Crescentia wiped her tears with the back of her hand before speaking, her voice steady despite the weight of her words.
"I'm not sure who did it, but whoever killed my parents—I will expose them and make sure they are punished."
A hush fell over the gathering. The other guests watched her with a mixture of sympathy and unease. She was still just a young girl who had lost everything, and the fact that her parents' deaths might not have been an accident—that someone out there could still be plotting against her—sent a cold shiver down their spines.
Victoria could feel her carefully constructed facade cracking. She had to put an end to this before Crescentia said something truly dangerous.
With practiced grace, she stepped in front of her niece, blocking the flashing cameras from capturing Crescentia's determined expression.
"I think that's enough questions for my dear Crescentia." Victoria's voice was smooth, almost motherly, but beneath it was an unmistakable edge. "She's overwhelmed with emotions right now. Please, give her some space."
The reporters, sensing the tension, nodded and turned their attention to the rest of the Belmore family.
The moment they were out of earshot, Victoria's kind mask crumbled. She whirled on Crescentia, her expression darkening, fists clenched at her sides.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? Saying something like that in front of the cameras—are you trying to frame us? You have the audacity!"
Crescentia, unfazed, met her aunt's furious gaze head-on.
"I didn't mention any names," she said smoothly. "So why are you so triggered? I only said I would expose the people responsible for my parents' murders."
Then, she paused. Her piercing stare locked onto Victoria's as if she were searching for the truth buried beneath her fury.
"Unless… you have something to confess?"
Victoria's breath hitched. Crescentia wasn't certain yet, but their reactions kept giving them away.
All she needed was proof. But how was she going to get that when she wasn't even allowed inside their mansion anymore?
Victoria exhaled sharply, stepping closer, her voice dropping into a dangerous whisper.
"You'd better watch your mouth, girl. Or I'll cut that tongue of yours and feed it to the dogs."
Crescentia merely tilted her head, an infuriating smirk curving her lips.
"Careful, Auntie. The reporters might still be listening. If they catch even a whiff of what you just said, you'll be the first one they suspect."
Victoria stiffened.
This wasn't the timid, powerless Crescentia she had once controlled.
This girl—no, this woman—was a problem.
Before Victoria could snap back, Crescentia delivered the final blow.
"If you have nothing else to say, I suggest you go play the perfect wife and attend to your guests. Hmm?"
And with that, Crescentia turned on her heel, ignoring the searing glare burning into her back.
She had barely taken a few steps when she spotted them—Lucian and Juliette, walking toward her.
Lucian's arm was wrapped around Juliette's waist, his grip possessive. The two smiled charmingly at the guests, playing their roles to perfection.
Juliette's voice rang out, sickeningly sweet and just a little too loud, ensuring everyone around them heard.
"Cress! You're here!"
Crescentia tensed.
"OMG, I missed you so much."
Juliette lunged for a hug, but Crescentia stepped back—uncaring of the cameras, the onlookers, or the carefully curated illusion her relatives wanted to project. Unlike them, she didn't wear masks.
Juliette froze mid-step, blinking in surprise.
Lucian's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a hushed but firm tone. "What's wrong with you? She just wanted a hug."
Crescentia arched a brow, unbothered. "And I don't want one. Are you slow or something?"
For a moment, Lucian's face was unreadable.
And Crescentia hated that she still felt something for him.
She despised the way her stomach twisted with jealousy at the sight of his hand resting on Juliette's waist. Hated how a small, foolish part of her wished she was the one standing beside him instead.
She discreetly pinched herself, forcing herself to remember.
Remember the way he had thrown her out when she had begged for his help.
Juliette, sensing the shift, dropped her saccharine act. Her expression hardened.
"I haven't forgotten what you did that day." Her voice was low, sharp. "If you want to see your parents one last time, you'd better apologize."
Crescentia let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Or what?" she challenged. "You'll have them throw me out again? Right here, in front of all these people?"
She gestured subtly to the cameras, the murmuring crowd, the influential guests their parents had once worked with.
"I don't think so, sweetie." Her tone was mocking, almost pitying. "You wouldn't dare risk the family's precious reputation."
Juliette's lips pressed into a thin line.
When had Crescentia gotten so… smart?
They had never been close—not like real cousins should be. Juliette had tormented Crescentia relentlessly as children, and Crescentia had never fought back. Never told anyone.
Until now.
Juliette clenched her fists, but then her gaze flickered over Crescentia's outfit—a simple white dress, plain and unremarkable.
And just like that, her confidence returned.
"Where have you even been living?" she sneered. "Under a bridge? Or maybe in some dingy little convenience store?"
Lucian chuckled beside her, their laughter grating against Crescentia's ears.
But she didn't flinch.
"Not at all," she answered smoothly. "I have a lovely apartment. And Noella will be joining me soon, once she's fully recovered."
She stepped closer, just enough that Juliette could feel the weight of her words.
"You should start preparing yourself, dear cousin." She smiled, but there was nothing warm about it. "Your family stole everything from me. And I'm here to take it all back—until you have nothing left."
Juliette's breath hitched.
Crescentia's words were so heavy, so absolute, that for the first time, Juliette felt the slightest twinge of fear.
But she masked it with another glare, as if staring Crescentia down would somehow shake her resolve.
It didn't.
Crescentia simply turned away.
"Anyway, I have to see my parents now."
She cast them both one last, fleeting smile before walking off, her heart pounding in her chest—but she never once looked back.