Chapter 8.1

Serena nibbled on the mini chocolate covered cheesecake, eyeballing the colorful spread of desserts through the thickening crowd. She barely glanced at the towering ice creatures, flawlessly carved in such realism that every shift in lightning created the illusion of breathing. Even the hypnotizing movements of the aerial dancers, the skirts of their dresses shimmering and changing with the lights over the stage, couldn’t hold her attention. The food all looked so mouth-watering delicious--strawberry cake rolls, lemon macarons, thandai cheesecakes made of sweet perfection, and assorted pavlovas, not to mention the dishes on other tables that she had yet to look at yet.

Wrinkling her nose, she chomped down on her sweet, scowling. It was a bigger bite than she’d intended and now there was less to savor.

People swarmed over the bloodred carpet, their laughs a symphony of fakeness that grated on Serena’s nerves. The clink and clatter of cutlery against china took the place of her heart thumping in her ear, the rush of liquid pouring into glasses threatening to sweep her away from the thousands of eyes burning holes through her body.

The explosion of chocolate and strawberry across her tongue left an aftertaste of sawdust as she glanced at her phone. Only midnight--several hours to go before she could pull the covers over her head, stick her earbuds in and try to block out the constant gnawing of her empty stomach.

“Serena?”

Taking every ounce of will power left not to curl her lip up, she turned her attention to the slender blonde glued to her side.

“Yes?”

“Where’s Rhys? I wanted to give him my compliments and catch up.” Vivian pulled a mirror from her clutch--definitely worth at least two thousand and for once without a price tag still attached--to check her reflection.

“I’m not sure. Probably talking to friends. Would you like me to find him?” The words tasted of sour milk despite how they dripped, honey-smooth, from her mouth.

Patting invisible stray hairs flat and smacking her lips once, then twice, Vivian shook her head. “Oh, thank you, but that’s okay. I’ll find him eventually.” She smiled, but her green eyes remained empty as ever.

“Good luck.” And good riddance. Serena made a face inwardly; satisfying, but not nearly as much as it would be to speak her mind and tell people to stop treating her like a ladder they could climb.

A pause came between songs, and she sucked in a deep breath. If only this party had been any other night but tonight.

As a ripple of murmurs bled into the booming bass of the next song, she glanced up. Gradually at first, people parted down the middle, waves of confusion spreading over the crowd as a woman strode up the path cleared.

The lights changed from dragon’s eye green to scarlet, each color fading seamlessly into the other with the beat. Squinting against the lights shining on the statues frozen behind her, she just made out the high-heeled figure clad in a black dress, the diamonds on her forehead band, choker, and lace sleeves sparkling as she strode closer.

The lights flared brighter as the chorus kicked in. Hair the color of a dying Japanese maple tree rested on squared shoulders, Maya blue eyes framed by thick lashes and pink lips pulled into the straightest of lines.

How--no, why--in a million years was she here? Exactly what did she hope to accomplish? Brave and bold...but stupid none the less. What a fool.

“Oh hello, Adeline!” The skin on her cheeks threatened to split as Serena forced her mouth to imitate a smile as her hand waved of its own accord. As if this night couldn’t get any more draining, now another person had been added to the Try Not to Show How Much You Abhor This Person in Front of Cameras list.

Adeline tilted her head to the side, returning the smile and giving a small laugh. “I just came to let Rhys know how happy I am for his success.”

“You’re so sweet!” Serena’s skin crawled at the sparkle in Adeline’s eyes.

“Thank you. It’s been a while--I missed you.”

Almost too late, she clenched her jaw to keep the retort inside, despite how it made her insides burn with anger. But with so many people watching, she was not about to back down first.

Adeline moved closer, a whiff of vanilla and something spicy proceeding her. Serena had always hated the smell and even now, couldn’t help but cough a little.

Narrowing her eyes, she studied the girl mere steps from her for a moment longer. “Why are you really? We both know you’re lying.”

Nothing new for her.

“Rhys was really good in that movie.” Adeline shrugged, a small wrinkle appearing between her eyebrows as they inched closer together. Lower, she spit out, “Your family took everything. And now, it’s time to return the favor.”

Of all the things Serena had expected to come out, it hadn’t been anything close to that. She gasped, paralyzed by the venom in Adeline’s freezing eyes. They stood there, suspended in the moment between heartbeats, between inhale and exhale, the sculptors judging in silence.

Adeline turned away, shattering the spell, each step a thunderclap despite the sea of voices and Serena’s hammering pulse. Her blood boiled, anger searing through her veins and blocking her vision. Did Adeline really think she could just walk in here, threaten her and then leave? Just like that? After everything she’d already done?

“Don’t get hurt,” Serena hurled after her.

But Adeline kept walking without any indication that she’d heard, let alone cared.

Serena had never hated anyone more.