Verena walked out of the audition hall after the director assured her, "We'll call you once the shooting schedule is finalized."
As she stepped into the cool evening air, her phone buzzed. She glanced down at the screen and froze. A reminder flashed, Mrs. Allen's welcome party.
Her heart skipped. She had completely forgotten.
A quick look at the time told her she was already cutting it close. If she returned home to change, she would be hopelessly late. Verena sighed, pressing her lips together. Clothes didn't matter, not to her. She had never cared for appearances the way others did.
Lifting a hand, she hailed a cab and slid inside. "Grand Imperial Hotel," she instructed.
The drive stretched for an hour, the city lights blurring past the window.
Verena simply sat at one of the side tables, quietly eating a sandwich she had managed to get from the buffet.
She wasn't in the mood to mingle with the glittering crowd of guests, her focus entirely on her food until a familiar voice called her name.
Looking up, she saw Ariana approaching, a bright smile plastered on her face.
Beside her stood a woman Verena didn't immediately recognize, tall and striking in an elegant gown.
Verena's expression didn't change. She didn't greet them, merely turned her eyes back to her plate as if they weren't worth her attention.
"Hey, sis, why are you ignoring me?" Ariana pressed her lips together, frowning.
The other woman turned toward Ariana, her brows rising. "She is your sister?" she asked.
Ariana gave a small nod.
The woman scoffed, glaring openly at Verena. "She is so rude. And look at you, you are the purest, sweetest person I know. How did you end up with someone like her?"
It was then that Verena remembered where she had seen this woman before.
Millie White.
A well-known celebrity and model in Country A. She must have become friends with Ariana after Ariana entered the modeling world.
"Hey, you!" Millie snapped impatiently. "Did you hear me?"
"Did you say something to me?" Verena finally lifted her head, smiling faintly.
Millie narrowed her eyes. "You're unbelievably rude. Look at Ariana, your own sister standing here, and you treat her like she's invisible."
"You're right. She must be sweet with you. But not with me. And, for the record, I'm not her sister." Verena leaned back in her chair, her smile sharpening.
"What?" Millie blinked in shock, turning to Ariana.
Ariana's eyes glistened suddenly, her lower lip trembling as she put on a perfect show of heartbreak.
"Verena, how could you say that? I've always felt like you were my sister. Doesn't being cousins still make us sisters?"
Millie's face softened at Ariana's performance. "That's… beautiful. She's pouring her heart out to you, and you—" she glared at Verena again, "you're cold and selfish. Who wouldn't want a sister like her?"
Verena let out a short laugh. "Then you can have her. I don't need a sister like her."
Millie gasped, appalled, while Ariana dabbed at her eyes as though Verena had just broken her heart.
Around them, whispers began to rise. A small crowd had turned to watch the commotion, curiosity sparking at the unexpected drama in the middle of the hall.
Just then, the sharp sound of heels striking marble echoed through the room. The chatter quieted as a young woman in her twenties entered, her presence commanding immediate attention.
She was dressed flawlessly, her high heels carrying her with practiced grace. Her sharp eyes scanned the crowd before landing on Verena.
Her brows furrowed immediately, her gaze sweeping over Verena's modest appearance with clear disapproval.
Then, when her eyes moved to Ariana dressed in glittering designer attire, her expression softened into approval.
"At least one of you knows how to dress for a welcome party." She remarked, making Ariana blushed and looked at Verena with a proud smirk.
Verena took another bite of her sandwich, unfazed.
"What's happening here?" A sharp, calm voice cut through the chatter from the other side of the grand hotel event hall.
Everyone turned toward the voice, including Verena. She relaxed slightly when she saw who it was.
"Mom," a young woman murmured, and Verena realized the girl must be Annie.
"Is everything alright here?" the middle-aged woman asked as she stepped forward.
"Good evening Mrs. Allen, I'm Ariana Vandeleur," Ariana said politely, moving toward her.
Mrs. Allen barely glanced at her, walking past without acknowledging her greeting.
Her eyes locked instead on Verena, and her stern expression softened.
"Verena! Here you are. I hope you didn't have to wait for me long."
"Not at all," Verena replied with a warm smile.
Seeing Mrs. Allen's attention focused on Verena, Annie pressed her lips together, clearly feeling a pang of jealousy.
It had been months since Mrs. Allen had been released from prison, and Annie, as her daughter, had wanted to make her mother's return special.
The grand welcome party was meant to bring her mother joy, and seeing Verena so effortlessly acknowledged seemed to hurt her.
"Let's go," Mrs. Allen said, linking her arm with Verena's. They walked off together, leaving Ariana and Millie standing where they were.
Guests slowly returned to their own conversations, resuming the party as if nothing had happened.
"Did I just see Mrs. Allen personally take that girl with her?" Millie whispered to Ariana, her tone full of disbelief.
Ariana's eyes flicked to Millie, but she said nothing, biting her lower lip to restrain any cruel remark.
As a model, Ariana had spent months working to gain favor with influential figures, to polish her image and make connections, yet Verena had simply walked away with Mrs. Allen without effort or charm. The unfairness of it stung.
"Millie, I have a shooting in an hour. I should get going," Ariana finally said, forcing a polite smile as she turned to leave.
"Oh, Ariana. I know you're working hard. I hope you become the successful model you dream about," Millie replied, her tone sweet yet edged with judgment.
They exchanged a few more courteous words before parting ways.
Ariana hurriedly followed where Verena and Mrs. Allen had gone, weaving through the crowd of the grand hotel.
They entered the main hall where Mrs. Allen had been resting earlier, the area heavily guarded with security patrolling the doors.
Ariana's eyes scanned the rooms until she spotted them: Verena and Mrs. Allen sitting together on a plush sofa, chatting casually and sharing snacks.
Silently, Ariana lifted her phone and snapped a quick picture of them, her lips pressing into a tight line as she glared at Verena.
Without making a sound, she turned and walked away, simmering with jealousy.
"I hope, after coming out, they didn't make things difficult for you?" Mrs. Allen asked, concern lacing her voice as she reached for Verena's hand.
Verena lowered her gaze, remembering the way those women had tried to take control once Mrs. Allen had left.
"No. I'm not that weak anymore," she said firmly, her voice steady.
"I know you aren't," Mrs. Allen replied, her eyes glinting with a secretive satisfaction. "You became strong with their beatings. You should have hit them back. I taught you well inside."
Verena smiled faintly, shaking her head. "I don't want to be in more trouble than I already was."
Mrs. Allen's lips curved into a small, knowing smile as she studied her.
They spent a little more time together before Annie appeared, calling her mother out of the hall.
Verena took it as her cue to leave. Her purpose had been fulfilled after meeting Mrs. Allen, and without lingering any longer, she booked a taxi and returned to Louis's mansion.
As soon as she stepped inside the gates, she spotted a familiar figure by the entrance.
"Auntie is back!" Verena called out warmly, her voice echoing down the drive.
Little Benny, who had been waiting near the doorway, immediately ran toward her with excitement.
Verena crouched down, scooping him up into her arms with ease. He laughed, burying his face into her shoulder.
Just then, the mansion gates creaked open again, and a sleek black car rolled inside.
Verena's steps slowed as her gaze shifted toward it.
The door opened, and the first thing she saw was a long leg stepping onto the pavement, followed by the tall, commanding frame of Louis Heisenberg.
He shut the car door with casual authority, his sharp eyes scanning the scene.
When his gaze landed on Verena holding Benny, he paused. Slowly, he walked toward them. Verena inhaled faintly, instantly aware of his distinct, familiar scent as he approached.
Louis stopped right in front of her, his cold eyes settling on Benny clinging to her neck. His face hardened with disapproval.
"He's heavy," Louis said plainly, his voice low and steady. "Let me hold him."
But Benny tightened his arms around Verena's neck, refusing to let go.
"I guess he doesn't want to," Verena replied lightly, chuckling as she adjusted Benny's weight.
Louis's eyes flickered to her smile. For a brief moment, he pressed his lips together, watching her in silence, as if hiding something beneath his stern demeanor.
Without another word, Verena began walking inside with Benny still in her arms.
Louis followed closely behind, his hands sliding into his pockets, his tall figure moving with quiet authority like a shadow that refused to leave her side.