bChapter /bb16 /b

Yana, Carlos and Yana lingered in the study, handing outst minute details for the party.

A few days before the big night, Yana dragged Skr on a shopping spree, piling up bags and booking a full spa day.

Freya tagged along at first, but Yana bwas all /babout Skr, barely tossing her a question here and there.

Feeling like a third wheel, Freya ditched the outings after a couple of days.

On the night of the bg/bb, /bSkr stepped into the spotlight, arm with jewelry that caught every light in the room,

with Carlosb. /bShe wore a custom–made gown Yana hadmissioned, dripping

Carles raised a ss, his voice warm butmanding. “Thanks foring out tonight, everyone. I’m thrilled to introduce my daughter, Skr Lambert, who’s finally back, with us.”

He nudged her forward, “Skr, say a few words,”

Skr didn’t miss a beat, her tone calm and confident. “Great to meet byou /ball. Looking forward to getting to know you.”

The room erupted in apuse..

Once the formalities wrapped, Carlos and Yana ushered bSkr /binto the bcrowd/bb, /bintroducing her to the Lambert family’s business partners and close friends.

The three of them, all smiles and charm, looked like a picture–perfect family. That hurt bFreya/bb, /bdeeply.

Freya watched from across the room, her grip tightening on her wine ss until her bknuckles /bwent white.

“Enjoy your moment, she thought, venom curling in her mind. It won’tst long”

She downed her drink in one gulp, set the ss down, and slipped out of the ballroom, her dress swishing behind her.

When she returnedb, /bSkr was lounging on a bcouch/b, taking a breather.

A shadow flickered in Freya’s eyes. She waved over a server and whispered a quick instruction.

The server returned with two sses of wine. Freya scanned the room, her movements bcasual/b, and tapped one ss lightly with her finger.

She Sauntered over to Skr, heels clicking, a smile stered on her face. “Hey, Skr, congrats on the big debut.”

She held out one of the sses. “Here’s to you. Let’s make nice, yeah?”

Skr’s eyes narrowed. This was the same girl who’d been shooting daggers at her for weeksb, /bnow ying friendly.

That screamed suspicion.

She took the ss, her expression neutral. “Sure, let’s y nice.”

Skr raised the bss /bto her lips.

Freya’s gare blocked /bon the rim, her heart racing, fingers trembling with anticipation,

as the red liquid grazed Skr’s lips, she paused and lowered the ss.

She pressed a hand to her temple. “I’ve had a few already. Another sip and fill bbe /bba /bmess.”

Freya’s smile faltered, “What, you’re gonna leave me hanging?”

Hanging Skr propped her head on one hand, giving Froys a sidelong nce. “Your good vibes aren’t exactly worth a fortune.

Freya’s lips pursed, her innocent act cracking.

“So that’s how it is? You don’t want to get along?” She leaned bin/b, voice soft but sharp. “I’m trying here, Skr, I don’t want to keep fighting it’ll break Mom and Dad’s hearts.”

Skr’s bp /b

gaze flicked to the ss on the table, then back to Freya. She smirked. “You buying your own pitch?”

Freya’s jaw clenched. ‘Why won’t bshe /bjust drink it?”

“Fine,” she said, straightening up. “If you’re not interested in peace, then it’s game on in this family. May the best woman win.”

She reached for the ss on the table, her arm swinging wide. The wine sloshed out, sshing across Skr’s white dress.

It was a vivid red stain. The wet fabric clung to her, drawing every eye in the room.

Freya gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. “Oh no, Skr, I’m so sorry! It was an ident, I swear,”

She grabbed a napkin, dabbing at the mess. “Your dress is ruined, and with all these guests… You should probably change. There’s a spare room upstairs.”

Skr’s eyes dipped, hiding a sh of something dangerous. Her lips curved faintly. “Guess I’ll go change.

bFreya /bnodded eagerly. “Don’t worry, take your time.”

Skr gged down a maid, basking /bfor a nket and a fresh outfit.

She wrapped the nket around herself, hiding the stain, and headed upstairs with the maid bto /bba /bguest room.

bFreya /btrailed behind, watching Skr disappear into the room. A grin spread across her face, too wild to bcontain/b.

She pulled out her phone and typed a quick message: b[/bbShe’s /bin. Move now]

A group

of shady figures slipped through the Lambert estate’s back entrance, creeping through the halls and avoiding the crowd.

They made a beeline bfor /bSkr’s room.

Freya plopped onto the sofa, her leg jittering with bnervous /benergy.

Her phone buzzed, and a sly grin spread across her face.

She sipped her wine, relishing the moment, and checked her watch. ‘Here we go

She shot up, racing to Carlos and Yana with teary beyes/b. “Mom, Dad, something’s wrong with Skr!”

Carlos and Yana’s bfaces /bwent pale.

Yana grabbed Freya’s arm, her grip firm. “What’s going on? Is she okay?”

Freya nced at the crowd nearbyb, /bbher /bvoice shaky. “It’s just..”

She paused, twisting her hands, letting the silence hang

Yana’s patience broke, “Come on, Freya, talk!

Freya’s voice trembled, tears pooling in her eyes. “bI /bsaw bSkr /bered by some guys. They’re in the guest room right now

“They looked shady,” she sobbed, “I’m scared they’ll hurt her.”

Suapter 16

Her words came out in shaky bursts, each one paired with a sniffle

Yana’s eyes nanowed, her tone sharp, “What? Show us. Now!”

Freya led the way, Yana and three beefy security guards aight behind her.

Carlos stayed behind, keeping the guests calm.

When Freya reached the guest room door, she cupped her hands and called out, “Skr, hang on, we’re here to help

Her eyes sparkled with barely hidden excitement. She turned the doorknob, but something heavy flew out, crashing into her

Freya hit the floor with a yelp, the weight pinning her down.

“Ugh…!” She coughed hard, clutching her chest.

Her ribs throbbed like they’d been crushed, and she could hardly catch her breath.

Yana motioned for the guards to pull the figure off and helped Freya up

The guards flicked on the light.

Yana and Freya froze. Skr stood in her heels, one foot resting on a guy sprawled bout /bcold at her feet, looking half–dead.

Freya’s jaw dropped. ‘This… isn’t the n.”

Yana blinked, puzzled. “Skr, what’s happening?”

Skr brushed off her hands and stepped back, her voice cool and calm. “My dress got ruined, so I came up to change. These guys barged in, probably up to something bbad/b.”

“Good thing I’ve got sharp ears,” she said with a shrug. “Heard their footsteps, didn’t change, and hid in the dark. I took them out with whatever I could find.”

Scattered around her were a few knocked–out guys, one clutching a bloodied tape recorder in his limp hand.