I clenched the newspaper tighter as memories from my past life flooded my mind.
I had attended this very party, filled with excitement and naivety, thinking I was about to step into the glamorous world of the elite. But Ava had already set her trap. She had tampered with my dress, ensuring it would tear at the worst possible moment. To make matters worse, she had someone slip a little drug into my drink, causing me to stumble.
And then it happened.
Right in the center of that grand ballroom, my dress ripped, and I fell. My half-exposed body became a spectacle, the flash of cameras blinding me. By the next morning, my humiliating photos had spread like wildfire, making me the joke of the town.
That night marked the beginning of my nightmare.
But this time…
A slow, dangerous smile curled on my lips.
This time, I would retaliate.
I wasn't going to that party as a victim. No, I had a completely different goal in mind.
I was going to make Damon Carven Zichen mine.
"My Dark Prince," I whispered, amusement lacing my tone.
Then, unable to hold it in, I laughed—a low, confident laugh filled with the thrill of revenge.
My laughter echoed through the room, dark and filled with anticipation.
I had spent my past life being their puppet, their fool. But not this time. This time, I would be the one pulling the strings.
I threw the newspaper aside and sat up. If I was going to face Damon Carven Zichen tonight, I needed to be prepared. He wasn't just some ordinary businessman—he was a man of power, influence, and ruthlessness. If I wanted him, I had to be more than just a beautiful woman in a dress. I had to be someone who could stand beside him, someone who could intrigue him.
I walked to the vanity, staring at my reflection. The girl who had once been weak, gullible, and easily manipulated was gone. In her place was a woman reborn—a woman ready to take back everything that had been stolen from her.
I reached for my phone and dialed a number I never thought I would.
"Hello?" a deep voice answered.
"It's me," I said smoothly. "I need a favor."
There was a pause. Then, a chuckle. "I was wondering when you'd call, Miss Lisa."
This man owed me a debt—a big one. And tonight, I would collect.
As I ended the call, my eyes gleamed with determination.
Let Ava try to humiliate me again. Let Zhang Gary watch from the sidelines with that same empty gaze. Let them think I was still the same foolish girl.
Because tonight, at Damon Carven Zichen's party, the game would change.
And I would make sure I was the one controlling it.
As night fell, I stood before my closet, running my fingers over the luxurious dresses hanging neatly inside. In my past life, I had chosen an elegant but modest gown—one that suited the naive, innocent girl I had been.
But tonight was different.
Tonight, I wasn't going as a foolish young lady waiting for her fiancé's affection. Tonight, I was stepping into the lion's den as a player, not prey.
I reached for a sleek, midnight-black dress—one that clung to my curves yet oozed power and sophistication. The slit running up my leg hinted at danger, while the open-back design was both daring and graceful. This was the kind of dress a woman wore when she was hunting.