Taking a deep breath, Selina forced a smile, a sweet, disarming smile that she knew no one could resist. She stepped closer, her fingers wrapping around Jake's arm. The sudden softness in her demeanor startled him.
"Jake," she said, her voice almost a purr. She lifted his hand to her cheek, resting it there as if savoring his touch. "Maybe I've been too hard on you. After all, you've done so much for me and my family."
Jake's eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion flickering behind his calm façade. But before he could speak, Selina leaned into his hand, her smile widening.
"Let's take a walk together tonight," she suggested, her tone light and almost playful. "After the engagement party. Just you and me."
Jake blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her behavior. "Did you hit your head before I came out here, Selina?" he asked, his tone laced with disbelief.
Selina laughed softly, the sound so genuine it even surprised her. She slid her arms around him, pulling him into an unexpected embrace. Jake stood stiffly, his hands hovering in the air, unsure whether to return the gesture.
Her head rested against his chest, Selina's mind raced. Let him think I've fallen for him. Let him believe I'm just another pawn in his game. He won't see the trap until it's too late.
Jake opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, a voice interrupted them.
"Well, isn't this cozy?"
Both turned to see Rebel standing in the doorway, his expression caught somewhere between amusement and disbelief.
"Sorry to interrupt whatever this is," Rebel said with a grin, gesturing vaguely between them, "but it's time to get my cousin ready. The preparations are almost complete, it's just the two of you left."
Selina stepped back quickly, smoothing her dress and avoiding Jake's gaze. Jake's expression shifted into his usual mask of cool indifference, though a flicker of confusion lingered in his eyes.
Rebel's grin widened. "Selina, aunt's looking for you to help you get ready."
Selina nodded, offering Jake a quick, unreadable glance before walking past Rebel and out of the balcony.
Rebel waited until she was gone before turning to Jake, his grin softening into something more thoughtful. "She's acting differently, huh?"
Jake's eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you getting at?"
Rebel shrugged, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Nothing. Just saying, for someone as cold-hearted as she claims to be, she sure seems... affectionate."
Jake didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the spot where Selina had stood moments ago.
"Come on," Rebel said, clapping Jake on the shoulder. "Let's get you ready for your engagement."
Jake followed him silently, his thoughts a swirl of intrigue and unease.
★★★
The moment Selina stepped into her room, a maid greeted her with a cheerful tone. "My lady, your mother is waiting for you inside."
Selina hesitated, her hand lingering on the door. Inside, she could hear her mother humming softly, the sound accompanied by the faint rustle of fabric. Pushing the door open, she found her mother moving around the room, adjusting cushions, straightening the curtains, and smoothing out the edges of the bedspread. There was an almost childlike joy in her movements, and her smile radiated pride, the kind of pride only a mother could have when imagining her daughter's bright future.
But Selina felt no joy. If anything, her heart sank further into the void that had been growing inside her. Her mother's happiness was like a blade, a painful reminder of everything that was being forced upon her. She stood silently at the threshold, wondering what her family had done to deserve this fate.
Her mother finally noticed her standing by the door. "Ah, there you are! I've been looking for you everywhere," she said warmly, beckoning Selina inside. "Come, my dear. We need to get you ready."
Selina nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. She couldn't bring herself to ruin her mother's happiness, even if it was built on a foundation of lies and broken dreams. She stepped forward, her movements mechanical, as though she were a puppet being dragged along by invisible strings.
"Go freshen up in the bathroom while I find something that complements your complexion," her mother said with a smile, heading toward the wardrobe to rummage through the rows of gowns.
Selina turned and walked toward the bathroom, her footsteps heavy. As she entered and shut the door behind her, she froze. Stella, her personal maid, was standing there, her expression equally shocked.
"My lady! You're here," Stella said, quickly bowing.
Selina's eyes narrowed, anger flashing through her. "Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere since yesterday! And now you just appear out of nowhere?" Her voice was sharp, laced with the frustration she had been holding back.
Stella looked down, guilt shadowing her features. "Forgive me, my lady. I had to rush to my village. My mother fell ill, and I didn't want to disturb your rest. You were still asleep when I left."
Selina's anger faltered, replaced by worry. She sighed, running a hand through her hair. Everyone was dealing with their own burdens. She couldn't blame Stella for prioritizing her family. "How is she now?" she asked, her tone softer as she began to undress.
"She's doing better, my lady," Stella replied, moving to Selina's side with soap and a sponge. "The healer said she'll recover with time."
Selina stepped into the bathtub, the warm water embracing her like a gentle balm. The scent of lavender filled the room, and for a brief moment, her tense muscles began to relax. "If we're alone, call me by my name," she said softly, her voice hollow as though something within her had broken.
Stella hesitated, sensing the emptiness in Selina's tone. Her hands trembled slightly as she began washing Selina's arms. "Selina," she ventured cautiously, "is something wrong?"
Selina's gaze was fixed on the ceiling, her expression distant. Finally, her eyes met Stella's, and her voice trembled with barely contained emotion. "Everything changed when Jake came into our lives. Our peaceful family... it was torn apart right under my nose. And now my little sister she's out there, missing, refusing to let anyone look for her."
Her breath hitched as she clenched her fists beneath the water, her knuckles turning white. "It's my fault. I should have seen it coming. I should have protected her."
Stella listened intently, her heart breaking at the pain in Selina's voice. She understood now why Mandy had been crying in the corner earlier. The family's wounds ran deep.
Selina's voice dropped, cold and sharp. "The person who made my sister feel such pain... I want them to suffer. I want them to feel a torment so deep it makes hell look like mercy."
She slammed her fist against the edge of the bathtub, the sound echoing through the room. The pain shot up her arm, but it was nothing compared to the ache in her chest. Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. The rage and helplessness inside her swirled like a storm, and she felt like she might drown in it.