He took a deep breath, forcing his voice into something steadier, though the bitterness remained.
"Serenity, let me make one thing clear. No matter what you do, I will never love a poisonous woman like you! You even went as far as freezing my bank cards, are you that desperate for my atten—"
Splash!
Before he could finish, his world flipped.
A sharp kick sent him straight into the pool, the water swallowing both his words and his pride in one dramatic gulp.
Serenity stood at the edge, looking down at him with calm detachment, as if she had merely brushed off a speck of dust.
"Then don't talk so much," she said coolly, tightening her towel. "It's noisy."
In the pool, Hadi resurfaced, drenched and seething.
Serenity looked at him as though he were nothing more than a speck of dirt clinging stubbornly to her shoe.
Did he truly believe that, with the old matriarch gone, he could still throw his weight around?
The only reason she had tolerated him for so long was because Elder Madam Keir still held authority within the family second only to Shin Keir.
But now, with the old woman lying in a coma and Hadi's own parents largely indifferent to him, what exactly was he relying on to remain so arrogant?
Hadi's curses echoed endlessly, sharp and venomous, but Serenity merely lifted a hand and gestured to the servants.
"Make sure he stays in the pool until I return from my spa appointment."
"Serenity, are you f*cking crazy?!" Hadi shouted, equal parts furious and incredulous.
But Serenity had already turned away, not even sparing him another glance as she walked off.
No matter how much Hadi shouted, no matter how he lashed out at the servants, they did not move.
Because the wind in the Keir household had already shifted.
Of course, Hadi had noticed it. The subtle distancing, the polite indifference, the way his family offered nothing but hollow words instead of real support.
He just refused to accept it.
---
Meanwhile, although Venice had managed to contain the chaos at the hospital from fully erupting, gossip had already slipped through the cracks and spread online like ink in water.
The word mistress now clung to her name.
Once, she had carefully built her rising fame, amplified by riding on Yeri's spotlight.
Now that very spotlight had turned against her, exposing every flaw she had tried to conceal.
Venice's hands trembled as she watched the footage recorded by onlookers at the time, the confrontation, and Jade's accusations.
Netizens suspicion were immediate and then came the sharper daggers, her social media.
Photos of luxury shopping sprees. Designer jewelry glinting under perfect lighting. High-end cafés and exclusive venues.
A life of indulgence with no visible man.
Not a single trace of a boyfriend or the father of her child.
"Very mistress-like," they said.
Then a netizen exposed that her mother, Linda, had once been a mistress as well.
Venice clicked on the account and the moment she saw the profile, her expression stiffened.
It was her father's mistress.
The very same woman Linda had once fought in front of the Zhi household.
Venice rushed to tell her mother. Moments later, her parents raised voices erupted, tearing through the villa's polished walls.
Old wounds ripped open and thrown into the present like shattered glass.
Venice found herself in a bind, much like any mistress who enjoys the privileges of such a position but cannot afford its consequences, especially the weight of being branded 'the mistress.'
---
On the fifth and final day of the economic forum, a grand social banquet was held, attended by the country's most powerful figures and influential global leaders.
Yeri arrived as Shin Keir's companion.
Dressed in a striking red gown, she seemed to command the room without effort, her presence turning heads and quietly stealing the spotlight.
Unlike before, when gazes toward her were laced with scrutiny and faint condescension, as though she were unworthy of standing beside Shin Keir, the atmosphere had shifted.
Now, many approached her with polite smiles and genuine interest.
Even seasoned socialites and prominent figures made their way over, if only to exchange a few words.
Of course, not everyone was convinced. Some still regarded her with thinly veiled dissatisfaction, testing her by steering conversations toward complex business matters, layered strategies, and jargon meant to trip her up.
Yeri, however, met them with disarming honesty.
"I'm not a business prodigy," she admitted lightly, unbothered. "But I'm always willing to learn."
That alone earned her more respect than empty pretense ever could.
As the night reached its peak, another figure took center stage- Bryce.
The evening marked his moment of recognition, as he was named a rising star for his rapid ascent in success, influence, and power.
"Miss Zhi," someone asked, seizing the moment, "do you have plans to join KGG in the future, or perhaps assist CEO Keir in his company's projects?"
Yeri smiled politely. "For now, my focus is on my studies. But if he ever needs my help, I wouldn't mind lending a hand."
Pulled along by Shin Keir, she moved from one conversation to another, greeting and engaging with an endless stream of guests.
Gradually, the strain began to show.
She scanned the room, searching for an opening and finally found one.
Like a quiet escape artist, Yeri slipped away.
"Yeri."
Her steps halted and a small frown tugged at her lips.
Already preparing a polite excuse, she turned only to blinked in surprise.
"Brother Book? What happened to you?"
Standing before her was Xian, though he looked nothing like the sharply dressed men filling the hall.
Instead, he wore a hoodie and denim jeans, as though he had wandered into the wrong story entirely or deliberately broken into the right one.
More concerning, his face bore visible bruises.
"You look great," Xian said, his gaze lingering with quiet admiration. "I'm glad to see you enjoying the event."
Yeri shrugged lightly. "I'm just here as Brother Shin's companion. Honestly, I don't understand half of what they're talking about."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at him again. "Did you get into an accident?"
Xian hesitated, then nodded, albeit reluctantly.
From a distance, the murmur of approaching voices grew louder.
Xian's expression tightened. Without another word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small object, and pressed it into Yeri's hand.
"I slipped past security," he said quickly. "I can't stay long."
Before she could react, he turned and disappeared into the crowd as abruptly as he had appeared, like a shadow slipping between light.
Yeri looked down at her hand, confusion knitting her brows.
A USB drive?
For now, she slipped it into her purse.
She slipped into a quiet ladies' lounge, and for a few precious minutes, Yeri simply sat.
Then her phone rang.
Brother Shin
Yeri rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"I just stepped into the restroom," she said casually. "I'll be back soon."
Ending the call, she left the lounge and headed toward the restroom, only to run into someone she hadn't expected.
Yeri paused for a fraction of a second. Memories of the competition flickered through her mind.
She considered walking past as if she hadn't seen her but Calin spoke first.
"Yeri… are you upset about what happened at the competition?" Her tone was gentle, almost hesitant. "It wasn't intentional. I didn't know Brother Bryce would put you on the spot."
Yeri, already drained, had no patience left for veiled conversations and careful phrasing.
She simply nodded. "It's fine."
Calin seemed relieved, quickly continuing, "I was actually thinking of inviting you out to make up for it. Or…" she brightened slightly, "I have many connections in the filming industry. There's a very famous talk show, you've probably heard of it. I can arrange for you to be a guest and clarify all the rumors about you online."
Yeri met her gaze through the mirror as she walked to the sink, turning on the tap.
"No need," she said calmly. "Besides, the only rumor netizens care about these days is that you're Brother Shin's ex-girlfriend and that I'm the one who stole him from you."
Calin's smile froze.
For a split second, something flickered across her face, sharp, almost brittle, before it smoothed over again.
Yeri continued, her tone even, almost conversational. "Why don't you clarify it yourself? Say that you two never dated. I'm sure your current fiancé would appreciate that too."
Silence.
Calin's reflection stared back, her expression carefully reconstructed.
"…It's exactly because netizens think whatever they want," she said, forcing a light laugh, "that I can't deny it directly. It would only make things worse. Yeri, don't misunderstand. I'm not competing with you over Brother Shin. It's just that… you're not very familiar with the entertainment industry. Or how online publicity works."
Her voice softened, taking on a tone of practiced guidance.
"The more you try to deny something, the more attention it attracts. It only escalates."
Yeri said nothing. Because, annoyingly enough it made sense.
Calin moved through that world like a seasoned navigator charting invisible currents. And Yeri, in comparison, was still learning where the tides pulled.
The irritation that had been simmering inside her slowly cooled. This wasn't the place to lose her temper.
She turned, ready to leave.
"Yeri."
Calin smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I wasn't recording this conversation."
The words hung in the air and somehow heavier than they should have been.
For a brief moment, Yeri felt as though there was something hidden beneath them, like a thread just out of sight.
But before she could dwell on it, her thoughts shifted, Shin Keir might call again.
She pushed it aside and stepped forward, then a sudden impact.
Something struck the back of her head.
Her vision fractured, the world tilting like a painting knocked off its frame.
Yeri collapsed, the quiet restroom swallowing the sound as if nothing had happened at all.