The event was held at a luxury hotel in the city center. The grand ballroom shimmered with crystal chandeliers and orchestral music. Vella wore a long ivory gown, her hair styled in a neat updo. As she stepped out of the hotel room, Victor was already waiting for her in the corridor. His black suit fit him perfectly,the dark grey tie making his eyes look sharper. "You look beautiful," he said succinctly.

"Thank you." Vella tried to keep her tone neutral, but her heart was beating erratically.

They walked side by side towards the ballroom. From the outside, they looked like a harmonious young couple. No one knew that every step they took was the result of a fragile agreement—and that every inch of space between them held a dangerous spark. The music played softly.Guests danced, sipped wine, talked about business and entertainment projects.

Her mother arrived with their stepfather, smiling happily. "You two must meet some relatives. They all want to meet our handsome son and beautiful daughter."

Vella gave a small smile, holding back her nerves. Victor, on the other hand, played his part perfectly—friendly, charming, and occasionally looking at her in a way that made her breath almost stop.

"Vella, this is Uncle Robert," her mother introduced. "He works at a major magazine company, maybe he can help your modeling career later."

Before Vella could answer, Victor interjected in a calm voice, "Thank you, Uncle. But I'll make sure Vella chooses the right projects. She won't be careless with the wrong people again." The gentle tone sounded polite to others,but to Vella—it was a warning.

Victor's hand on the small of her back felt warm, but the subtle pressure made it hard for her to move. She tried to keep smiling,but her heartbeat was unsteady.

Victor tilted his head, whispering in her ear without changing his expression in front of the guests,

"Smile. They're watching."

And Vella smiled—because she had to.

After the long dinner, they finally sat at the main table. The soft spotlight fell on Vella's face. She stared at her wine glass, trying to regulate her breathing.

"Why do you look so tense?" Victor asked softly.

"I'm just tired."

"Tired, or wanting to run away?"

His gaze made Vella freeze. She swallowed and looked away.

"Don't talk like that here."

Victor leaned slightly towards her, his voice low but sharp. "You know why I agreed to come to this event? Because I want the world to know you're in a safe place."

"Safe?" Vella laughed softly, almost bitterly. "Or imprisoned?"

Victor didn't answer. He just raised his glass, looking at their reflection on its surface.

"Sometimes, the difference between the two is just a matter of who you believe."

As the event ended and guests began to leave the ballroom, Vella tried to calm herself in the hotel garden. The night air was fresh, the streetlights reflecting on the surface of a small pond. She took a deep breath, letting the tension slowly melt away. However,footsteps behind her made her turn.

Victor stood there, his jacket already off, hands in his pockets. "Why are you alone?"

"I needed some air."

He walked closer, stopping just a few steps away from her.

"So you're running away again?"

"I'm not running away."

Victor looked at her for a long time. "You know, every time you say that, I find it harder to believe."

Vella turned away, looking at the water's surface rippling in the wind. "I want us to truly be a normal family, Victor."

"And I want you to stop pretending you don't want anything from me." He said it without raising his voice. But the sentence shook the air between them.

Vella looked at him, not knowing whether to be angry or afraid. Victor looked back,then bent down slightly, his eyes softening. "I know my ways are wrong. But every time I see you, I feel the world stops for a little longer. That's not something I can control." Vella didn't answer.

She just looked at the light reflecting in Victor's eyes—a light that came from either love, obsession, or both.

Just as the silence began to feel heavy, Vella's phone vibrated inside her purse.

A new message came from the same mysterious number: "Be careful. There's someone at this event who knows about Victor's past."

Vella looked up, staring towards the ballroom door behind them. The crowd of guests was thinning, but among the remaining people, someone was standing and staring at her—a man who looked familiar.

Victor followed her gaze, his face immediately turning tense.

Victor's hand gripped her shoulder. "Don't look at him,"he said flatly.

"Who is he, Victor?"

Victor's smile was thin and cold. "Someone who should no longer exist in this world."