MID Club was bathed in shimmering lights, pulsing music, and the heavy scent of expensive liquor. Agnes stepped gracefully into the room, the picture of confidence and allure. Beside her walked a modest girl named Mia—her plain appearance starkly out of place amidst the extravagant, elite crowd.
Almost immediately, a man reeking of alcohol swaggered toward Agnes with a sleazy grin.
"Hey, sweet Agnes. Who's the nerd you dragged in?" he asked, snickering, his eyes flicking toward Mia with thinly veiled contempt.
Not far from them, another man swirling a glass of Macallan joined in,
"Seriously, Nes—don't bring the help to a party like this."
Mia kept her gaze down, jaw clenched. She fought the urge to react, but the sneering glances from every corner felt like invisible thorns pricking at her pride.
Suddenly, Wina—the host of the party—appeared, her sharp eyes scanning Mia with blatant judgment.
"And who's this awkward little thing? Your new assistant?"
Agnes offered a sympathetic smile, so polished it almost seemed genuine.
"She's no one's assistant. She's my stepsister. Our father abandoned her in the countryside years ago. I just felt… sorry for her. So I asked that she be brought back to live with us."
Gasps and raised eyebrows followed.
"Oh, so she's that cast-off Xiao daughter? Poor thing…" one guest murmured, half in pity, half in curiosity.
"My God, Nes—you're not just pretty, you're so compassionate. Bringing her here tonight? That's just… admirable," chimed in another, a woman in a bold red dress.
Agnes took a graceful sip of her drink, replying with feigned humility,
"I just want her to experience the outside world. Who knows… maybe she'll meet someone tonight."
Wina cackled, eyeing Mia from head to toe with a smirk.
"You sure? A girl like her landing someone here? Look at her—what a disaster. She needs a full makeover before any guy here would even look her way."
Agnes merely smiled, but her mind was already racing.
Tonight, Mia would be her entertainment. Her revenge. A sweet payback for every defiance, every challenge Mia had thrown her way.
She swirled the whiskey in her crystal glass, then turned to Wina with a knowing smile.
"Win, you brought spare clothes, didn't you? Something a little more… revealing. You always do—especially when it's your own party."
Wina narrowed her eyes, suspicion flickering.
"For what?" she asked flatly, though the glint in her gaze said she already knew.
Agnes shrugged innocently, sipping her drink.
"For my sister. I just want her to look… different. Maybe if we dress her up a little, she'll get lucky tonight. Meet a guy, or something."
Wina sighed, then gave a crooked smile.
"There's a few outfits in my car. I'll have the driver bring them in. I'm sure you'll find just what you need."
Her tone was half mocking, half conspiratorial.
"Thank you, my dearest friend," Agnes cooed as she hugged Wina, all affection on the surface, but beneath it—poisonous intent.
Wina patted her back twice, slow and calculated.
"No need to thank me. We're friends. Of course I'll help you… and your sister."
Then, she leaned closer, whispering in Agnes's ear,
"I know exactly what you're planning. And I love the way you play your games, Nes."
The two girls giggled softly, like queens of cruelty placing their first piece on the chessboard of their private war.
Meanwhile, not far from them, Mia stood still. Rigid. Like a statue placed in the wrong exhibit. The laughter, the music—it all sounded foreign, distant. She didn't belong here. She never wanted to be part of this.
This wasn't her world.
Not the world of lies, vanity, and schemes.
Not the world of people who dressed cruelty in silk and called it kindness.
She lowered her gaze in silence, trying to hold together the fragile chimes of her emotions—each one cracking, one by one.
The night deepened, but the party at MID Club only grew wilder. The music pounded louder, the flashing lights painted the room in dizzying colors, and the air was thick with the scent of high-end liquor. Guests kept pouring in—relatives, friends, business acquaintances of Wina—everyone was lost in the intoxicating chaos of the night.
In the midst of that uproar, Agnes and Wina seized Mia by the wrists, dragging her forcefully toward the women's restroom.
"Let go!" Mia shouted, trying to break free. "I'm not changing my clothes! Don't force me!"
Her voice was firm, but trembled under the weight of the pressure she despised.
"Oh, come on, Sis…" Agnes pleaded in a whiny tone. "Just for tonight. You'll look prettier and more attractive. Please—don't embarrass me. Everyone's been mocking me because of you."
Wina chimed in, her voice honey-sweet and manipulative.
"Yeah, Sis… for my party, at least. Don't ruin my night in front of all these people."
Mia glared at both of them. Something felt off—she could sense it—but those two pairs of eyes in front of her begged as if they were sincere.
"…Fine," she muttered coldly. "But this is for your party. Not for you."
She held out her hand. "Give me the dress."
Agnes eagerly handed her the bundle—luxurious, sheer fabric wrapped in deceptive glamour.
"Here you go, Sis. Hope it fits."
Mia looked at it briefly, then said,
"I'll wear the dress. But I won't touch my face or my hair. I won't give you anything you can use as a weapon against me later."
Agnes smiled thinly, leaning against the wall.
"Sure, Sis. If you like looking plain, be my guest. Just the dress is enough to make you the center of attention."
Mia let out a deep breath, then stepped inside.
Inside, the restroom was eerily quiet—completely at odds with the roaring party beyond. She stood in front of the mirror, slowly undressing and slipping into the gown. The fabric was thin, the neckline far too low, and the way it clung to her made her feel exposed—not just physically, but emotionally.
She covered her chest with her hands, feeling stripped bare—vulnerable in a way that went beyond skin.
Outside, Wina was growing impatient.
"She's taking forever. What if she passed out in there?" she muttered, eyeing the door.
"No way," Agnes replied, waving her hand dismissively.
"Kaaaaak!" Agnes called out, tapping her heel against the floor. "How much longer?!"
A voice called back from behind the door.
"Shut up!"
Then the door creaked open.
Mia stepped out.
Silence.
Agnes and Wina stared wide-eyed. Mia—in that revealing dress so unlike her usual self—looked like a stranger. Her face was bare, her hair simply tied back. And yet, somehow… she radiated something striking. Not beauty in the conventional sense, but something deeper—a quiet defiance, the strength of someone standing in a world that didn't belong to her… without pretending to fit in.
The door opened wide, and Mia walked into view. The room seemed to freeze.
Wina and Agnes blinked. The dress they'd picked to humiliate her… fit her perfectly. It draped over her slender, curved frame like it was tailored just for her. Her bare face only enhanced the quiet elegance, the calm, mysterious beauty she didn't try to show—but couldn't hide.
Wina clenched her jaw, her lips twitching with envy.
"Damn it… Why does it look good on her? She's not even wearing makeup! If she were done up properly… she could outshine all of us."
Agnes stood frozen for a moment, her eyes narrowing. Something inside her twisted with bitter jealousy. But she shoved it aside, replacing it with a darker intent.
"Perfect," she thought. "The more stunning she looks, the easier it'll be to trap her. Just wait, Mia. Tonight, you're the bait."
With a sculpted, fake smile, Agnes exclaimed cheerfully,
"Let's go! Time to return to the party, darling!"
They walked ahead, like queens parading a pawn into the spotlight. Mia followed slowly, covering her chest with her hands. Every step felt heavier than the last, as if the eyes of the entire room were waiting to judge her.
Agnes glanced back and let out a mocking laugh.
"Come on, Sis Mia! Don't act like a runaway bride," she teased, voice sugary but laced with venom.
"You look beautiful, Sis. Let your hands down. Show off your charm!"
Mia raised her head, her eyes slicing toward Agnes.
"Stop telling me what to do. I'm uncomfortable in this dress, and I don't care what they think," she snapped—her voice low, but razor sharp.
Wina tried to diffuse the tension, her voice more smug than soothing.
"Let it go, Agnes. Don't cause a scene outside the restroom. Your sister… she's still too naive for our world. Try to be understanding."
Mia clenched her fists beneath the dress, her teeth pressed tightly together. She hated herself for giving in—why had she let them talk her into this?
What Mia didn't know…
was that her next steps into that glittering chaos would mark the beginning of a cruel game—
One that would reopen old wounds,
and shatter her world all over again.