Elena’s POV

The Chen family’s victory celebration banquet was held with extravagant fanfare.

Crystal chandeliers flooded the venue with blinding light, reflecting off champagne glasses and diamond jewelry, illuminating faces filled with ambition, calculation, and barely concealed greed. Laughter and polite conversation intertwined, every smile carefully measured, every toast carrying hidden intent.

To an outsider, it was a grand celebration.

To me, it was a carefully prepared ...