Julie's grip on Angela's arm was firmer than necessary as she steered her daughter toward a secluded lounge tucked away from the gala's opulent chaos. The room was quieter, dimly lit, the faint hum of the ballroom replaced by the muffled echo of distant laughter and music. The space exuded exclusivity and calm, an illusion that neither woman could uphold. Julie closed the door with deliberate precision, her composure slipping ever so slightly as she turned to face Angela.

　　For a moment, neither spoke. Julie took a moment to adjust the shimmering emerald cuff of her gown, her movements deliberate as if she were buying time. Her meticulously maintained facade cracked just enough for Angela to see the woman behind it, the mother who had always kept her cards close to her chest.

　　"Sit," Julie instructed, gesturing to a velvet armchair.

　　Angela hesitated, defiance flickering in her eyes. "I'm fine."

　　Julie's lips tightened, but she didn't press the matter. Instead, she poured herself a drink from the crystal decanter on the side table, her hand betraying a slight tremor. "Do you have any idea what you've done tonight?" she asked, her voice low and controlled, like a predator circling its prey.

　　Angela crossed her arms. "I haven't done anything, mom. But maybe you'd like to explain why Elena seems to know more about our family than I do. What's really going on?"

　　Julie's head tilted slightly, her lips curving into a tight smile. "What's going on," she repeated, almost to herself. "Is that Elena woman putting ideas into your head?"

　　Angela crossed her arms, refusing to back down. "Stop deflecting, mother. I'm not a child anymore. I know something isn't right. Elena, Michael, even Edmund, they're all connected to something you're hiding."

　　Julie sighed, stepping further into the room. Her heels clicked against the marble floor, each step measured. She took a slow sip of her drink, gathering herself. "Elena is meddling in things she doesn't understand," Julie said finally, her voice sharp with restrained anger. "She's dangerous, Angela. You need to stay away from her."

　　Angela laughed bitterly. "Stay away from her? You dragged me into this circus. Don't pretend you're protecting me."

　　"You think it's that simple, don't you?" Julie said softly, almost wistfully. "That I'm hiding some grand secret for the thrill of it?"

　　"Are you saying you're not?" Angela shot back.

　　Julie's mask slipped further, a flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. "Everything I've done," she said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "has been to protect you. To protect us."

　　"Protect me?" Angela's voice rose, her frustration bubbling over. "By lying to me my entire life? By treating me like a pawn in whatever game you're playing? By dragging me into whatever criminal mess you're tangled in?"

　　Julie flinched as if struck, she set her glass down with a sharp clink. Her gaze hardened. "You have no idea what I've sacrificed for you. The risks I've taken to keep you safe," she snapped, her voice rising.

　　"Then make me understand!" Angela's voice cracked, her frustration boiling over. "Because right now, it feels like I'm just another pawn in your games."

　　Julie's jaw tightened, her eyes blazing, her perfectly painted lips pressing into a thin line. "You've always been more than that. But you need to stay out of this."

　　Angela stepped closer, her eyes blazing. "What are you so afraid of, mom? That I'll find out the truth? Or that I already have?"

　　Julie's jaw clenched. "Angela," she said warningly.

　　Angela's frustration boiled over. "Stop treating me like a child! I deserve to know the truth, especially if it affects me. Or are you afraid of what I might find out?"

　　Julie opened her mouth to retort, but Angela pressed on, her voice trembling.

　　"I'm not blind, mom. I see how you and Edmund keep me in the dark. I see how Michael looks at me, how Elena pokes and prods. You've built this house of cards, and now it's falling apart."

　　Julie's eyes narrowed. "You're treading dangerous ground, Angela."

　　"Am I?" Angela said, her voice cutting. "Or am I finally seeing things for what they are? It's not like you're the one who has to look Edmund in the eye and pretend like…"

　　She froze mid-sentence, her heart plummeting as Julie's sharp instincts kicked in. The room fell into a tense silence. Julie's eyes narrowed, her mind working quickly to connect the dots.

　　"Angela," Julie said slowly, her voice softer now but no less dangerous. "Is there something you're not telling me? About you and Edmund?"

　　Angela froze, her pulse quickening. For a moment, she felt the floor shift beneath her, as though Julie's question had stripped her bare. But Julie didn't press further. Instead, she straightened her spine, her composure sliding back into place.

　　"We're not done here," Julie said, her voice cold and clipped. "But this conversation can wait. There are bigger issues to handle tonight."

　　Angela clenched her fists. "You can't keep brushing me off."

　　"Stay. Out. Of. It," Julie repeated, each word a command. And with that, she turned on her heel, leaving Angela alone in the suffocating silence of the lounge.

　　In an off-limits section of the venue, away from the glittering chandeliers and the buzz of laughter, Edmund stood face-to-face with Michael. They stood in a dimly lit service corridor, their voices low but charged with tension.

　　Michael leaned casually against the wall, his smile dripping with smug confidence. "You've been awfully busy tonight, Edmund," he said, his tone mocking. "Balancing Julie's messes while playing knight in shining armor for her daughter. How exhausting!"

　　Edmund's expression remained impassive, but his fists clenched at his sides. "Get to the point, Michael."

　　Michael chuckled, pushing off the wall and stepping closer. "The point is, I have everything I need that could destroy Julie's reputation and yours. Counterfeit artwork? Money laundering? Even your questionable relationship with Angela? It's all so messy, isn't it?"

　　Edmund's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. "You don't know what you're talking about."

　　"Oh, don't I?" Michael said, his grin widening. "Come on, Edmund. You really think I haven't noticed the way you look at her? The way she looks at you? It's all so scandalous. The noble stepfather, the forbidden attraction. What would Julie think if she knew?"

　　Edmund didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned in, his voice like ice. "You're playing with fire, Michael. Enjoy your moment. It won't last."

　　Michael's smile faltered for a split second before he recovered, chuckling darkly. "Oh, I believe you, Edmund. But the thing is, I thrive on risk."

　　Edmund's gaze didn't waver. "Then let me make this clear, if you cross the line, you won't just lose your leverage. You'll lose everything."

　　"Well," he said, adjusting his cufflinks. "This has been enlightening. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Edmund."

　　Michael's laughter echoed as Edmund walked away, his mind racing. He needed to neutralize Michael, but he also needed to protect Angela and himself from the fallout.

　　Angela found herself in a quiet hallway, the noise of the gala muted behind heavy doors. The echoes of her argument with Julie still ringing in her ears. She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes and trying to steady her breathing. She barely noticed Edmund approaching until he spoke.

　　"Angela," he said softly, his voice laced with concern.

　　She opened her eyes to see him standing a few feet away, his usually composed face shadowed by something darker. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice sharper than intended.

　　"I could ask you the same thing," he replied, stepping closer.

　　"What do you want, Edmund?"

　　"I want to make sure you're okay," he said, stepping closer.

　　Angela let out a bitter laugh. "Okay? Do I look okay to you?"

　　Edmund hesitated. "I know tonight has been overwhelming, then you disappeared after talking to Julie. What happened?"

　　Angela clenched her fists. "What didn't happen?" she muttered. "She's keeping secrets. Everyone is. And I'm just supposed to sit here and play along?"

　　Edmund's expression softened. "You don't have to. I told you, Angela, I'll protect you."

　　She laughed bitterly. "Protect me? From what? From Julie? From Michael? Or from yourself?"

　　He stepped closer, his hand brushing her arm. "From all of it. Angela, you mean…"

　　"Don't," she said sharply, pulling away. "Don't say it."

　　For a moment, they just stared at each other, the unspoken words hanging between them like a storm cloud. The intensity in his eyes made her chest tighten, but before she could respond, movement behind him caught her eye. Elena.

　　Elena stepped out of the shadows, her sharp heels clicking against the marble floor. "Touching," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "But we have more important matters to discuss, don't we, Edmund?"

　　Angela stiffened, but Edmund passed an assuring look to her that he would take care of the matter and asked her to leave from there. She was not ready to leave, but she couldn't disobey Edmund either. So, passing a glance to Elena who was smirking at them, she left from there.

　　Once Angela was out of their sight, Edmund turned to face Elena. He had a cold look on his face. "What do you want, Elena?"

　　"I like that you came straight to the point." She smirked, holding up a slim folder. "Evidence. Proof of Julie's counterfeit operation. It's all in here. And I'm giving you a choice, Edmund. Cooperate with me, give me a statement about Julie, or face public exposure alongside her."

　　Edmund's expression didn't waver. "You think blackmail is going to work on me?"

　　"Call it persuasion," Elena said, her tone smooth. "The way I see it, you have more to lose than anyone else here. Your reputation. Your career. Angela."

　　Edmund's eyes darkened, but he kept his voice calm. "You're underestimating me."

　　"Am I?" Elena's smile widened. "We'll see."

　　With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Edmund alone.

　　Back in the ballroom, Elena stood by the entrance, her sharp eyes scanning the crowd. She caught sight of Julie leaving hurriedly, Michael not far behind. A predatory smile curved her lips.

　　"Got you," she murmured to herself, slipping through the doors and into the shadows.

　　The game was far from over.