Bae stepped into her apartment, the door clicking shut behind her with a heavy finality. The familiar scent of lavender wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil swirling in her mind.
She dropped her bag by the door and trudged to her bedroom, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle onto her shoulders like a thick blanket.
As she flopped onto the bed, the cool sheets felt like a small reprieve, but her mind remained restless.
She turned her gaze to the window, where the night sky sprawled out like a deep velvet canvas sprinkled with stars.
But instead of peace, all she could see was Zanier's face—the memory of his cold demeanor and the way he had manipulated her echoing painfully in her thoughts.
With a frustrated sigh, Bae pushed herself up and made her way to the bathroom. Standing before the mirror, the soft glow of the overhead light illuminated her features, casting gentle shadows across her face.
But beneath that soft light, her heart burned with an unrelenting fury and a thirst for vengeance.
"Zanier, I'll make sure you pay your dues for taking advantage of me!" she thought, her nails digging into her palm, creating small crescents as a physical reminder of her anger.
The sensation brought her a moment of clarity, fueling her resolve.
"But first, I need to start with the main one," she reminded herself, her thoughts racing as she reached for her contact lens case.
With a practiced hand, she removed her lenses and switched to her glasses, the world sharpening into focus as she adjusted the frames on her nose.
"And to do that, I need to confront Penny and reclaim what is rightfully mine," she mused, the intensity of her gaze reflecting the determination building inside her.
The memory of her mother, Silva, and their grandfather Frankford's legacy flooded her mind, a bittersweet reminder of the power that had once been within her grasp.
The next morning, Bae strolled into Penny's office, the soft click of her heels barely registering over the hum of the building.
She eased herself into Penny's leather office chair, crossing her legs carefully as if she belonged there.
The sleek glass desk before her shimmered in the early light, and Bae let her fingers glide over the surface as she waited, her expression calm yet calculating.
When Penny entered the room, she froze. Her face twisted in shock at the sight of Bae lounging in her chair, the very image of control.
Bae's lips curled into a smile, sweet on the surface but brimming with an undertone of menace.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Penny barked, her voice rising as she rushed toward the desk, hands clenched into fists.
She tossed her hand in a dismissive gesture as if trying to wave away a nightmare that had come to life.
"Do I need a reason to visit my dear sister?" Bae's voice was smooth, but the venom laced in her words was unmistakable.
The mask of her friendly smile barely concealed the bitterness beneath it.
Penny's eyes darted nervously, her breath quickening. This wasn't the naive, gentle Bae she once knew.
Something in her posture, in the chilling calmness of her tone, sent a wave of fear crawling up Penny's spine.
"Bae cut that damn act out!" Penny snapped, her voice trembling. Her bravado faltered under the icy gaze of her sister. "And get out of my office right now!"
Her thoughts raced wildly, the panic setting in as she struggled to maintain control.
How dare she enter my office without— Her inner tirade was abruptly interrupted by Bae's cutting voice.
"Your office?" Bae's lips twitched into a smirk, her words dripping with mockery.
She leaned back in the chair, the image of confidence and defiance. "Take a humble pill, Penny."
Penny's face flushed with anger, but Bae continued before she could respond, the sweetness in her voice replaced by a cold edge. "Because you're currently just filling in on behalf of Mother."
As Bae stood, the air in the room seemed to thicken. Her once-smiling face hardened, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer, her presence overpowering.
"And you know what I find very strange, dear sister?"
She leaned in, her breath grazing Penny's ear, her voice a venomous hiss.
"How Mother is suddenly paralyzed and can't speak... though she was perfectly fine before I left."
The words hit Penny like a slap, each syllable cutting into her with the precision of a dagger.
"that's because of you, idiot!" she snapped, her tone sharp and accusatory. "Her health deteriorated because of you!"
She stood firm, refusing to let her sister intimidate her, even though her heart raced with anxiety.
The words tumbled out, desperate to regain some control over the situation.
"Oh really?" Bae's voice was light, laced with mockery as she arched an eyebrow.
She didn't buy a word of it. Her lips quirked into a small, cynical smile, her gaze boring into Penny's with unsettling calmness.
"Trying to play the blaming game now, are we?" Bae leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
The soft glow of sunlight through the office window cast shadows on her face, accentuating the cold amusement in her smirk.
"But, dear," she continued, her voice dipping lower, almost a whisper that snaked into Penny's ears like a chilling breeze. "That might've worked on the old Bae."
Penny's eyes widened, her throat tightening as those words sank in. She blinked, momentarily caught off guard, trying to piece together the person standing before her, so different from the girl she used to manipulate.
Bae smirked knowingly, reading every flicker of surprise in Penny's expression.
"But good try, though," she said brightly, her voice suddenly bubbly and cheerful as if they were sharing some inside joke.
The switch in her tone sent a cold shiver down Penny's spine. Bae's hand playfully tapped Penny's arm, the gesture almost mocking in its sweetness.
Penny's fury boiled beneath the surface, each of Bae's words stoking the flames of her anger. The blend of sinister undertones and playful sarcasm felt like a twisted game, and it made her skin crawl.
Just when she thought she could shake off the tension, Bae leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Anyway, let's cut to the chase." Bae sighed, her playful demeanor slipping as she fixed Penny with a serious look, a storm brewing behind her eyes.
The air thickened with anticipation, and Penny's heart raced as Bae continued, "I have one offer for you!"
The words hissed into Penny's ear, causing a chill to skitter down her spine. Anxiety clawed at her, creeping in like a shadow.
She bit her lip, frustration bubbling over as she shot Bae an annoyed glare, the heat of anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"Keep that offer to yourself," she snapped, her voice laced with rage, each word a dagger aimed at her sister.
"Because I'm not interested in what you have to offer." Penny knew, deep down, that this had everything to do with their mother's inheritance—the one thing she would fight to keep.
"Too bad you don't have an opinion, sis." Bae's voice dripped with mockery, a smile dancing on her lips that only fueled Penny's irritation.
"Anyways, you'll hand over Mother's company—willingly or forcefully." The vague threat hung in the air like a thick fog, oppressive and suffocating.
Bae's tone shifted, transforming her words into a challenge. "It's your call, dear sister!"
A tense silence enveloped them, stretching uncomfortably between their two figures.
Penny dug her nails into her palm, fighting the urge to lash out, the impulse to physically silence her sister battling with her desire to maintain composure.
"I could kill Bae right now," she thought, fury coursing through her veins as she glared at her.
"Bae, don't get too excited, because I'll never hand you this company!" she vowed silently, her mind racing with determination.
Bae's mind whirred with anticipation as she stepped out of the company building, a sly smile spreading across her face.
"Of course, she's going to talk to her baby daddy," she thought, a wicked thrill coursing through her.
She knew Penny would undoubtedly involve Brag in her schemes, and that was exactly what Bae wanted.
This welcome-back surprise is going to shake the Frankford family to its core.
As she walked away, a sense of satisfaction washed over her.
"And as for Penny? What a damn idiot!" She chuckled softly to herself, knowing her sister had no idea of the storm brewing just beneath the surface.
"But I'll make her learn the hard way."
With each step, Bae felt the weight of her plans solidifying, the reality of the Frankford family's turmoil fueling her resolve.