Afternoon in Ravenska, Aliana called Andrian’s office to inform him of her return.

The call connected quickly. However, it wasn’t Andrian’s voice that answered, but that of ba /bwoman Aliana knew very well–Bianca.

“Hello, this is Mr. Andrian Velor’s office. How may I help byou/b?”

“Bianca?” na greeted tly, skipping any pleasantries. “I want to speak with Andrian.”

Bianca fell silent for a moment, clearly startled by the voice she heard. She hadn’t expected Aliana to contact Andrian–especially not while she was for baway/b. Bianca had hoped Aliana would stay away for a long time.

*Andrian is unavable to take calls at the moment,” Bianca replied with a forced polite tone, trying to stayposed since Andrian was in the same room. “bHe’s /bfocused on bhis /bwork.”

Ana ignored her answer. She had no time bto /bargue.

“Just let Andrian know that I’ll be returning to Zenith today.”

Bianca fell silent again, her face paling instantly. She bwas /birritated to hear that na wasing back–especially bsince /bit had only been two days since she left

“Ana, weren’t you the one who wanted to go on a vacation? Why are you suddenlying back? You’ve only been in Ravenska for a day,” nca said, clearly trying to mask her frustration, though a tone of displeasure still slipped through.

“That’s none bof /byour business,” Aliana replied coldly. “I’ming back because I’m worried about Andrian, I heard rumors from the guards that he was attackedst night.”

Bianca hold her breath, visibly ufortable. She nced at Andrian, who sat calmly on the office sofa, absorbed in reading a report on his tablet- unaware that Bianca was speaking to Aliana.

“Andrian is fine,” Bianca said quietly, her tone now slightly curt. “Stop pretending to care about him. You’re the one who left for Ravenska during ba /bcritical time. Why suddenlye back now!”

na’s voice remained calm but carried a cold firmness. “I’m his wife. Of course I bcare/b. Don’t forget to give him my message.”

Without waiting for a reply, Aliana ended the call.

Bianca stood bfrozen/b, staring at the phone in her hand, both annoyed and frustrated. She knew Aliana and Andrian’s marriage had been arranged for political reasons between their families. But for some reason, hearing Aliana refer to herself as Andrian’s wife always made her chest tighten.

“What’s going on?”

Andrian’s voice snapped her back. He was now looking at her from behind his tablet, his eyes sharp aware of her change in demeanor.

“Who was calling?”

Bianca looked away nervously and hesitated before answering, b“/bbAliana/b. She said she’sing back to Zenith btoday/b!”

Andrian frowned. He slowly set his tablet down, focusing his full attention on Bianca.

b“/bAliana’sing back todayb? /bShe just arrived in Ravenska yesterday.”

Bianca nodded, clearly seeing the confusion on bAndrian’s /bface. She quickly seized the opportunity to bnt /bseeds of doubt in his mind,

“That’s what’s strange, Andrian. She insisted on going to Ravenska even though things were bbense /bhere. And now she suddenly wants to return. Don’t you think it’s suspiciousb? /bMaybe Aliana had something to do with the attack on byou/bb./bb” /b

Andrian fell silent, thinking. He had been slightly suspicious of Aliana’s sudden insistence on going to Ravenska. That’s why he bhad /basked Victor to keep an eye on her.

Bianca continued, cautiously but with clear intent.

“I know I have no right to speak about your rtionship, Andrian. But as someone who has known you ba /blong time, I can’t just stay quiet. There’s something strange about Aliana’s behavior. I think you should be more careful. She might be nning something deceitful”

Andrian sighed slowly, his gaze sharp bas /bhe looked at Bianca. “What makes you think that? Is it because of those photos?”

Banca looked away briefly before answering softly, “Yes. And maybe the person who attacked you is connected to Aliana. The attack happened exactly when she left.”

Andrian sighed again, knowing his lover bwas /bjealous. He get up from the sofa and walked toward Bianca.

“I can’t me you for thinking that,” Andrian said. “But I don’t like it when you overthink. You’d better bfocus /bon our project. We still need to convince several board members to get it moving.”

Bianca remained silent, still bvisibly /bupset. Noticing this, Andrian gently took her hand.

I’ll take care of the Ana issue. Besides, whether she’s here bor /bnot doesn’t make any difference to me.”

Bianca was stunned, then broke into a bright smile. She was happy–feeling more needed by Andrian than Aliana was.

“You’re right, I’m just overthinking. I’m sorry,” nca said, her tone cheerful again.

Without hesitation, she linked her arm through Andrian’s and leaned on him yfully. She looked at him with love and confidence.

-You don’t have to worry. I

I can handle the board matters, nca said assuredly.

Andrian nodded slightly and gently stroked her head–a rare gesture of affection from him.

A few hourster…

The ck car carrying Aliana sped along the roads of Ravenska, heading to the velor family’s private airport. In the back seat, Aliana sat quietly, staring out the window, though her mind bwas /bbfar /bfrom bcalm/b.

Her phone vibrated softly. Aliana immediately opened the iing message.

A message from Rafe appeared on the screen:

“I’ve managed to get some more information about Julian and Kestrel. They’re still in Zenith Julian was seen bat /bba /bnightclub in the East Districtst night. Kestrel’s harder to btrack/b, but I’m sure he bhasn’t /bleft the city.”

Aliana quickly typed a reply:

“Keep watching them. I’ll arrive in Zenith in a few hours. We have to catch them this time.”

Rafe responded promptly.

“Understood, Miss. One more thing–Fobtained CCTV footage from the Velor family’s security system. The recording from when Mr. Andrian was attacked by Nyxst night, I think you should bsee /bit for yoursell”

Momentster, a short video arrived. Aliana immediately yed it at low volume, her eyes widening as she watched the screen.

In the footage, the figure attacking Andrian bwas /bclearly visible–agile, precise, and calcted in every movement. Especially the fighting style; it was distinctly Nyx. Aliana felt her heartbeat quicken as she studied the details. The way they moved, stood, and attacked–it was all so simr to her own style, it was nearly indistinguishable.

b2/5 /b

“What the hell is this?” Aliana murmured unconsciously.

Her grip on the phone tightened as her mind spun in chaos. Whoever attacked Andrian clearly knew bher /bvery well–too well

Aliana quickly sent a reply to Rafe,

-Find out who this person really is. We can’t let someone go around busing /bthe identity of Nyx, Whoever it is, they know far too much about me!

“Understood. I’ll start tracking them right away. Be careful, Miss. This person is no ordinary threat”

Aliana closed her phone, taking a deep breath to calm hessell Her gaze drifted back outside the window, though her mind was far more troubled than bbefore/b. She realized this new problem she faced might be far more dangerous than anything she had encountered so far.

Return to Zenith

The ck car carrying Aliana arrived at the private brunway /bof the Valor family’s airfield. She stepped out confidently, heading toward the waiting private jet, which already had bits /bengines humming softly on the tarmac.

Elena followed closely behind, carrying several of Aliana’s bags

Once aboard. Aliana immediately took the seat by the window. She gazed briefly at the mist–covered pine trees–scenery she left behind with a heavy heart. But her thoughts were now dominated by the video Rale had sent.

She pulled out her phone again, reviewing the footage. The short clip bclearly /bshowed “Nyx” attacking Andrian with startling skill and precision. It wasn’t just simr–it was identical to her own movements. Aliana even felt like bshe /bwas watching herself in that bvideo/b. Every slight gesture, every stanceb, /bevery technique perfectly mimicked Nyx’s signature style.

She took another deep breath, trying to bcalm /bher erratic heartbeat, then typed a message to Rafe

“Can you enhance the footage? Analyze it in more detail. I want to know if there’s any small clue that bcould /bidentify bthis /bperson.”

Rafe replied quickly.

“I’ve tried, but the resolution is limited. The attacker’s face is fully covered bby /bba /bnano–fiber mask–identification is nearly impossible. But there bis /bone small clue.”

Aliana responded instantly

“What clue?”

Rafe sent ban /berged image from the video. It was bblurry/bb, /bbut clear enough to see a thin silver bracelet on the attacker’s left wrist.

Alians frowned, staring at the bracelet in silence, Slowly, a memory surfaced, band /bher heart pounded. The bracelot’s unique design was unmistakable- she recognized it. Not just a lookalike, but hers. A birthday gift from bAlicia/bb, /bher twin sister.

The bracelet meant a lot to her, but it had bbeen /blost long ago. Aliana remembered how panicked she was when she realized it was missing. She bhad /bsearched everywhere she’d been, but it was never found.

“No way…” she whispered, a heavy lightness gripping her chest.

She quickly messaged Rate,

“That bracelet is mine. I lost it some time ago and looked everywhere but never found it. How did it end up bon /bAndrian’s attacker?”

Rafe replied right a

* investigate immediately, bMiss/b. But whoover took that bracelet clearly bknows /bbyou /bvery well. This isn’t ba /bcoincidence”

Bracelet of the Past

Aliana sat still, staring at her phone screen, Leaning back into her seat, she tried to calm herself while her mind churned with possibilities

“Who are you, really?” the whispered softly

The private jet began to move, slowly leaving Ravenska en route to Zenith Aliana stared out the window, more determined than ever to uncover the truth and to reim the precious item that belonged to her.

She pocketed her phone and closed her eyes to quiet her storming thoughts.

Across from her, Elena sat quietly, watching Aliana’s tense expression. She held bback /bher questions, but her curiosity bfinally /bgot the better of her.

“Miss, is something wrong?” Elena asked cautiously.

Aliana slowly opened her eyes, looking straight at Elena’s concerned face. She took ba /bdeep breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions.

“No.” Aliana replied softly, “everything’s line.”

Elena frowned slightly, unconvinced. “Are you sure? You bsee /b

seem troubled.”

Aliana paused, her gaze drifting toward Elena.

Elena’s presence reminded her of thete bAlicia /b

In a sh, the image of the fake Nyx’s movements breyed /bin Aliana’s mind, sending her heart racing again. Watching the video felt like seeing herself- just like how she used to see her reflection in bAlicia/b.

But she quickly dismissed the thought. Alicia was different. Too gentle, too fragile, never trained to fight. She would never harm anyone–not even an Insect.

“Elena?”

Aliania snapped out of her daze at the sound of Elena’s voice.

Composing herself, she masked her inner turmoil with a calm expression.

“It’s nothing. Elena. I’m just thinking”

Elena nodded hesitantly. She could still sense unease behind Aliana’s words but dared not press further.

After a moment, na spoke again, bher /bbvoice /bhesitant

eme

“Elena,” she said softly, “on my 23rd birthday, Alicia gave me a silver bracelet. Do you know anything about it?”

Elena thought for a moment, her brows furrowed in concentration. bSuddenly/b, her eyes widened with surprise and nostalgia.

“Oh, that bracelet…” she eximed softly. “Yes, Miss. That bracelet was very special to Miss bAlicia/b. She designed it herself, very carefully.”

Aliana’s heart thudded. She bstared /bat Elena. “Alic… designed it herself?”

Elena nodded firmly. “Yes, Miss. She spent months perfecting the design. She said it had to be unique–so no bone /bbelse /bcould replicate it. It had bvery /bspecific details..”

Aliana’s chest ached with guilt. She hadn’t known how much that bracelet meant to Alicia. Now she bhad /blost it.

“I’m sorry, Alicia..she murmured, voice barely audible.

(

Seeing the shift in her expression, Elena gently continued,

“Actually, Miss…that bracelet wasn’t the only one.”

Ana frowned. “Wha

“What do you mean?”

Elena looked at her warmly.

“The bracelet Alicia gave you was p

bwas /bpart of a pair. She made two identical bracelets–one for you, and one for herself. Each had different initials–‘ALN‘ for Aliana and “ALC” for Alicia. When ced together, the two formed a beautiful,plete bracelet.”

Aliana’s eyes widened in shock. She had never known it was a matching pair.

She looked at Elena, confusion and pain in her eyes. “Alicia bnever /btold me that”

Elena’s expression softened, recalling something painful.

“She didn’t want to burden you. She told me she feared you’d be hurt if you knew the meaning behind it. Alicia knew you well. She believed you’de running to her if you knew–and she bwas /bscared scared that you’d be rejected again by your parents, likest time.”

Aliana bwas /bstunned. Her heart ached at the reason. Unconsciously, her fists clenched as she tried to hold back the sudden sting in her chest.

Elena continued, voice trembling with emotion,

“She made those matching bracelets because she wanted to stay y close to you. She hoped the two of you could always be united–just like those bracelets.”

Aliana’s chest tightened further. A single tear escaped theer of her eye. She wiped it away quickly. All this time, she never knew Alicia longed to be close too–alonging Aliana had kept to herself.

“Then… do you know where Alicia’s bracelet is now?” she asked, regaining herposur

Elona shook her head slowly, “I’m sorry, Miss. I don’t know. But maybe… your parents do.”

Aliana clenched her fists again, this time with resolve.

“Then before we return to the Velor estate, we’re going to the Zavier residence, I’m taking that bracelet–if they still have it

Elena nodded quickly. “Yes, Miss. I’ll inform the guards to adjust our travel ns.”

Aliana leaned her head back again, gazing at the blue sky outside the jet’s window.

Now, she had a new goal–to reunite the pair of bracelets, and uncover how her lost one ended up on the wrist of the person who attacked Andrian.