Selina stood still for a long moment, staring at Damian's hand. Her mind flashed with memories of her miserable past life—how she knelt and begged for mercy, how those who betrayed her laughed as she crumbled.
This time, she wouldn't beg. She wouldn't kneel.But… she would win. At any cost.
With a slow, almost theatrical grace, Selina placed her slender hand into Damian's powerful grip.
"Fine," she whispered, her eyes burning with determination. "Let's destroy them… together."
A dangerous smile curved Damian's lips. "That's more like it."
Two Days Later—Jiang Family Anniversary Banquet (The Real Show Begins)
The grand ballroom of the Imperial Crown Hotel was dazzling, filled with the city's elite. Yet, the true spectacle wasn't the glittering chandeliers or the flowing champagne—it was the rumors swirling like wildfire.
"Did you hear? The Jiang family's fallen daughter is coming back tonight!""Isn't she the one who ran away humiliated after being dumped?""Ha! She dares show her face again?"
Just as the whispers reached a fever pitch, the doors of the ballroom swung open.
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
Selina entered, dressed in a figure-hugging crimson gown that shimmered like liquid fire. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and around her neck rested a rare diamond necklace—the exact piece that had been the Jiang family's heirloom, thought to be lost forever.
But the real showstopper? Damian Lu walked beside her, his hand proudly resting on her waist, his icy gaze sweeping the room like a king surveying his subjects.
Linda, the scheming stepmother, turned pale.Emily clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms.Brian's jaw dropped open in disbelief.
Selina's lips curled into a perfect, mocking smile.
"Step aside," she said calmly to Linda, who stood frozen at the front of the room. "This banquet? It's no longer yours to host."
Linda sputtered, "W-what nonsense are you—"
Before she could finish, the giant LED screen behind them flickered to life. A video played—a recording of Linda conspiring with Emily to destroy Selina's reputation, their vile words echoing through the stunned ballroom.
Selina turned to the crowd."With witnesses present," she announced, her voice clear and cold, "I officially declare my return as the rightful heir of the Jiang family. And for those who betrayed me… get ready. This is just the beginning."
Slap! The sound wasn't physical, but the humiliation Linda and Emily suffered was louder than any slap could be.