’re leaving.”
Sebastian laughed softly.
“Still as serious as ever.”
He turned toward the door, then paused halfway, glancing back at Rosette.
With a playful grin, he blew her a kiss.
“We’ll meet again… sister-in-law.”
And just like that, he left.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Rosette stared at the door for a moment before turning to Ryan.
“I didn’t know the Vanders had a twin.”
Ryan didn’t answer immediately.
“They did,” he finally said.
A brief pause.
“Not anymore.”
Rosette frowned slightly.
“That’s your brother?”
Ryan looked at her.
“Yes.”
A beat.
“Sebastian.”
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