"Don’t bother calling . Don’t text . Don’t show up near Aurora again, either of you. Otherwise, this video will reach your parents and your real fiancé."
He turned and walked out of the room without another glance.
Diana stood there trembling, her hands balled into fists.
"He’ll regret this," she hissed. "He’ll regret throwing away."
Aiden didn’t respond. He just sat back on the bed, the thrill of the mont gone, a cold pit forming in his stomach.
anwhile, Spencer walked down the stairs with that sa dangerous calm. The maids bowed low, not daring to et his eyes.
.......................................
The evening sunlight poured through the tall arched windows of the engagent venue, casting golden streaks along the marble floors.
Aurora stepped out of the car, dressed in a sleek, midnight-blue dress that clung to her fra in all the right ways.
A thin black veil covered the upper half of her face, lending her an air of mystery and elegance.
Her heels clicked softly as she walked beside Emily, who was dressed in a soft lavender gown.
The invitation had been addressed to "Miss Dawn."
When they reached the grand entrance, the suited guard glanced at the nas on his tablet.
His eyes widened slightly upon seeing the invitation, and he gave a respectful bow.
"Welco, Miss Dawn. Please, follow ."
Inside, the hall shimred with opulence—crystal chandeliers, golden railings, and hundreds of glittering guests dressed in their finest.
Laughter floated in the air, mingling with the soft notes of the piano playing in the background.
Aurora, however, didn’t care for the glamour.
She preferred the far corner near the tall windows, slightly obscured by a potted plant. It gave her a clear view of the entire room.
She took a seat and picked up a porcelain teacup, sipping the fragrant Earl Grey. Her fingers were elegant, composed. Her posture was poised.
Suddenly, a chanical voice buzzed in her ears like a whisper:
[The target is Adam Price. He is destined to soar and take over the tal company.]
Aurora’s hand froze mid-sip. Her eyes narrowed under the veil.
That voice...there was no mistaking it. It was the voice of Eleanor’s system. Which could only an one thing.
Eleanor was here.
Slowly, Aurora’s gaze swept across the ballroom.
There. Sitting near the center of the room in a powder-blue gown that shimred like moonlight. H
Her golden hair was styled in soft curls, pinned with sapphire hairpins.
She looked like a fairytale princess—calm, graceful, confident.
But Aurora knew better.
Behind that pretty face and fluttering lashes was a scher. And a very active one, by the sound of it.
The chanical voice continued, unaware it was broadcasting to the wrong girl:
[Task One: Perform in front of Adam Price. Task Two: Showcase beauty. Task Three: Save him from a chandelier. He would fall for you, and the mission will be completed. Success sequence is mandatory.]
Aurora let out a breathless chuckle, almost amused. So that was Eleanor’s mission tonight.
But wasn’t it incorrect to steal soone’s fiancé?
[Penalty: Losing one of the business skills.]
"Eh? System, why such a harsh penalty?" Eleanor groaned in frustration.
[The gains are even more if you succeed. Just to let you know. Once you win over Adam Price and beco his white moonlight, he will support and admire you from the side.]
[Reward: Five extra beauty points and Aurora’s business skill.]
Aurora paused, stunned by the reward.
Didn’t the system can’t replicate her skills till she had favorability toward Eleanor? So, how co he could copy her business skills?
And why was she special about her business skills?
"How desperate must you be to steal a teenager’s mind?" Aurora whispered to herself, lips twitching in mild disbelief.
Eleanor, unaware of her unintended broadcast, rolled her eyes at the system’s words. "Ugh, why would I need so 17-year-old’s business talent? Isn’t that overkill?"
The system’s voice was steady, robotic.
[Aurora’s business intelligence will allow her to enter the top ten richest lists before the age of twenty. Projected growth suggests exponential increase with every new enterprise. Her skills will be invaluable when you enter the entertainnt industry and begin handling endorsent contracts, investnts, and dia rights.]
Aurora tilted her head slightly, amused. So even the system admitted she was that good. How flattering.
Eleanor adjusted her gown and patted her cheeks for a blush-like glow, preparing for the first part of her "performance."
anwhile, Adam Price—tall, polished, and currently talking to a group of executives—seed oblivious to the orchestrated plot heading his way.
Aurora leaned back in her chair, swirling the tea in her cup.
She couldn’t see Eleanor’s thoughts, but the system’s instructions were all she needed. She’d already mapped out the upcoming moves.
1. Eleanor would draw attention with a musical performance—perhaps sing or play the piano.
2. She’d make sure Adam noticed her beauty and poise.
3. Finally, so chandelier—likely loosened or tampered with—would fall, and she’d shove him out of harm’s way like a heroine in a drama.
She just needs to disrupt them to make Eleanor lose one of her skill sets.
Aurora sat quietly in her corner, the rim of her teacup brushing her lips as she watched Eleanor rise from her seat.
Sure enough, the blonde was making her way to the grand piano stationed in the center of the hall.
Aurora smirked.
"Task One: Perform in front of Adam Price," the system had said.
Eleanor sat at the piano, adjusted her posture, and gave a sweet, humble smile to the gathering crowd. Adam Price turned to look. Her fingers hovered above the keys.
Then, suddenly—
THUNK!
The lid of the piano slamd shut.
Everyone jumped.
Eleanor let out a yelp and snatched her fingers back just in ti.
The pianist who had been scheduled to play earlier rushed forward, scolding her politely but firmly for touching the reserved instrunt.
Aurora quietly tucked a hairpin back into her bun, smiling into her tea. That hairpin, minutes ago, had jamd the piano’s hinge, making it snap closed when opened too far.
Strike one.
Eleanor, flustered but not defeated, quickly turned to the crowd. "I guess I’ll sing instead!" she chirped, forcing a giggle.
Aurora’s eyes sparkled.
As Eleanor began to sing, a soft lody filled the air—but just as she reached the chorus, a piercing squeak echoed.
Then again. Squeeeeeak.
The mic she held buzzed loudly, then emitted a sharp whine that made guests wince.
Eleanor froze.
Aurora took another sip of tea, glancing at the soundboard at the back.
A waiter she’d spoken to earlier discreetly adjusted a knob—one that Aurora had asked him to ss with in exchange for a generous tip.
Strike two.
Eleanor gave up the song halfway, faking a bashful laugh and returning to her seat, cheeks flushed.
"Showcasing beauty" was next.
Eleanor decided to take a break for 30 minutes to let the previous embarrassnt pass before she made her next move, and it gave Aurora enough ti to make her next move.
Aurora watched as Eleanor subtly got up again, walking with exaggerated grace.
She passed by Adam Price, who was just getting a drink at the refreshnt table.
Eleanor deliberately dropped her clutch.
Adam, polite as always, bent to help.
That’s when the sachet Aurora had slipped into Eleanor’s bag earlier was activated.
A pffffft noise followed.
And then—a faint but undeniable stench.
Eleanor’s eyes widened in horror.
Gas leak? No.
Rotten eggs?
Even worse.
Adam’s nose crinkled. The people near them instinctively took a step back. Whispers spread.
"Did she—?"
"It wasn’t !" Eleanor snapped, turning pink.
Aurora didn’t even try to hide her grin this ti. Strike three.
Finally, it was ti for the pièce de résistance: the chandelier.
Aurora stood and adjusted her dress, then casually made her way toward the central staircase.
Eleanor, still determined, was eyeing the chandelier above the seating area.
The system will likely help Elenaor by dropping the chandelier once Adam is in place.
As Aurora ascended the central staircase with practiced elegance, she could already see
Eleanor positioned herself near Adam, batting her lashes and laughing at sothing that clearly wasn’t funny.
Her eyes kept flicking upward, to the chandelier that dangled like an expensive trap above the plush velvet seating.
[Target in position. Chandelier drop in 3... 2...]
Aurora plucked a small remote from her clutch. It wasn’t fancy, just a basic wireless controller she borrowed from the lighting technician earlier.
One polite conversation and a fake smile had earned her full access to the ballroom’s "special effects."
[1...]
Click.
The chandelier above Eleanor... didn’t move. It was instead withdrawn into the ceiling while Eleanor, unaware of the changes, rushed to Adam Price and pushed him away, shouting.
"Watch out."
Thud.
Eleanor looked at the ceiling in shock and showed a surprised expression as if she was about to die, but what she saw genuinely surprised her.
The ceiling had no chandelier at all.
Silence. The entire hall fell silent when they saw Eleanor’s crazy action.
So even threw sympathetic glances in Eleanor’s direction, thinking she was a crazy woman.
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