Bae walked back toward her small room, her earlier excitement fading with every step. Penny's coldness weighed heavily on her heart.
It had been years since they had truly spoken, despite living on the same estate, and the warmth they once shared seemed all but a distant memory.
As the evening light began to fade into a deep amber hue, casting long shadows across the grounds, something caught her eye.
A sleek procession of black cars glided through the grand gates, their polished surfaces gleaming under the dying light. Bae stopped in her tracks, her curiosity piqued.
"Who are they?" she whispered to herself, watching intently as the cars made their way up the winding drive, cutting through the manicured gardens of the estate.
At the estate's grand entrance, a polished black shoe stepped out of one of the cars, the heel clicking sharply against the stone pavement.
A silver chain glinted in the dim light, draped elegantly over the figure's tailored coat. The man who emerged seemed almost unreal—his pale skin accentuated by the dusk, his black hair falling in sleek strands to his nape, with side-swept bangs framing his face.
A silver chain hung from his collar, complementing the intricate designs woven into his long, dark coat.
His silver eyes gleamed coldly as they swept over the estate, indifferent and detached. His expression never faltered as his guard held the door open for him.
Without so much as a glance, he strode forward, each step deliberate, exuding an aura of control and power.
Inside the grand foyer, the warmth of the estate's golden lighting contrasted with his icy presence.
He waved off his butler with a flick, focusing now on the figures awaiting him.
Silva, his aunt, stood by the entrance, her pale complexion soft under the glow of the chandelier. Beside her was a young woman with long, silky black hair cascading down her waist.
Her black pupils glinted with something sinister, though her smile remained deceptively warm.
"I'm so happy to see you, Zanier," Silva greeted him, her voice laced with a feigned sweetness as she adjusted her shawl, hurriedly preparing herself to welcome him.
Penny, always dutiful, wrapped her mother's shawl tighter around her shoulders, her eyes never leaving Zanier. The iciness in her smile was barely concealed as she tilted her head in greeting.
"To think you'd come for Brag's wedding—that's quite the surprise," Silva added, gazing up at him, her eyes searching his unreadable face. Zanier, cold as ever, offered nothing more than a slight nod.
"Same here," came a softer voice from the shadows, his mother Latina stepping forward with her usual poise. "To see him here is surely a surprise."
Zanier's gaze shifted briefly to his mother, acknowledging her with the same detached coldness before turning his attention back to the room, his presence an unsettling contrast to the warmth and luxury of the estate.
As Silva and Latina continued their pleasant chatter, Penny's gaze was fixed on Zanier. His cold demeanor intrigued her, every icy glance from his silver pupils sending a shiver down her spine.
He was striking—his pale skin and commanding presence left her mesmerized, and she found herself unable to tear her eyes away from him.
The faintest hint of a smile curled on her lips as she prepared to introduce herself, eager to make an impression.
But just as she was about to step forward, her eyes caught something—or rather, someone—unwelcome.
From a shadowed corner near a hidden door, Bae stood awkwardly, her wide eyes filled with wonder and amusement at the lavish scene unfolding before her.
The opulence of the Frankford estate seemed to dazzle her, her curiosity drawn to the sheer wealth and grandiosity that filled the room.
"What the hell is she doing here?!" Penny's thoughts raged as she struggled to keep her expression composed.
Her chest tightened with anger—she had assumed Bae was safely tucked away in her room, out of sight and out of mind.
Maintaining her carefully practiced facade, Penny smiled at Zanier, though her mind churned with frustration.
She heard her mother's voice break through her internal fury.
"This is my daughter, Penny," Silva introduced her with a wide smile, gesturing towards Penny with a proud gleam in her eyes.
"And I hope you both get along soon."
Silva clapped her hands lightly, her tone brimming with excitement.
"After all, she'll be taking over my business after she graduates. It would be good for you two to partner up and get to know each other now."
Penny could feel her mother's expectations, and though her face remained pleasant, her heart raced. She was about to speak when Zanier's cold gaze flickered towards her, barely acknowledging her presence.
His expression remained indifferent, the same icy distance in his eyes as he regarded her with little interest.
The moment stretched on awkwardly, Penny's forced smile stiffening.
Before Penny could react, the grand doors of the hall opened, and all eyes shifted. Brag, the groom, walked in with his new bride, Cassia, on his arm.
The air seemed to fill with an immediate sense of joy as guests turned to welcome the couple. Cassia's soft, innocent smile lit up the room, her delicate wave making her seem almost angelic.
Meanwhile, Brag's charming smile radiated confidence, as if he owned the moment.
But beneath the surface of joy, an unspoken tension brewed. Zanier's cold, detached demeanor clashed with Brag's effortless charm, while Cassia's innocence felt like a mask of its own.
Penny, standing between it all, couldn't help but feel the weight of her facade.
As the wedding party unfolded, the tension between Zanier, Brag, and Cassia hung in the air like a thick fog.
Zanier, feeling the weight of the moment, quietly excused himself from the grand room, his polished shoes echoing softly against the marble floor as he made his way toward the exit.
As he stepped into the hallway, something caught his attention. Bae stood just outside the wedding hall, her eyes wide with fascination.
She was mesmerized by the opulence surrounding her—the glimmer of crystal chandeliers, the delicate floral arrangements. Her gaze darted between the couple at the center of attention, Brag and Cassia.
Brag, with his pale skin and striking black hair falling elegantly to his nape, exuded charm. His warm black eyes captivated everyone, drawing the audience in with a magnetic energy.
Cassia, radiant beside him, had flowing black hair and pale skin that glowed under the soft lighting. Her ocean-blue eyes sparkled with innocence, offering the guests a breath of fresh air amid the grandeur.
Suddenly, Bae felt a piercing gaze on her. She turned to see Penny glaring from across the hallway, fury etched into her features.
Panic surged through Bae, and she flinched, instinctively retreating down the corridor.
"I can't let her notice me, not for a second!" Penny thought, her anger flaring as she hurried toward the door. She needed to divert Zanier's attention away from Bae, to keep her hidden.