Seeing Persis glare at her, Ophelia immediately flinched. She remembered clearly that she had told Persis her brother would no longer return to Greece.Yet, behind Persis’s back, she had secretly contacted him to come home after hearing that Persis was visiting. What she hadn’t expected was to discover that Persis was already engaged.‘Shoot,’ Ophelia thought, quickly looking away.Not only had she forgotten to warn her brother not to return, but she had also failed to mention Persis’s engagement to Tedmond. Now it didn’t matter—it was too late. All she could do was act normal.Ophelia turned toward her brother, forcing a bright smile.“I didn’t expect you to come in so soon. I—uh, we just finished showing Persis and Bianca around.”Her brother’s eyes settled on Persis, and a broad, genuine smile spread across his face, warm and welcoming.“It’s good to see you back,” he said easily. “I thought you weren’t going to revisit Greece.”Persis met his gaze with a composed smile.“Yes. I sh

Across the hall, Dione stood among a cluster of guests, a faint frown tugging at her lips. Normally, she excelled at managing her expression, but that skill always seemed to falter when it came to Alexander.It wasn’t just that he ignored her; it was the indifference, the effortless coldness that cut deeper than cruelty. And though it infuriated her, she was determined. One way or another, she would have him.“What happened?” one of the women in the group asked.Dione smoothed her features into a soft smile and shook her head lightly. She knew they were asking her a question, even though they must have seen her speaking with Alexander. They only wanted to hear it from her own mouth. But there was no way she would admit that she had left on her own or that he had responded to her like that. Besides, it wasn’t as if they had actually heard the conversation.“Nothing. I only greeted Alexander, but he had to take a call, so he excused himself.”The women exchanged skeptical glances. None

The moment Dione landed, the sharp sound of fabric sticking to glue echoed through the hall. Her eyes widened in horror, her body stiff as she realized she was firmly stuck.She hadn’t expected Persis to put her directly on the chair. She had anticipated a slap or a glare, thinking she could twist the situation to her advantage. But Persis had simply placed her on the seat, avoiding both of the options they had planned.‘That bitch!’ Dione cursed silently.Her stunned friends recovered first.“Dione!” they shrieked, rushing to her side. Their shocked voices rippled through the hall, turning heads and sparking murmurs among the guests.Nyssa spun toward Persis, eyes blazing. “How could you?! She invited you so kindly, and this is how you repay her?!”Thalia clutched Dione’s arm, glaring. “You bullied her just because she was welcoming? What kind of person does that?”Persis ar

The room fell into a charged silence as Ophelia’s voice rang clear, commanding every heart to listen. She let the pause linger, her gaze sweeping across the sea of faces before finally speaking.“This gathering tonight,” she announced, her voice carrying both grace and authority, “is not just another event. It is a celebration. A welcome.” She let her eyes shift toward Persis, and at once, the spotlights tilted, spilling golden light over her figure.“Tonight, we welcome back Persis Damon to Greece.”Gasps and murmurs rippled instantly through the crowd, whispers threading through the silence as people exchanged startled looks. The name carried weight, history, and a story many thought long buried.All eyes turned to Persis, wait

The music drifted low in the background, elegant and soothing, as Persis sat across from Ophelia with a glass of deep red wine in hand. The golden light of the chandeliers bathed them both in warmth, though Persis’s eyes kept straying toward the hallway leading to the children’s section.She was worried about Bianca. In all the time Persis had been with her, she hadn’t once seen Bianca call another child a friend. No one ever visited her at the main estate either. It was as if Bianca lived in her own little world, one where she had no one but Persis and the adults around her.Ophelia leaned gracefully against her chair, swirling her drink lazily. “You’re awfully restless,” she noted, her gaze sharp despite her casual tone. “What’s bothering you?”Persis set her glass down lightly. “I think I should check on Bianca. She’s been gone for a while.”Ophelia arched a brow, lips curving in faint amusement. “You worry too much. The place is secure—no one gets past the staff here. Nothing will