Elliana gathered her things with quiet efficiency and stepped out of the villa district, waving down a taxi without a single look back.

Tears threatened to fall as she looked at a sturdy metal box nestled deep in her suitcase.

Inside, a collection of medals lay scattered, some worn and scratched, others gleaming like new.

Every one of them was a reminder of her days as a top agent and one of the founders of Silver Shadow.

Those small tokens were proof of her countless brushes with death, each one representing a chapter in a secret life she had tried so hard to bury.

She had hoped to share her true story with Dominic one day, but only if they ever built something real together.

Now she knew he would never deserve the truth.

A sudden vibration from her phone snapped her back to the present.

Wiping away any trace of tears, she answered the call.

Leah Payne's voice filled the line before Elliana could say a word.

"Boss, I did exactly as you said. Every company tied to the Stanley Group is pulling out. Did something happen? Is everything all right..."

"I'm going to divorce Dominic, Leah. Get things ready. We're about to launch bigger than ever."

There was a stunned pause, followed by a burst of celebration on the other end.

"Are you serious? That's amazing! I told you a hundred times, Dominic never deserved you!"

Leah's enthusiasm was almost palpable through the phone. "Now that you're back, the entire industry's going to lose their minds. Do you know how many clients I've had to turn away since you left Sanctorum? Each one of them was begging for a chance to meet with Caduceus. We lost a fortune while you were gone..."

Hearing Leah's familiar obsession with business made Elliana's lips curve into a small smile.

"Is that so?"

"Of course! Oh, that reminds me—you mentioned before about running a banquet at Vista Cay and offering a healing slot to help Dominic's mother, all while keeping your identity a secret. Now that you are getting a divorce, what's the plan for the banquet?"

"We proceed as originally planned. The banquet goes forward."

With that, Elliana ended the call.

The taxi rolled through city lights while she leaned back, her smile growing bolder with each passing block.

Everything that had been stolen from her—she meant to take it all back.

If Dominic's beloved Renee believed she could climb higher by pushing Elliana down, she had no idea what kind of fall awaited her.

She would like to see how deep Dominic's loyalty ran once Renee's secrets began to unravel.

The banquet was more than a simple event—it was the start of her comeback.

An hour passed.

Inside a cozy estate in Ipester, Leah, clad in playful pajamas, brought over a glass of whiskey with a cheerful grin and offered it to Elliana.

Ripples of deep red danced in the whiskey, swirling through the gold liquid like a blooming rose with every tilt of the glass.

"Boss, it's called Scarlet Rose. My latest creation. See what you think."

Elliana took the glass and glanced at the opposite wall, where four oversized LCD screens displayed live stock market activity in Ipester.

A sharp gleam flickered in her eyes. "You've already started working against the Stanley Group, haven't you?"

Leah's eyes, hiding behind her thick glasses, sparkled with fierce determination, giving her the look of a stubborn prodigy.

"Naturally, boss! If it weren't for you pulling the strings, the Stanley Group would never have gotten this far. Now that Dominic had the nerve to toss you aside, I'm not stopping until we see him suffer for it."

Elliana offered her a sideways look.

Leah was just nineteen, an orphan Elliana had rescued from a war-torn country overseas.

Despite her age, she could hack systems and play the stock market with an expertise that left most seasoned professionals in the dust.

Her only real weaknesses were her bad eyesight and her endless pursuit of cash.

"I'll deal with the Stanley Group myself. Are you sure the man we've been tracking is actually showing up at the banquet?"

Leah pushed her glasses up, her chin lifting with unmistakable pride.

"Definitely. He's been careful about his movements, but I managed to trace him. Right now, he's in Ipester and has already scored a spot at the banquet. Still, Boss, I have to ask—what's got you so focused on him? He's always been a thorn in our side. Some say he's devastatingly handsome. If you want, I can put in extra effort, maybe hijack his ride or slip something into his drink and bring him right here for you."

Elliana tapped Leah's head with a hint of exasperation.

"Don't fill your head with ridiculous ideas."

Her true interest in this man was much simpler—she was after a rare Pisces Jade.

It had surfaced in an illicit overseas auction and somehow ended up with him.

That jade pendant was the only clue she'd managed to uncover about her birth mother.

She needed to track him down, recover the jade, and finally learn who sold it.

Annoyance bubbled up just thinking about the search, and she tossed back a large gulp of Leah's drink.

A wild mix of flavors hit her tongue, and she nearly choked, coughing it back out at once.

"For the love of sanity, keep the experiments for someone else. Next time, just pour me a proper whiskey."

She rose from the couch and pulled her damp top over her head.

Light caught on her smooth, elegant form, every line sculpted to perfection.

Black lingerie hugged her frame, drawing attention to a waist so delicate it could be wrapped in someone's hands and legs that stretched long and lean, not a trace of softness to be found.

Every gesture was smooth and mesmerizing, a subtle confidence in the way she moved—almost like a wildcat at rest.

Leah could hardly tear her eyes away, swallowing her drink a bit too quickly.

Old war wounds had robbed Leah of her sense of taste, but after years of Elliana's careful treatments, she could finally savor sweetness again.

To Leah, Elliana was her everything.

Her attention shifted back to the giant screens, eyes narrowing with a mischievous glint as she watched the Stanley Group's stock flicker down.

The game had only just begun.

Anyone foolish enough to cross Elliana would soon regret it.

If Renee wanted to play the devoted daughter-in-law and dazzle everyone by promising a miracle cure for her future mother-in-law, then so be it.

The banquet was the ideal stage for their next move.

Vista Cay did not belong to any restaurant. Instead, people flocked there to admire the beauty of an island that was entirely shaped by human hands.

Right at the center of this oasis stood the most coveted club in all of Ipester.

Nobody ever truly knew who ran the club, which only made people talk about it more.

If you managed to score an invitation to a banquet at Vista Cay, everyone in Ipester's upper crust took notice.

Getting invited was almost impossible, and that made it all the more coveted.

The following night, twilight painted the horizon as the broad bridge across the river burst into life, its lights shimmering in vibrant colors that gave the whole place an otherworldly glow.

Dressed in a soft lavender designer dress, Renee moved gracefully at Dominic's side.

Dominic swirled red wine in his glass, his expression triumphant and self-assured.

"Renee, it's only because of you that we're at this banquet. As soon as my mother's well again, I'll definitely marry you."

Renee answered with a teasing look, her smile polished and graceful, "Your mother has always treated me well, so helping her was only right. Before this night is over, I have a feeling we'll both be recognized as Caduceus's favored guests."

Dominic's face betrayed a flicker of doubt as he listened.

"Everyone here tonight is hoping Caduceus will notice them. Caduceus's famous for her obsession with antique jewels. Our present..."

Renee was brimming with confidence.

She had told Dominic that she had met Caduceus, though the truth was she had only glimpsed a woman from afar. Still, that tiny edge was more than enough to give her confidence.

None of the men in the hall could hope to outshine her choice of gift.

"Relax. I've got it covered."

Suddenly, noise erupted near the entrance.

Both of them turned to see what caused the stir.

Camera flashes caught Elliana as she swept into the hall, her crimson dress impossible to ignore. Waves of dark hair tumbled down her back, and the green gems at her neck made her skin glow with a new kind of beauty.

Her looks, stripped of their youthful simplicity, had become so striking they almost seemed unreal, though her presence was cool and regal as ever.

The crowd could not help but gasp in admiration.

Every pair of eyes seemed to follow Elliana's every move.

Dominic found himself caught off guard, unable to look away.

"Elliana?" he said, shock slipping through his voice.

Renee snapped out of her daze, irritation sharpening her features.

She couldn't understand how that girl from the countryside carried herself with such striking presence.

Her stare dropped to the diamond‑lined emerald necklace, a piece far grander than anything she owned, and she wondered where Elliana could have possibly gotten it.

Dominic certainly hadn't given it to her.

She opened her mouth to complain, then caught the dazed fascination on Dominic's face, which made her anger flare even hotter.

Digging her nails into her palm, she worked to soften her tone, adding a note of vulnerability.

"Dominic, I didn't realize Elliana would be here tonight. Maybe I should excuse myself. I wouldn't want to put the Stanley family in an uncomfortable position."

Her actions matched her words, as she took a step back, pretending to be considerate.

Dominic's focus returned to her immediately.

"Renee, I didn't invite her."

Renee blinked, as though the news stunned her.

"You didn't? Then how did she get inside? The banquet doesn't hand out invitations easily. Unless... she came in with another man?"

Disdain flickered in her eyes, sharpening her accusation.

She tried to twist the situation against Elliana.

"She still shows up at events tied to the Stanley family, even after everything that happened. That's just sad."

The tension grew between them, and Dominic's mood soured.

Elliana, meanwhile, swept her gaze over the room.

She had heard countless claims that Karson Bailey, her archnemesis, rarely appeared in public, and nobody knew what he looked like.

To draw him out, she had instructed Leah to spread rumors about Caduceus's fascination with antique jewels. The more ancient the better. That rumor was designed to point straight toward the Pisces Jade.

Anyone bold enough to bring that jade would almost certainly be Karson.

This evening, she hoped her plan would pay off.

Lost in thought, she didn't notice someone move directly in front of her until her view was blocked completely.

Dominic stepped closer, his stare sharp enough to cut.

"Who told you you could barge in here and stir up trouble? Leave right now, or you can kiss Azure Villa and that thirty million goodbye," said Dominic, his voice cold.

Renee tightened her grip on his arm as she added her own performance, her tone dipped in false sympathy. "Ms. Reed, I understand you're angry, but this isn't the kind of place you belong in. If your feelings for Dominic were real, you wouldn't show up and ruin a night this important to him. Since everything between you two has ended, the dignified thing would be to step aside."

Elliana knew exactly who she was looking at. Renee had always been the fantasy Dominic clung to. A faint, cold smile formed at Elliana's lips.

This wasn't the moment to deliver the blow they deserved, but that moment would come.

"Step aside," said Elliana, her tone flat.

Her indifference hit Dominic like a slap.

His eyes drifted to the graceful cut of her dress as she moved past him. He suddenly grabbed her wrist, his words dropping to a harsh whisper. "Elliana, stop this. Are you really so desperate for my attention? You schemed your way in here just to see Caduceus, didn't you? You can't take Renee's success, so you're trying to copy her. All you'll do is embarrass yourself."

Elliana could hardly believe the nonsense spilling out of him.

His ego always knew no bounds.

With a swift turn, she tore her wrist from his grasp, her expression carved with cold restraint.

The suddenness of her movement caused Dominic to falter.

"Mr. Stanley, we're getting a divorce. You're wrapped up in your so-called perfect love, yet you're grabbing me and creating a spectacle. So tell me, who is truly embarrassing themselves tonight?" said Elliana.

Her voice rang out crisp and firm, like beads scattering onto polished floors, and every nearby guest turned toward the unfolding scene.

Among the elite, nothing was valued more than maintaining a spotless family image.

Leaving the woman who supported him and parading around with someone new was already shameful. Doing it so openly made it worse.

As judgmental eyes fell on them from every direction, Dominic's and Renee's expressions darkened with shame.

Elliana, however, had already turned away. She walked with quiet grace, her posture calm, untouched by the role of a discarded wife.

Her unruffled elegance only deepened the shadow on Dominic's face.

Still, he couldn't shake the unsettling thought that something about her had changed.

A sharply dressed man in his middle years strode onto the main platform, catching the attention of everyone in the hall.

Trevor Saunders, the one running Vista Club, had arrived.

His eyes swept across the gathering, pausing on Elliana just for a moment, then he raised his voice so all could hear. "Welcome, distinguished guests. Your arrival graces Vista Cay tonight. Thanks to the healer Caduceus, I have the privilege of leading the gift ceremony. If you have something to present, please step forward now!"

Excitement replaced the bitterness in Renee's expression as she tugged Dominic along behind her.

So what if Elliana had just humiliated her?

With this rare chance in hand, she knew she would become the talk of the night, the envy of every guest.

Surely, nobody would bother glancing Elliana's way after this.

The parade of gifts had already begun.

A guest unveiled a flawless white jade figurine, its price easily running into the millions, and awed whispers swept through the hall.

More people followed, each unveiling gifts that seemed more dazzling and precious than the last.

Nerves began to show on Dominic, but Renee only grew more self-assured as she stepped to the front.

"This is a gift from the Stanley Group," said Renee as she lifted the lid on a polished wooden box, revealing a delicate jade hairpin with intricate designs.

The audience exchanged skeptical looks and a few even scoffed quietly.

A gift valued at less than a million felt out of place among such grandeur.

Still, Renee's satisfaction deepened.

"You might look down on it, but Caduceus isn't like the rest of you."

For a woman, a present should not only come with a high price tag, but also highlight her beauty. Certain that she was the only gift giver here aware that Caduceus was a woman, she believed her feminine gift would win her favor.

She could already taste the win.

Elliana watched from her seat, a look of pure disdain flickering in her eyes.

Renee's tactics were certainly unexpected.

What a shame it would all be wasted.

As Elliana started to rise, Renee's taunting voice rang out from the stage.

"Elliana, aren't you planning to present your gift? Why not show everyone what you've brought now?"