Agnes, Wina, and Mia re-entered the party room. The music thumped, lights flashed in every direction, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume. But the moment they stepped in, all male eyes turned to Mia—her new look was striking. The dress she wore hugged her curves in a way that drew unashamed stares from many.
"Wow... your body is even more stunning than I imagined," one man murmured, daring to brush his hand against Mia's arm.
Mia's eyes narrowed instantly. She grabbed the man's wrist with a grip so tight that he winced.
"Don't ever touch me again, you filthy man. If you lay another finger on me, I'll cut your hand off," she snapped coldly.
Wina flinched. But Agnes quickly stepped forward, pretending to soothe the situation.
"Come on, sis… don't be angry. This is just a party. You're just not used to it yet. You'll feel more comfortable soon," she whispered, her sweet smile hiding something far more sinister.
Mia stared at her in disappointment. "I don't think I'll ever get used to your kind of 'world,' Agnes. I'd rather go home."
She turned around, ready to leave, but Agnes grabbed her arm quickly.
"Wait, you haven't had a drink at all since you got here. Aren't you thirsty? Your throat must be dry," she said, handing Mia a glass.
Mia sighed, fatigue and thirst gnawing at her since earlier. Without suspicion, she took the glass and downed it in one go.
"Thanks," she said shortly, placing the empty glass on the table.
But behind that sweet smile, Agnes's eyes narrowed with hidden intent. She glanced at Wina—a silent signal passed between them.
"Good… drink it all," Agnes thought, a wicked smile tugging at her lips as she watched Mia finish the entire glass.
"You'll soon feel the effects of my special mix..."
Mia exhaled after finishing the drink. But within moments, her expression shifted. Her body grew heavy, her head pounded, and the world began to spin slowly.
"Agnes… I think I'll go home now… My head hurts so much. Something's wrong," Mia said, clutching her temple.
Her steps faltered as she tried to leave the party room.
Agnes fought to suppress her growing smile. Her eyes sparkled with satisfaction—everything was going according to plan. Still, she kept up her act.
"Wait, sis! Should I take you home? I'm worried something might happen to you on the way," Agnes said with fake concern, rushing toward Mia.
"No need. I can manage on my own. You should stay here and enjoy the party with your friends," Mia replied weakly, leaning slightly against the wall.
Agnes nodded, her face filled with phony sympathy. "If that's what you want… Take care on your way home. If anything happens, don't forget to call me."
But as Mia walked away, Agnes's expression shifted. Her eyes grew cold. A cruel smile crept across her lips.
"With the way you look right now, wild men out there will devour you… and soon, you'll be pregnant with a bastard child," Agnes muttered under her breath, almost inaudible over the pounding party music.
"That's when... you'll be kicked out of the Xiao family house. And I... I'll take your place."
Meanwhile, Mia staggered out of the building, her hand brushing against the wall for balance. Her body burned, her vision blurred, and her breath came in short, panicked bursts. Something was definitely wrong.
On the other side of the venue, inside a luxurious, soundproof VIP room, five sharply dressed young men were having their own celebration. Among them, a man with a cold aura and overwhelming charisma had just arrived.
Ryu.
President of R.C International, the global titan in transport, banking, and trade. At just 25, he was already a legend among businessmen, and a living fantasy for countless women.
"Welcome, Ryu!" one of the tycoons cheered, raising his champagne glass. "You always show up right on cue."
Ryu offered a faint smile. His piercing eyes swept the room… unaware that fate was about to collide him with a woman now walking blindly into danger—Mia.
"Rico, who's your flavor of the night this time?" Joy asked while pouring whiskey into Ryu's crystal glass.
"I heard rumors you've been seeing a top model lately?"
Rico chuckled, taking a long sip of his drink. "They're just for fun. None of them are truly special. Love? It's a delusion."
Glenn shook his head, smirking. "When are you going to stop playing, Rico? You've turned into a professional predator since your first love failed."
Rico's laugh turned bitter. "Don't dig up old wounds. I don't enjoy talking about the past. If you want to talk about love, ask the ice king sitting next to you." He gestured toward Ryu, who was silently staring through the glass wall.
Before things grew too somber, Glenn clapped his hands. "Alright, before we start preaching—here's a treat. Beautiful ladies to keep us company tonight. Enjoy."
Soon, elegant women with trained smiles entered the VIP room, approaching them one by one. Only Rico looked genuinely entertained, lounging with one arm around a woman like the king of the night.
Meanwhile, Joy, Dio, and Ryu barely spared them a glance and poured their own drinks.
"I went through the trouble of ordering them for you guys, and this is how you treat me?" Glenn scoffed, raising his hands in defeat.
"Who asked you? You know the three of us aren't into paid company," Joy snapped. "We're not like Rico, who's always starving for a touch."
"Fine. If they're not your type, I'll take them all," Rico replied with a wicked laugh, pulling two women closer.
"Ugh, classic playboy. Can't see skin without wanting to pounce," Dio muttered, glaring at him in disgust.
Joy then turned to Ryu, who remained calm, unmoved by everything happening around him.
"Ryu... what about you? Still haven't found her? How long are you going to stay alone?"
Ryu slowly lowered his glass, looking at Joy expressionlessly.
"That's none of your business. I haven't found her... or maybe, she never existed to begin with."
Silence fell over the room. Even Rico, who had been laughing, fell quiet—he knew better than to touch Ryu's scars. In matters of love, Ryu was untouchable—by women or memories.
The five young moguls went on chatting, laughter still echoing as soft music played through the hidden speakers. But suddenly, Ryu grew still. His brows furrowed, and his hand instinctively loosened his tie.
"Damn… what's happening to my body?" he murmured. A strange heat surged through him. His head throbbed.
Glenn immediately noticed. "Ryu? You okay? You look… tense."
"Sorry… I need some air." Ryu stood abruptly, leaving his drink untouched.
"Lame," Rico scoffed, clearly tipsy. "This whole party's for you, and you're bailing?"
"Apologies, everyone," Ryu said shortly as he opened the door and stepped into the dim hotel corridor, leaving the party noise behind.
The hallway was quiet and dimly lit. Ryu walked swiftly—until someone crashed into him from the opposite direction.
"Ah!"
A woman fell to the floor, trembling. Her dress was disheveled, her hair a mess, and her breath erratic. Ryu looked down sharply—it was Mia.
Her eyes were red, her face pale yet flushed from internal heat.
"Mister… please help me… my body… it feels like it's on fire… my head… it's spinning… I—I think someone drugged my drink…" she whispered weakly, reaching out to grab Ryu's arm for support.
But Ryu's response was anything but kind.
With a cold and disgusted expression, he slapped her hand away. "Filthy woman. Don't touch me. Get out of my sight."
"Ah!" Mia was thrown back, landing hard on the floor. Her eyes welled with pain—not just from her body, but from the humiliation.
Some of the party girls from the VIP room had followed the noise outside. One looked Mia up and down with a sneer.
"Tch. Desperate tramp. Trying to get Ryu's attention?"
"Who does she think she is? She's not even pretty. If I couldn't get Ryu to look at me, what chance does she have?" another whispered, laughing.
The sneers stabbed at Mia from every direction. But she said nothing. Her eyes stayed down, her body trembling as the drug surged violently through her veins.
"I don't care about them... I just want this poison out of me…" she cried silently inside, struggling to hold on.
Mia slowly propped herself up, her knees shaking uncontrollably. With all her remaining strength, she stood once more in front of Ryu.
Pride no longer mattered—she just needed help.
"Please… just somewhere to lean on… before it's too late…" she whispered, eyes pleading with Ryu.
And for the first time… Ryu's icy gaze faltered.
He stared deeper into her face—and there was something there.
Something that felt… strangely familiar.