Scarred Seductress

The Opening Move

A small smile curved Selene’s lips as she watched Marina’s face drain of color, bickers and whispers already rising from the guests.

“Ten million… the bid goes in one… two…”

“Fifteen million…” Damien suddenly spoke, his eyes steady on Selene, stunning the guests even further. Marina exhaled in relief, color returning to her face alongside a proud smile.

“Thanks, honey.” Marina whispered, pressing a kiss to Damien’s cheek, her eyes gleaming with renewed confidence.

Kate scoffed, soon followed by the rest of the women at their table, eyes flicking from the stunning stranger to a proudly glowing Marina.

“Who the hell is she?” Kate asked, secretly satisfied that someone was giving Marina the worst night of her life. Of course, she was well aware of Marina’s plans to rob her husband right before their eyes, and they had all shown up only because they couldn’t refuse a Moretti invitation—not while their husbands still begged they stay friends with her.

“She looks… confident…” Vivienne mouthed, taking a slow sip of wine, her eyes dragging over Selene with deliberate slowness.

“And she looks like trouble,” Kate added.

Lydia hissed, irritated by the entire scene. “I wonder how she even managed to get an invitation to a gala like this… She’s obviously nothing but a pauper desperate to climb the social ladder.”

“The bid goes in… one…”

Selene raised her paddle, snapping the host—and the entire hall—into silence.

“I’ll make it twenty million,” she blurted, her voice clear and unfazed.

Marina swallowed hard, her eyes snapping to Damien as though silently begging him to counter again.

Damien tore his gaze from Selene, his pulse spiraling wildly as her eyes found his—steady, unwavering—sending a strange shiver down his spine.

“Say something, honey…” Marina urged desperately.

Damien’s lips parted to speak, but his eyes drifted from Selene’s face, trailing down her body, and his mind went entirely blank.

“The bid goes in one… two… three—sold!”

Marina tore her face away, cheeks burning as applause erupted. She could hear the giggles—her friends’ scornful laughter. She had anticipated this night all her life, dreamed of showing Damien off before the world, but tonight, because of a strange woman, her efforts had been reduced to nothing.

“I’ll… I’ll be right back,” Damien growled restlessly, shoving Marina aside as he brushed past Selene and stormed out of the hall.

Marina forced a smile to mask the rage boiling inside her and pushed forward toward Selene.

“Miss Selene… we meet again,” she said, chuckling as if to hide the anger threatening to spill through.

Selene smiled and offered a slight bow, her fingers tightening around her purse as her eyes swept over Marina’s face.

“You must be a very big fan of mine to spend such an amount of money just to acquire a necklace,” Marina added. She flagged down a passing steward, took a glass of wine from his tray, and motioned for one to be handed to Selene as well.

“I wouldn’t want to believe you’re foolish enough to go against a man like my husband just for fun… There must be a reason you want that necklace so badly,” Marina cooed, taking a quiet sip as her eyes studied Selene.

Selene smiled and sipped her wine, her gaze steady on Marina’s. “It’s a beautiful necklace, ma’am. I simply want it.”

Marina laughed, shaking her head as her grip on the glass tightened. Who was this wench, and why was she out here digging her own grave?

“That necklace used to belong to the family of my father’s ex-wife… My mother has always wanted it, so I planned to get it for her tonight.”

Selene feigned surprise, darting her eyes toward the stage as if admiring the necklace again before returning her gaze to Marina.

“Then it must mean so much to you.”

Marina scoffed, glancing briefly at her friends, who were no longer interested in the ongoing bids—only in watching the tension unfold between the two women.

“I’m totally sorry for—”

“You can keep it. I don’t want it anymore,” Marina snapped, cutting Selene off, unable to maintain the fake smile another second longer. Humiliation burned hotter than rage, and she was certain she would teach this woman a lesson after tonight.

“So what exactly is it about me that you like so much?” Marina asked, her face now stripped of all warmth. “You said you were a big fan.”

“Your work… the things you do for the world.”

Marina raised a brow.

“I love women like you,” Selene continued.

“Women with good hearts.”

Marina looked away, momentarily confused.

For reasons she didn’t quite understand, she wanted to believe her—yet she was afraid to.

“Your foundation funds so many good deeds across the country. Truth be told, I stumbled upon you on social media, and ever since then, you’ve had me hooked. I mean… how can one person be so full of goodness?”

A laugh escaped Marina, and Selene smiled. Of course—it was working. She knew this woman too well.

“So please, Mrs. Marina, I’m not here to ruin your night. That little show I put on for the necklace was simply to prove to everyone here—especially your husband—how much you inspire me.”

Marina’s brow arched just as a maid wheeled a trolley toward Selene, carefully lifting the necklace and handing it to her.

“Thank you.”

Marina watched in confusion as Selene stepped closer, gently taking her hands and placing the diamond-embedded necklace into her palms.

“It’s all yours, Mrs. Marina,” Selene said softly.

“A gift from me to you.”

The women nearby exchanged glances, murmurs rippling through the crowd.

“Why do I feel like we’re about to see a lot more of that woman?” Kate muttered.

The rest hissed in disappointment.

“She’s just another pauper desperate to be Marina’s lapdog.”

“Lapdog?” Vivienne scoffed. “What lapdog spends twenty million dollars just to follow someone like Marina around?”

“She’s obviously loaded… and still wants to kiss Marina’s feet?”

Soft laughter erupted around their table.

Marina exhaled quietly—she had heard every word and realized she had misjudged Selene. This woman wasn’t competition. Just another admirer desperate for approval.

“What’s your name again?” Marina asked, handing the necklace to a maid standing a few meters away.

“Selene, ma’am. Selene Voss.”

“Well, thank you for coming, Selene.”

“Mama!” Quinn’s voice cut through the moment, drawing Marina’s attention to the child weaving her way into the party, maids trailing behind her.

Marina bent and lifted Quinn into her arms.

Selene turned her face away, unable to bear the sight of the child.

“Come here, baby,” Marina cooed, planting kisses on Quinn’s cheeks and earning a giggle.

“Mama missed you.”

“I missed you too, Mama,” Quinn laughed.

Selene forced herself to look, biting down on her lower lip as tears welled in her eyes.

Marina glanced back up. “Thank you again for the gift, Selene. As you can see, I have my daughter to attend to. Enjoy the party.”

With that, she brushed past Selene and walked away, her smile radiant once more.

Selene forced a smile of her own, sniffing back tears.

“Are you okay, ma’am?” a maid asked gently.

Selene nodded and hurried toward the doors, fists clenched, lungs struggling for air.

Outside, the night breeze eased the tightness in her chest as her hair danced softly. She had trained her whole life for this moment—to face Marina again, ruthless and ready—but seeing her as a mother nearly shattered her resolve.

She shook her head, drawing deep breaths. The night was far from over. Marina had taken the bait, believing Selene was here to worship her. Now all she had to do was plant a seed—fear, confusion, trust—something that would keep her close.

She reached into her purse, swallowed a few pills, and exhaled as calm crept through her spine. Then she turned—and froze.

Damien stood by the pool, pacing, his eyes locked on the water.

Selene smiled, low and venomous, a perfect idea forming.

Damien sighed again, her image refusing to leave his mind. She was stunning, yes—but it was more than that. Something about her made his body rebel, his mind spiral, his world pause.

“Sir…”

Selene’s voice sliced through his thoughts like a bell. He turned sharply, swallowing as his eyes landed on her. She catwalked toward him shimmering with intent, as though she’d waited all night for this moment.

He stepped back, uncertain.

“It’s really nice to finally meet you, sir,” she said, extending a hand—her smile dipping low, wicked and deliberate.

Just as Damien extended his hand to take hers, she deliberately tripped, losing her balance and plunging straight into the pool.

Damien’s eyes widened.

Selene screamed, flailing as though she couldn’t swim. “Help me!”

Instinct kicked in. Damien dove in, the splash drawing the attention of reporters—and soon, the entire gala.

Selene sobbed as Damien pulled her into his arms, her fingers clutching his shirt as she melted against him.

“Is that—?”

Reporters swarmed. Guests spilled outside.

Damien set Selene down, both of them drenched.

“What’s going on?” Marina’s voice broke—then stopped.

The sight of her husband, soaked, crouched beside this strange woman, his hand hovering as though reluctant to let go, stole the air from her lungs entirely.