Another evening had fallen, shrouding New York in silence and melancholy. They say New York is beautiful, a city of love, and its evenings are enchanting. People get lost in its charm, but for Ela, it was different. Every day was a new battle, a new struggle to survive. For her, the evenings were not beautiful; they were just a reminder of her hardships.
As she lay in her small but cozy room, Ela gazed out the window, her eyes lost in the darkness. Her room was simple, with a single bed in the center, a large window on one side, and a dressing table on the other. The room was dimly lit, with only a lamp casting a soft glow. Outside, the trees and jungle seemed to whisper secrets to each other.
Just then, Lura entered Ela's room, her eyes scanning the space before settling on Ela. "Get up, your father said to get ready for the party tonight," Lura announced, her voice firm but annoyed. "I told him, what's the point of taking a useless thing like you? But he said, in the business world, everyone knows John has three daughters, so your presence is necessary. Now, get up, take a bath, and come downstairs. And for goodness' sake, wear something decent, don't embarrass us."
Ela's parents had an arranged marriage, orchestrated by their families. John, Ela's father, wasn't particularly interested in Ela's mother, but he did develop a deep affection for Ela herself. However, time passed, and when Ela was just six years old, her mother left this world behind.
After her mother's passing, John married Lura, a love match that brought three more daughters into the family. Lura never took a liking to Ela, and over time, she subtly manipulated John, driving a wedge between him and Ela. Ela, a sensitive child, was devastated by her mother's loss and struggled to cope with the changing dynamics at home.
As the years went by, Ela endured the cold behavior of her family members, feeling increasingly isolated and alone. The constant rejection and neglect chipped away at her self-worth, leaving her feeling helpless and desperate. Ela began to wish for an escape, a way to end her suffering, but fate seemed cruel, denying her even that solace.
Ela picked herself up and began getting ready. She started with a refreshing shower, which helped her feel a bit better. Then, she chose a stunning black dress from her wardrobe. The dress was a sleek, knee-length frock with no sleeves, and it sparkled with subtle glitter accents. Ela left her hair loose, framing her face with soft waves, and added a delicate front braid that enhanced her natural beauty.
She applied light makeup, adding a touch of liner to her eyes, a hint of blush to her cheeks, and a coat of pink lip gloss to her lips. Finally, Ela slipped on a pair of low heels and felt transformed. She looked absolutely breathtaking, and her confidence soared.
As she made her way downstairs, everyone was already waiting, dressed to impress. Ana, Aria, and Hena couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as they took in Ela's stunning appearance. Even Lura seemed unimpressed, but Ela's beauty was undeniable. Stefon, however, looked at her with a lecherous gaze, his eyes roaming over her body, making Ela feel uneasy. She knew Stefon wasn't a good person, and his attention made her skin crawl.
John, oblivious to the tension, smiled as he saw Ela. "Now that everyone's ready, let's head out to the party!" he exclaimed, and the group began to make their way out.
The scene unfolded in a breathtakingly beautiful grand hall, adorned with priceless antiques and stunning decorations that left everyone in awe. The hall was filled to capacity with the upper echelon of society, each person exuding an air of refinement and sophistication. The atmosphere was electric, with the soft strains of music floating through the air, adding to the enchantment of the evening.
As Ela entered the hall with her family, she couldn't help but feel a sense of isolation, as if she were a small boat adrift in a stormy sea, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. John began introducing them to the other guests, but Ela's attention wandered, her mind consumed by feelings of inadequacy and disconnection.
Just then, the room fell silent, as if the very atmosphere had been charged with anticipation. Jungkook made a dramatic entrance, his presence commanding attention like a magnet. All eyes were drawn to him, and Ela felt her heart skip a beat as she took in the sight of him. He was resplendent in a black tuxedo, his hair perfectly styled, and his lips pierced with a subtle sparkle. A tattoo on one hand seemed to add to his enigmatic charm, and his blue eyes appeared cold and unyielding, as if daring anyone to cross him.
As Jungkook strode into the hall, his every step seemed to echo with an air of quiet authority, his confidence and self-assurance palpable. The room seemed to hold its collective breath, mesmerized by the sheer force of his personality.
As John's gaze fell upon Jungkook, he hastily excused himself and approached him with a warm smile. "Hey, great to see you!" he exclaimed, before introducing Jungkook to his family. Ana's eyes widened as she took in Jungkook's chiseled features, and she couldn't help but feel a little starstruck.
Jungkook's gaze, however, drifted past Ana and landed on Ela, who was standing a short distance away, her eyes scanning the room with a mixture of disinterest and discomfort. For a few seconds, Jungkook's eyes lingered on Ela's face, but she seemed oblivious to his gaze, her attention focused on the people around her. She eventually wandered off to the side and sat down, looking like a lost soul in the midst of the vibrant party.
As the music picked up, the dance floor began to fill, and Ana seized the opportunity to approach Jungkook. "Would you like to dance with me?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Jungkook hesitated for a moment before nodding, and the two of them glided onto the dance floor.
Ana was over the moon, thrilled to be dancing with the enigmatic Jungkook. But Jungkook's mind was elsewhere, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone. His gaze swept past Ela, who was still sitting on the sidelines, looking like a fragile, forgotten flower. Jungkook's expression remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a hint of restlessness, a sense that he was searching for something – or someone.
Ela sat quietly, lost in her thoughts, when a handsome young man named Adam approached her. "Would you like to dance with me?" he asked, flashing a charming smile. But Ela declined, "No, thank you. I'm not interested in dancing."
Adam chuckled, "I've heard beautiful girls are always proud and aloof. I guess that's true." Ela glanced at him, and Adam extended his hand, "Come on, just one dance. I'm sure you'll enjoy it." Ela hesitated, then took his hand, and they stepped onto the dance floor.
As they danced, Adam asked, "What's your name?" Ela replied, and Adam smiled, "Pretty name, just like you." Ela noticed the dimple on his left cheek and felt a flutter in her chest. Adam asked, "Can I have your number?" Ela replied, "Why? We'll never meet again." Adam laughed, "You never know, fate might bring us together again. If it's meant to be, we'll meet again without needing numbers."
As they continued dancing, Ela felt Adam's genuine charm and warm smile putting her at ease. Meanwhile, Jungkook watched them from across the room, his eyes fixed intently on Adam, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be ignoring Ela, or perhaps he just didn't care about her.
After a while, Ela returned to her seat, and Ana approached her. "Who was that guy you were dancing with?" Ana asked with a sly smile. Ela ignored her, but Ana continued, "Oh, so he doesn't know you're a useless girl?" Ela still didn't respond, so Ana tossed her wine glass at Ela's dress, pretending it was an accident. "Oh, sorry, it slipped from my hand!" Ela knew Ana had done it intentionally and glared at her angrily before storming off to the washroom.
As Ela cleaned her dress, she felt like someone was watching her. When she turned to look, she saw Adam standing behind her, a sly grin spreading across his face. "What are you doing here?" Ela asked, trying to hide her fear. Adam chuckled, "You know this is the ladies' washroom, right?" Ela tried to ignore him and leave, but Adam grabbed her hand, holding her back. "What's the hurry? Stay for a bit." His eyes gleamed with lust, making Ela's blood run cold.
She tried to pull her hand free, but Adam's grip was too strong. Ela began to cry and struggle, desperate to escape. Just as Adam was about to overpower her, a voice interrupted them. "What's going on here?" Jungkook stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with anger. Ela took advantage of the distraction to break free from Adam's grasp. "Please, save me!" she begged Jungkook, tears streaming down her face. Adam's face twisted with rage and fear as he took in Jungkook's menacing presence. Everyone knew about Jungkook's ruthless reputation, and Adam didn't want to cross him.
Ela freed herself and hid behind Jungkook, who was staring at Adam with a menacing gaze, as if to say, "My prey has finally fallen into my trap." In a flash, Jungkook pulled out a knife and advanced towards Adam, whose eyes widened in terror. Before Adam could react, Jungkook slashed the knife across his arm first Adam felt a pain in seconds Jungkook slashed the knife in his neck, and blood began to gush out.
Ela shrieked at the sight of the violence, something she had never witnessed before. Jungkook turned to her, his expression cold and unyielding. "If you breathe a word about this to anyone, I'll kill you," he warned, his voice dripping with malice. Ela cowered in fear as Jungkook pressed the blade against her neck applying gentle pressure. "It's better for you to keep your mouth shut," he hissed, before turning back to Adam's lifeless body.
Ela fled the scene, racing down the corridor until she spotted a guard. "Please, you have to help me!" she begged, trying to explain what had just happened. The guard accompanied her back to the washroom, but to Ela's surprise, there was no sign of Adam's body or any evidence of the violence that had occurred. "Ma'am, are you sure you saw something? This place is spotless," the guard said, confusion etched on his face.
Ela returned to the hall, her heart still racing with fear. As she entered, her eyes met Jungkook's, who was staring at her with a mixture of anger and warning, as if to remind her of the threat he had made earlier.
Ela was shaking with fear as Jungkook approached her, his eyes gleaming with a menacing intensity. He leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper, "I warned you, didn't I? I don't like people who don't listen to me." He glanced over at Ana, who was watching them with a mixture of curiosity and jealousy in her eyes. Ela felt a surge of fear as Jungkook's gaze returned to her.
"You're a murderer!" Ela spat, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'll tell the police what you did!" Jungkook chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. Ela felt a chill run down her spine as he whispered, "Relax, sweetie. Don't say anything that might make me angry. You won't be able to handle the consequences." His hot breath caressed her ear, making her shudder.
Jungkook's voice dropped to a menacing whisper, "For now, just worry about yourself. You've caught my attention, and trust me, that's not a good thing." Ela felt like she was trapped in a nightmare, with no escape from Jungkook's sinister grasp.