Elise stood in front of the full-length mirror in her walk-in closet, twisting one of her earrings into place. Diamond studs—not flashy, but they sparkled like quiet power.
She was headed to a charity gala that evening—Silas had received the invitation, but Elise had made it clear: this time, she was going in alone.
"I need to be seen," she had said.
Silas didn't argue. He just looked at her the way he always did now—like he was watching a storm build over calm water. Dangerous. Beautiful.
At the gala, the lights were too bright and the champagne was too expensive, but Elise walked through the crowd like she owned the building. Heads turned. Whispers followed. Not because of her past—but because of the way she moved now. Confident. Calculated. Untouchable.
And then, like a fly in her glass of Dom Pérignon, Camilla appeared.
"Well, well," she said, eyes glinting like polished venom. "Did Silas give you lessons in posture or are you just trying harder than usual tonight?"
Elise smiled like a blade unsheathing. "Oh, Camilla. You came. How sweet. I was hoping to see someone irrelevant tonight."
Camilla's smile cracked.
"Still pretending you matter?" Camilla scoffed. "You think wearing his money makes you powerful?"
Elise leaned in, voice low and lethal. "Honey, I'm not wearing his power. I'm using mine. And I didn't sleep my way to the top. I survived my way here. There's a difference."
People were watching now—subtle, curious glances thrown like sparks onto gasoline.
Camilla faltered. "You think you've won just because he lets you tag along?"
"I think I've won," Elise said coolly, "because you're the one clinging to the past, and I'm the one shaping the future."
At that moment, Elise's assistant stepped forward, handing her a folder. Inside: documents tying Camilla's father's company to a shady acquisition—one that could ruin them if it reached the press.
Elise handed the folder to Camilla with a serene smile.
"This is just a taste," she said. "Walk away from Silas. Stay out of my way. Or the next time we meet, you won't be wearing pearls. You'll be choking on them."
Camilla's face paled.
"Enjoy the party," Elise added, turning gracefully as cameras started clicking—not at Camilla, but at her.
This wasn't just a comeback.
This was Elise arriving.