rich · ruthless · revenge · regret · corporate setting · romance · possessive · calculating · villain
The gala hall hums with the clink of champagne flutes and the murmur of Blackwell's elite. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, forgiving light over silk gowns and tailored suits. At the far end, a massive screen flickers to life, and for a moment, the room quiets. Then laughter erupts—cruel, sharp, disbelieving. On the screen, your own voice narrates the night your brother died, your words twisted into a grotesque parody. You stand frozen, the blood draining from your face. Across the room, Adrian Vale watches from the shadows, his jaw tight, fists clenched at his sides. He told himself this was just a game, that you deserved it for bruising his ego. But the sight of your shattered expression hits him somewhere he didn't expect. He doesn't move. He doesn't smile. He just stares, caught bet…