the city was glowing like it had something to confess. neon lights spilled across the pavement, stretching long and thin, like they were bowing as i stepped out of the black car. maybe that was dramatic. maybe i was finally becoming dramatic. but after six years of being the quiet girl, the background girl, the one who apologized for breathing too loudly—
tonight, the world would hear me breathe.
the hotel towered above everything, glass and gold, humming with power. i tilted my chin up. once upon a time, i stood outside this building waiting for ethan to finish his meetings. he'd walk out with that polished smile, kiss my forehead, and say, "sorry, babe. busy day."
meanwhile, the lipstick on his collar would be a shade i never wore.
i didn't know back then.
i didn't want to know.
but tonight, oh tonight—he would know exactly who i'd become.
the revolving door whooshed open. warm air rushed over me, scented with expensive perfume and ambition. my heels clicked against the marble floor—sharp, confident, echoing like applause. the lobby was full, everyone dressed like promotions on legs, but heads turned when i walked through.
good. let them look. it's my era now.
my eyes found him instantly.
damien.
he leaned against the reception counter, dressed in a black shirt, sleeves rolled up, revealing strong forearms that looked like they'd been crafted just to intimidate weak men. his gaze lifted the moment he felt me approach. it wasn't a slow glance—it was a magnetic pull, a silent "i knew you'd come."
"you're late," he murmured, but his mouth curved, like he enjoyed it.
"traffic," i said.
lie.
i had spent a full ten minutes staring at myself in the mirror, telling the old me she wasn't invited tonight.
he looked me up and down—not in a dirty way, not in a greedy way, but like he was cataloging every piece of strength i wore like armor.
"you clean up beautifully," he said.
"i was never dirty," i replied.
that earned me a small, impressed laugh. "fair enough."
he pushed off the counter. "ready?"
"for what exactly?"
"for step one," he said softly, eyes gleaming, "making them regret every breath they wasted looking down on you."
i exhaled slowly. the idea tasted good. too good.
"let's go then," i said.
he led me through a long hallway, past velvet curtains and polished doors. the sound of conversation grew louder, music pulsing like the heartbeat of the night. we stopped at a massive ballroom entrance guarded by two men in suits.
"wait," damien said, and stepped closer.
my pulse jumped. he reached out, hooking one finger under my chin so gently it almost broke me.
"serena," he whispered, "from this moment on, don't shrink. not for anyone. not even for me."
his touch was warm, grounding. i swallowed. "i'm not shrinking ever again."
"good," he said, letting his hand fall slowly. "because they're going to see you tonight. the real you. the one they tried to bury."
we walked in.
the ballroom was a world of its own—crystal chandeliers dripping like galaxies, gold accents everywhere, and a crowd dressed in diamonds. whispers flew instantly when they saw damien. people moved aside without him asking. powerful men lowered their eyes. women straightened their posture, fixing their hair.
i leaned slightly toward him.
"who exactly are you?"
he smiled sideways.
"someone who owes your family nothing…and owes you everything."
before i could decode that, a voice stabbed the air.
"serena?"
my entire chest went cold.
ethan.
i turned slowly, like the universe was daring me to stay composed.
he stood ten steps away, wearing a navy suit and that same practiced smile he used when lying. my step-sister lila clung to his arm like an ornament. she was wearing white—always white—as if purity could be worn like fabric.
her eyes widened when she saw me. ethan's smile faltered.
good.
"you're—" ethan blinked, staring at me like i'd risen from a grave he buried me in. "you're here?"
"looks like it," i said.
his gaze dragged down my dress, stunned. i felt damien's presence beside me, a silent wall of strength.
lila tightened her grip on ethan's arm. "serena, this event is for shareholders. you shouldn't—"
damien cut her off with a stare so lethal she shut her mouth mid-sentence.
ethan stepped forward. "serena…look, about the wedding—"
"don't," i said. "not here."
"seriously," lila scoffed, flipping her hair, "why are you dressed like that? trying too hard, aren't you?"
her tone was sugary poison.
i smiled sweetly.
"oh, don't be jealous. you'll wrinkle your makeup."
someone gasped.
ethan looked between us nervously.
"serena…can we talk alone?"
damien's hand brushed subtly against the small of my back.
"she's not interested."
i stepped forward myself.
"actually, i'll talk."
damien's brows lifted slightly. only i saw the warning in his eyes. he didn't want ethan near me, but this was a warzone where i needed to fire my own shots.
i walked with ethan to the side of the ballroom, where the music softened and the shadows hid the cracks of collapsing relationships.
ethan ran a hand through his hair.
"you look…different."
"good," i said. "i didn't come here to look familiar."
he sighed, almost relieved.
"serena…i knew you'd understand. lila is dying. she begged for this marriage. i couldn't say no to her last wish."
i stared at him.
"she's not dying, ethan."
he swallowed. "the doctors—"
"which doctors?" i cut in. "the ones she paid to forge papers? or the ones who signed her gym membership renewal last week?"
his jaw dropped.
i leaned in slightly.
"don't play games with me. i'm done being your soft place to land."
he grabbed my wrist. "serena, please. i—I regret how i handled it. i was confused. i—"
"confused?" i laughed. "oh no. you were determined. you had it planned. you wanted her family's money. you wanted her father's company. you wanted everything except me."
his face twisted with guilt.
good.
"you should've told me," he whispered. "i never wanted to lose you."
"you didn't lose me," i said. "you threw me away."
he opened his mouth but no words came out.
for the first time in six years, i felt nothing for him. no ache. no longing. just relief that the girl who used to love him was long gone.
i stepped back.
"goodbye, ethan."
"serena—wait—"
damien appeared out of nowhere, placing a hand on my shoulder, pulling me gently toward him.
"conversation over," he told ethan, voice like steel wrapped in velvet.
ethan looked at him with panic. "who the hell are you to tell me—"
"the man standing beside her now," damien said calmly.
my breath caught. ethan's face drained.
damien led me away without waiting for his reply. once we were far enough, he tilted his head.
"are you okay?"
i exhaled.
"i didn't slap him."
he smirked.
"growth."
i elbowed him lightly, and he actually chuckled—a low, warm sound that felt like it didn't belong in a room full of sharks.
before i could answer, a voice boomed across the ballroom:
"ladies and gentlemen, we welcome the future chairwoman of the harrington group—serena arden!"
every head spun toward me.
my lungs froze.
damien whispered, "time to show them the throne they tried to burn."
i blinked.
"i didn't—i didn't approve that announcement."
"i did," a new voice said.
i looked up.
my grandfather—the one my family said disowned me—stood on the stage, smiling proudly. "come forward, serena."
shock cracked through my bones.
he was alive.
he was here.
he was on my side.
damien nudged me gently. "go."
the room parted like a tide as i walked up the steps. whispers swirled like smoke. lila's face was pale as frosting. ethan looked like he wanted to collapse.
i took the microphone with steady fingers.
"good evening," i said softly.
the room went silent.
i let the moment breathe.
"i've been gone for a while," i continued. "but i've learned something. when people underestimate you, the best revenge…is returning stronger than they ever imagined."
a murmur rippled through the crowd.
my heartbeat steadied.
i felt the old version of me melting, shedding, disappearing.
i met my grandfather's proud eyes.
i met damien's soft, dangerous gaze.
i met ethan's broken one.
"i'm back," i said. "and i'm not going anywhere."
the applause exploded.
the chandeliers sparkled like galaxies bowing in approval.
and ethan?
he watched me like a man who finally realized he'd lost the rarest diamond in the world.
the night wasn't over.
this was just chapter one of my rebirth.
and god, did it feel good to breathe again.