Steeling herself, Via rose from the bed, her silk nightgown cascading around her like liquid gold. If she was going to survive in this world, she needed to understand it. And there was only one place to start, the Master of the Shin family.
She moved with confidence, ignoring the wary gazes of the servants as she strode through the grand hallways of the mansion. The place was immaculate, a testament to wealth and control, but there was no warmth in its beauty, only an air of calculated elegance. Just like its inhabitants.
When she entered the study room, her father, Master Shin, barely glanced up from the documents spread before him. His desk was large, made of dark mahogany, and behind him loomed an entire wall of bookshelves, each filled with leather-bound volumes that reeked of power.
"You're awake," he stated flatly, flipping a page as if her return from the dead was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Via studied him. This was her father—Via Shin's father, and yet he displayed not even a shred of surprise or concern. She had expected shock, maybe a demand for answers, but there was none. Instead, he simply continued with his business as if she had never died at all.
"Yes," she replied smoothly, stepping forward. "And I assume you have no questions."
He finally looked up, his gaze sharp and unreadable. "Should I?"
A test. That was what this was.
She met his gaze without hesitation. "No."
A flicker of something crossed his face–approval, perhaps. He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "Good. Then let's not waste time on pointless discussions. There is an issue within the company. Your presence is required."
Just like that. No acknowledgment of the impossible, no sentiment. Just business.
Via straightened, keeping her expression calm. "Tell me what needs to be done."
Master Shin pushed a document toward her. "Vierra has made a mistake. Fix it."
The name made her pause. Vierra?
Her brows furrowed slightly as she picked up the document, the unfamiliar name lingering in her mind. Who was Vierra? She flipped through the papers, scanning the contents, trying to focus on the business matter at hand, but the nagging thought remained. Should she know who this person was?
Then it clicked. Oh... Vierra. The half-sister.
Realization hit her like a slow wave, and she suppressed the instinct to react outwardly. Of course. She was supposed to know this name. In this world, in Via Shin's world, Vierra was her younger half-sister.
She forced herself to return her attention to the document in hand. A business deal, a critical one was slipping through their fingers due to a misstep on Vierra's part. If it wasn't handled properly, their company would suffer a significant loss.
She smiled coldly, allowing the mask of confidence to settle over her. "Consider it done."
From the corner of her eye, she noticed the way her father watched her, not with affection, but with intrigue. As if she was something new, something unexpected.
Well, if they wanted a villainess, she would give them one.
She turned sharply, leaving the study to handle the matter at hand. It was time to show them that Via Shin was not someone to be taken lightly.
As she stepped out of the study, she nearly collided with a woman in an expensive designer dress. The woman stopped in her tracks, tilting her head slightly, her perfectly manicured fingers brushing against her pearl earrings.
Vierra.
She was stunning in a way that only those born into wealth could be—flawless skin, delicate features, and an effortless grace that spoke of high society. But there was something else, too. A sharpness in her gaze, an arrogance in the way she carried herself. She was elegance wrapped in entitlement.
"Oh?" Vierra arched a brow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "The dead has risen."
Via smirked. "Disappointed?"
Vierra laughed lightly, as if the very idea was ridiculous. "Not at all. But you do look... different."
"Perhaps you just never paid enough attention before." Via stepped aside, gesturing toward the door. "I wouldn't want to keep you from your precious father."
Vierra's lips curled into a slow smile. "Ah, but unlike you, dear sister, I don't need an invitation to see him."
Via tilted her head. "And yet, it seems he was too busy discussing your failure to summon you first."
The amusement in Vierra's eyes flickered into something colder. "Excuse me?"
"Your mistake, Vierra. The one I have to clean up." Via tapped the document in her hand. "Our dear father was quite clear. You made a mess, and now it's my responsibility to fix it."
Vierra's expression hardened, but she quickly recovered, letting out a small, dismissive laugh. "Well, I suppose it's good that you're finally being useful for once."
Via chuckled, stepping closer. "Oh, I intend to be."
For the first time, she saw something shift in Vierra's gaze. A flicker of unease.
Satisfied, Via brushed past her, leaving her half-sister standing at the door. There was work to be done, and she had no intention of failing.
•••
To be continued...
© All Rights Reserved.