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Chapter 45 - Chapter 44: The news

When Eri returned to her luxury apartment—a stunning corner unit in the lakeside Westview Residence, one of the many extravagant gifts Valko had given her—it no longer felt like home.

It was the place where he had taken her countless times before disappearing again into the image of the perfect husband, the untouchable man of the Starfall elite.

The moment she stepped inside, madness seemed to seize her.

She threw herself into the living room, sweeping the delicate porcelain vases off the shelves and screaming until her voice cracked.

"You bitch, Mina! You goddamn bitch! Why is it always you!? Why do men always talk about you!? What the hell did you do to them!?"

Eri's mascara-streaked tears fell freely as she hurled one ornament after another. The crash of shattering glass echoed through the empty room until she collapsed onto the couch, breathless and trembling.

Her eyes drifted to the oversized photo on the wall—Valko and her, smiling for the camera.

He had looked devastatingly handsome in his black suit, and she had worn a white dress, pretending it was a wedding photo.

She had begged him for that picture. He had agreed, but only on one condition: no one else could ever see it. The threat behind his smile had been clear.

Valko was a powerful, deceitful man—a manipulator wrapped in charm. He could crush her like a twig if he wanted. Eri knew that.

And yet, somewhere along the line—somewhere between being Mina's stand-in and his secret comfort—she had fallen truly, foolishly in love.

She covered her face, sobbing uncontrollably. Her mind replayed the conversation from earlier that day, in the car.

"Valko, you have to stay sharp!" she had pleaded, her voice breaking.

"That woman—she's planning something! She's not what she seems!"

But Valko had only laughed, the kind of laugh that cut deeper than anger.

"Of course she's planning something," he said easily. "Mina's not the type to change overnight. But still…"

He had gone silent then, his lips curving into a dazed smile—still intoxicated by Mina's touch.

It was the first real embrace they had shared in two years since their falling-out, and no matter how suspicious he was of her, he couldn't resist her.

Watching him drift into that trance, Eri clenched her fists, jealousy burning under her skin.

"Maybe she just wanted to build credibility with her family," Valko went on, shrugging.

"She's not stupid enough to cut me off that easily. If she's trying to reconcile with me, then—" His tone had turned almost joyful at that thought.

Eri's eyes went cold. She whispered, trembling,

"That will never happen…"

The smile vanished from his face.

He turned, his eyes sharp enough to slice through her composure.

Eri froze, paralyzed by fear.

The car screeched to a stop near the curb. Valko looked at her with a perfectly handsome, perfectly cruel smile.

"Looks like we're close to your place," he said softly. "I'll drop you off here. Don't want to draw attention—sensitive times, you understand."

Eri's lips quivered.

"But… it's still far. I can't walk that—"

"GET OUT!"

The shout hit her like a slap. Panicking, she fumbled with the seatbelt, stumbled out of the car, and shut the door.

Valko rolled down the window, his voice suddenly calm, almost casual.

"From now on, let's keep some distance. Don't come near SCJ headquarters again, got it? Be a good girl and I'll transfer something extra to your account."

Then the car sped off, leaving her standing by the roadside—alone, four kilometers from home.

Back in her apartment now, Eri laughed bitterly through her tears.

Valko had never truly cared. She was nothing but a distraction, a shadow for him to hide in when Mina's indifference cut too deep.

She ran her fingers through her dark, slightly curled hair—the same hair she had dyed black for him, abandoning her natural blonde to resemble Mina more closely. She had dressed like Mina, spoken like her, even given up her real name for him. All for the faint, impossible dream that one day he might divorce Mina and choose her instead.

When she learned he never could… something inside her broke.

Yet she still clung to that small, dying hope, content to be loved halfway if it meant being loved at all.

Now, the illusion had collapsed. The truth stood naked before her—not Mina's fault, not Valko's.

She was the one who had allowed it to happen.

Eri's gaze drifted toward the drawer before her... Inside it contained a Canadian passport.

There was something inside she needed to make certain of—.

---

Another day, another secret gift.

Duyen received it right after the photo shoot at Dylan's studio — a delicate, hand-wrapped box with a glossy ribbon. Inside was a luxury cake that looked straight out of a Paris patisserie, along with a handwritten note:

"You've worked so hard today. You deserve something sweet."

It was beautiful, expensive… and suspicious.

Still, she couldn't shake the strange feeling of familiarity that came with it.

She thought she knew who sent it — but that only made her more confused.

Why would she do this?

Duyen's gaze lingered on the note, her expression clouded with emotion.

Whatever lay between them, it wasn't something that could be easily untangled.

"Hey," Dylan's voice broke her thoughts. He leaned over, trying to peek at the box.

"You look like someone just broke your heart. What's going on?"

"Huh?"

Duyen blinked, quickly forcing a smile. "It's nothing, really. Are you heading home already?"

"Yeah," he chuckled. "Thanks to your help, everything went perfectly today."

He paused, glancing toward the makeup staff, making sure no one was listening.

"Actually… are you free tonight? A friend of mine just opened a Japanese restaurant. Want to check it out with me?"

Duyen froze for a second — surprised by the sudden invitation. She didn't even notice the faint blush spreading across Dylan's face, or the nervous charm in his tone.

"I'm sorry," she said gently, rubbing the back of her neck. "I have to go home and cook dinner."

"Oh?" Dylan tilted his head. "You live with someone? Your boyfriend?"

Caught off guard, Duyen waved her hands defensively.

"No— no, not a boyfriend, but… something like that."

"Ah."

Dylan smiled faintly — the kind of smile that said I see.

That night, Duyen was eager to get home early.

She had promised to cook spaghetti for Shana. She placed the cake carefully into her motorcycle's storage compartment and rode through the city. But as she parked near the alley by her building, she heard something — a faint rustling sound.

She turned her head, catching a glimpse of a tall figure before it slipped back into the shadows. Her heart jumped. Every instinct screamed don't look back.

She revved the engine and sped off.

From the dark alley, a man emerged. Tall. Cold. Hair as black as midnight, reaching down to his waist. His long coat rippled like smoke as he muttered under his breath:

"It looks like her… but not quite."

---

Duyen's home — a duplex penthouse on the forty-sixth floor — stood apart from the chaos of the city. The place was far too elegant for someone like her, all marble and glass. It still felt surreal.

Sometimes she forgot and drove back to her father's old pho shop out of habit, only to have Mr. Tuan call and remind her that she'd gone to the wrong address. Life had gotten complicated.

She knew why they'd moved — Shana's paranoia wasn't unfounded. There were people who might come after Duyen, and if they found her father instead… No, she couldn't risk that. So she'd agreed to move into this fortress Shana called "home."

She sighed and reached for the doorbell — but the door swung open first.

"Welcome home, my love…"

Shana's voice was honey and velvet.

She leaned against the doorframe in nothing but an oversized white shirt, her damp auburn hair clinging to her shoulders, nine fox tails lazily swaying behind her.

The smile she gave could melt a saint.

Duyen froze on the spot. Sure, the whole floor belonged to them, but there were still security cameras.

"Can't you wear something decent?" she hissed, cheeks burning.

"At least put on a bra!"

"Oh?"

Shana feigned surprise, running a teasing hand across her chest. "How did you know I'm not wearing one? Want to check? Mmm?"

Duyen shut her eyes tight. You little demon… literally.

Shana only giggled, her tails flicking playfully as she trailed behind Duyen, who was trying her best to ignore her and unload the grocery bags onto the counter.

"Aww, spaghetti night?" Shana cooed, wrapping her arms around Duyen's waist.

"You really are the perfect little housewife, aren't you?"

Duyen smiled despite herself as she began slicing onions with swift, practiced motions.

"When I was a kid, I used to watch my dad cook. Guess I picked up a few things."

Shana began planting kisses along her neck.

"Don't dodge the question. I meant — would you like to be my wife? Come on, I bought you a house, I spoil you rotten… Isn't that what human men do for their women?"

Duyen looked around at the lavish apartment. The designer furniture, the imported kitchenware — all far beyond her world. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate it. It just felt… unreal.

She laughed softly.

"Why imitate humans? You could just… do it your way."

That caught Shana off guard. She hesitated, her voice lowering.

"Because that's what men always did for me."

The knife paused mid-cut.

Duyen exhaled quietly and went back to the onions.

"Maybe you don't need to act like anyone else," she murmured. "Just… be like you are right now."

Shana grinned mischievously.

"You mean— naked and wrapped around you all the time?"

"Wha— Hoho No! That's not what I—"

Shana laughed, tugging playfully at Duyen's shirt.

"Come on! No one's here but us. Let's cook naked!"

"You're insane! Who the hell cooks naked!? I'm not doing that— I will never—!"

Five minutes later.

"I'm insane," Duyen muttered to herself.

There she was — bare from the waist up, still wearing her jeans. Her small, cute chest hardened when exposed to the wind from the air conditioner. She shivered and stirring spaghetti sauce in the pan while trying not to die of embarrassment.

Behind her, Shana hummed happily, sniffing Duyen's shirt like it was the most intoxicating perfume on Earth.

Her amusement vanished, though, when she noticed the cake box on the counter.

"That person's still sending you things, huh?" she said quietly.

"Mm." Duyen nodded, not looking up. "I guess so."

Shana's eyes narrowed. Something about it felt off.

She walked over to the table, lifted the lid, and examined the bottom of the box.

"Well, well," she muttered. "A delicious cake…"

Her finger traced the base until she felt a small dent. She pried it open — revealing a tiny, blinking chip no larger than a fingernail.

Shana brought it to her nose, sniffed, and smiled darkly.

"So, still hasn't run out of tricks, huh?"

Just then, the TV in the living room blared to life — the nightly news.

[Breaking new: 163 students from The Chau High School have been hospitalized after suffering severe food poisoning this afternoon. Investigations are ongoing, but early suspicions point to the Goten Supermarket meat supply…]

Shana froze.

"Goten… That's the supermarket chain owned by SCJ, isn't it?"

Duyen's head snapped up toward the screen, eyes wide.

[Authorities call it the largest food poisoning incident of the year, and potentially the biggest scandal SCJ has ever faced. The company's stock is plummeting, while parents are gathering en masse in protest outside the school gates…]

Shana let out a low whistle, holding the chip between her fingers.

"Well, well. Looks like your beloved Mina just found herself in trouble, Duyen."

Duyen could only stare at the TV, the red glow of the screen reflected in her shocked eyes.

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