(ARIA'S POV)

(Nighttime, Cleave Hotel)

I cannot believe that I am actually serving drinks. I dropped the tray on the counter with a frustrated groan. This was already my twentieth serving, but Ivory still showed no signs of swapping me out like she did the others. I did not pick a fight, though. I was way too tired to give her another slap to the face.

Just as I was sitting by the snack stand, waiting for my tray to be handed over, my sweet sister Vivienne came with her friends.

"Ohm, Vivienne, is this the Aria?" a girl standing beside Vivienne said, her nose almost flying into the air.

"Well," Vivienne, a melon seed-faced girl with cute black eyes, a slender and petite body that seemed to break from just a touch, with her sticky and magnetic voice and her gentle character, Vivienne was the literal definition of an angel, but in my language, she is just a top-tier green lotus bitch.

"Sister, why are you doing this? I thought you had forgiven me and my mother. Why are you doing this to me?" Vivienne held my hands and burst into tears, shocking everyone and me, especially me, who did not have a single clue what she was talking about.

"What forgiveness? When did Amanda and I ever discuss such a term?" I was still in shock at Vivienne's weird behaviour when a sharp pain shot through my hand, which she held, my skin almost tearing apart; pained, I pulled my hand away slightly, but Vivienne suddenly fell backwards towards the floor.

"Eh"

"What in the k-drama is this?" I stared at Vivienne stupidly, internally asking myself when my father would show up so I could leave the show, but a force turned my head sideways.

"You heartless wench, who do you think you are? You pushed Vivienne down so hard, are you trying to kill her?" a loud voice almost ruptured my eardrums as a tall, handsome guy towered in front of me.

I had wanted to respond with a slap, but my eyes froze when I saw the face of the person, Kim!

If there is anything like a childhood friend, I guess mine will be Kim, since I was born, Kim had been my friend, hell no, we were even born on the same day and in May and June respectively, once, our mothers even joked that we were going to make a good couple.

He was my first ever friend, brother, lover, crush and fantasy until... my mother died and everything went boom! Kim never came by again to the house, no calls, no text, no messages, he even changed schools, and now, after more than a decade of cutting contact, he slaps me for a girl he barely even knows!

"Aria, I have been hearing all about you from Vivienne, but I always trusted you, but now, I see you for what you truly are, a shameless and ungrateful, unforgiving monster."

"Vivienne, honey, are you okay?" Amanda rushed towards us, her face mixed with worry and pain. "Aria, if you wanted to hit someone, I have told you numerous times to hit me instead. Why would you target my poor daughter, who has done nothing but be kind to you?" Amanda began her round of sorrowful acting, making me almost go mad.

The most frustrating thing was not even the acting skills; it was the fact that everyone was actually believing them.

"I know Aria that I had married your father just a week after my best friend, your mother died but that was for your own good, I wanted to take care of you, I wanted to be by the side of my friend's last offspring in this world, I wanted to fight for you,, I admit, I was insensitive, I never taught how a six year old would have handled that news, I am so sorry, can't you understand me?"

(ABBY'S POV)

What the hell? The tequila shot that entered my mouth almost came back right out as I heard Amanda, Martin's wife, say.

"Is she a woman for real? You shamelessly married your best friend's husband a week after her death, her burial and mourning days have not even been concluded. You gave birth two months after your wedding and kicked the so-called child you swore to take care of to a community hospital and nursery immediately after your marriage, what a liar.

Respect!

What a good joke!

Why did you not respect her memories and her marriage? You have to be part of the family to care for her daughter; are caretakers and nannies a joke to you?

I scoffed at the absurdity of the women crying pitifully, and for the first time, genuinely thanked my best friend for dragging me here to be a shield. How else would I have gotten such entertainment?

Speaking of which, where the heck is Damien?

(ARIA'S P OV)

"Is my father even going to be here? He is not, right?" My voice was not loud, but since I was the object of focus, everyone pretty much heard me.

Their reactions?

They all laughed out loud, looking at me in contempt, my heart finally sank as I took in all their faces, half of them I knew as strangers, the other half I knew as friends but now, no one was by my side, for the first time in my 20 years of life, I knew that I was alone.

Of course, the realization was not funny, tears coated my eyes and threatened to fall, and broke the one promise I made to myself, never to cry in front of my enemy!

"Stupid bitch," the girl standing beside Vivienne took one of the drinks from a nearby tray and raised it at me. I closed my eyes, waiting for the cold and sticky wine, but after, some time, nothing happened, but I did hear a scream. I opened my eyes, but all I could see was a tall back blocking me, while the girl next to Vivienne was shrieking like a madwoman.

"Leave, there is no place for you here." His magnetic and dewy voice rang in my ears even though he was not even facing me.

I didn't bother thanking him; most favours are better expressed in action than words.

"My name is Aria, what's yours?"

"Damien." After some time, he replied. With a smug glance at Vivienne, I nodded and dropped the trays on the counter. "Amanda, never again." And walked out.

However, a strange feeling came over me as I walked past Damien.

"Would I ever see him again?"

(Amanda's pov)

Ahhh!

That bitch!

My smile faded as I saw the last of the guests out. My perfectly good plan to introduce my daughter to more wealth and prominence had fallen through thanks to that b**ch that has refused to die like her mother.

"At least, Damien did not make any comment to me, that's good news, Aria is not that significant to him." I lightly flicked my bracelet to comfort myself.

To me, the most important person was Damien,the others were just brown nosers, whether they looked at me with disdainful gazes, what do I care?

If my daughter marries Damien, they would all crawl to me like the worms they are, grovelling and begging for the scraps that fall off my table.

Thinking of the certain future, my lips split apart into a grin, I can already feel the time when a vast amount of wealth and power will be mine, by then, who will dare bring up the matters of the past!

I will forever get rid of the shame of snatching another woman's husband but before that,my hands clenched into fists as a surging anger emanated in my heart... Aria needs to die!!!

Crash!

A loud smashing sound echoed through the hallway, the direction of the sound couldn't be more familiar to me.

Vivienne's room!

(Vivienne's pov)

Damn! Damn! Damn!

My hands just kept smashing and tearing things, my room already a shadow of what it was before, littered with torn clothes and broken picture frames. It still was not enough...Not enough!

"Aria, I want you to die, I want you to freaking die,just die like your mother,how hard is it?" I cursed out as I threw another picture frame but the crashing sound was not heard,instead a force pulled me sideways and delivered a slap to me.

"Mom,"I mouthed out, my eyes widened in disbelief as I held my cheek that stung badly.

"Stupid, loud, crude and unrefined" my mother pushed me away in disgust. "How many times have I told you to control your temper? If Martin was the one who came in now, do I need to remind you what the consequences will be?"

"Mom, it's Aria, I cannot breathe well as long as she is alive, she....she is my doomed nemesis, look what happened? As soon as she arrived, Damien was immediately swayed by her. Mom, Damien is my life,I ...I cannot lose him, especially not to a bitch like Aria, no...never " tears began to fall freely from my eyes as I crashed onto the bed.

"I cannot breathe until she dies too, don't worry, she will not leave to see the next full moon." My mom comforted me in a low voice.

"Next full moon, that's three days from now,mother,do you have a plan?" I excitedly rushed to my mother and grabbed her hands.

"She loves her mom so much that she wants to know what killed her,does she not? Very well, I gladly sent the truth to her along with her death. I solemnly pray that both her and her bastard mother reunite and journey to hell together." A terrifying smile creeped up my mother's face.

The smile was absolutely cruel, as if a demon awoke from slumber,but along with its terrifying effect was a refreshing feeling to me.

She's back!

My demon for a mother!

Aria,I hope you are ready, please don't die too fast though, you need to suffer first before you die a malicious death.

(Aria's pov)

"Aria, come for a drink?" A weird message popped up from my phone.

"Who?" I texted back, ever since my fall from glory,no one has ever reached out to me, in fact, my contacts did not even exceed fifteen.

Truly, a broke person has no friends but a multitude of enemies.

"A friend!" The person replied back.

"Crazy." I texted back before blocking the number.

I am already pissed off as it is and a scammer is actually pulling such a dirty prank on me, the nerve.

"All scammers should seriously be tossed into a pit." I cursed under my breath, exhaling turbid air.

The weather was a bit warm but that was not enough to calm the chill in my heart. As much as I want to deny it, I am truly helpless,my dad is off the radar, Amanda is too powerful now, Vivienne has a lot of staunch supporters who are already enough to make my life hell, at this point, I may not even be able to get a job in the state anymore,as for revenge, that will be a mere fantasy.

"What do I do? How can I turn this around?" I mouthed to myself again.

"Stop whispering to yourself?" A voice whispered straight into my ears.

"Ahhh! I immediately jumped forward but a car was furiously approaching me , the bright lights stung me deep in my eyes and I could almost see death with his sickle grinning at me.

"Get out of the way, scaredly-cat," Abby pulled me away from the road like a ragdoll.

"Hah!" I could barely breathe as I steadied myself against the light pole. "Who....who are you?" I asked hoarsely, glaring at the man who nearly caused my death.

"Me?" Abby chuckled, his hands running through his hair as he looked at me sheepishly. "I am your friend."

"My friend?"I repeated,my voice already back to normal.

Sensing my doubt, Abby confidently pulled out his phone to send me a message but a big red mark appeared as if mocking him.

"Hey, why did you block me? I am your friend?" Abby glared at me, as if seriously hurt.

"You are the scammer?"my words leave my mouth, faster than I thought.

"Scam...scammer! No....how could you, how could your brain come up with such a concept? How?" Abby was almost going crazy, even the smile at the corner of his lips had long since faded.

"Sorry, but what am I supposed to think? You barge into someone's dm and start addressing yourself as a friend,only scammers do that?"

Abby paused for half a second before grinning widely at me like a Chihuahua. "You seem to have a good grasp of scammers, maybe you have been scammed one or twice, well, dear,worry no more,I am Abby, your loyal friend who wants nothing but a piece of your heart."Abby gave me a royal salute after he was done with his introduction.

One...two...three....the silence that enveloped the both of us, was both amusing and awkward to the extreme.

"Yea!!!" I shouted with almost zero energy to cheer the weirdo called Abby up.

Even his name sounds weird!

"Well, let's go drink to our friendship, may it last forever!" Abby pulled me happily towards a lie profile but luxurious car.

And just like that, I got myself a good friend or my worst nightmare, I had no clue but what I did know was that I need that drink!

My babies, I am coming for you!

Three months.

That's how long it's been since I was expected to die.

That's how long it's been since Damien saved me from the fire since I was transformed, reformulated, and no longer the damaged lady my stepmother and stepsister had struggled to kill.

One moment I was having a drink with my so-called newly found friend or foe, and the next there was an explosion. The fire was catching up so fast and I had accepted death at that moment. Maybe Mom wanted to take me away from this world of haters and evil doers. I had accepted that, but the reason she chose fire baffled me. But I suddenly didn't see Abby again and that time I knew it was a set up.

I should have noticed the way the bar was strangely quiet, and it was just the two of us. When the fire was nearly catching up with me and it's smoke was already choking that it became difficult to breathe, I saw faintly two figures at the entrance of the room. My two nemesis- Vivienne and Amanda. I saw them laughing before darkness took over.

Now, I stand before the mirror, no longer Aria Donovan, the unimportant girl of a deceased mother.

I am something else entirely.

The glow of the vanity lights drops shadows over my face, exposing the smartness of my features. My former dull eyes now carry something incomprehensible, something Damien nurtured in me-power. All thanks to him.

The silk of my gown whiffs over my skin as I turn slightly, its impact grounding me. The gown boldly embraces my curves with ivory satin, while soft lace outlines my collarbones and the sleeves float like drizzle.

The bodice hugs my waist and flows into a train that pools at my feet like moonlight.

A wedding gown.

Mine to be precise.

I press my fingers against the marble surface of the vanity, enjoying its calmness, anchoring myself to the realism of what I'm about to do. The woman in the mirror is new-graceful, poised, a picture of confusion cloaked in beauty.

I close my eyes, and the memory strikes like a sword.

The fire. The smoke hurting my lungs. The voices faded as my consciousness slid off. Then, firm arms, lifting me, carrying me through the flames. A deep voice, one that had never sounded far, now serious and commanding. And suddenly, blackness.

When I woke, I was in Damien's home. He had rescued me. He had offered me shelter.

He had transformed me. He saw the way I was damaged and dealt with as if my presence was an inconvenience, and for some reason, that made him act. He refined me, tore off the weak scraps of who I used to be, and in their place, something unbreakable was built.

And now, I am returning the favour. Saving him from marrying a devil in disguise and getting my revenge. Even though he feels reluctant about this.

Today is Viviene's wedding day.

Today is expected to be the day she weds Damien.

A knock at the door draws me out of my thoughts.

I inhale deeply, easing invisible wrinkles from my robe. My pulse is calm and my courage firm.

"Come in," I say, my tone calm.

The door opens, and Damien steps inside.

For a minute, he's mute.

His views travel over me gently, tracing every detail of my gown. The way it hugs my body. The contrast of ivory against my black hair, which is swept up in a sophisticated style, delicate strands outlining my face.

His lips part as if finding words he resolves against speaking.

Then, eventually, a simple remark:

"You look..." He holds himself. His jaw stiffens. He lets out through his nose, unreadable as ever.

Pretty. I know that's what he wanted to say. But Damien doesn't offer compliments easily.

Instead, his gaze hardens. "You're going through with this."

I meet his stare, determined. "Yes."

His palms slide into the pockets of his tailored black suit. The texture spreads across his broad shoulders, the crisp white shirt underneath unbuttoned just enough to hint at the rich skin beneath. He looks like power, like control, the one man who has unintentionally given me the weapons to take back what was snatched from me.

"I told you before, Aria," his tone is low and calculated. "I don't think we should push through with this plan."

"We agreed on this already," I oppose, walking closer. "This is revenge."

His face remains stoic, but I don't miss the slight tick in his jaw.

"I need this, Damien." My expression softens, but the steel beneath it stands. "This is the only way I know how to ruin them."

A muscle in his cheek tightens.

For a moment, he speaks nothing.

Then-

"What if you're making a mistake marrying me."

I sway my head lightly, examining him. "Then let me make it. This is the only revenge I know of."

His gaze gleams and something incomprehensible plays through his face.

I take one final step, closing the distance between us. "You saved me before," I mutter, my tone barely above a sigh. "Save me again. And I'm saving you too in return."

His sigh snags, so soft I almost miss it.

I don't break eye contact with him.

Moments pass. The air between us swells, charged with something I can't identify.

Then-

He breathes, running a hand through his hair.

"Damn it."

Hesitation, frustration, and something else-something about resigned gleams across his face.

I realize I've won.

"Fine," he replies, the phrase strapped with something intense.

A triumphant smile curves my lips.

I stride back, turning toward the mirror one last time, drinking at the sight of myself, a woman who is about to seize everything from those who tried to end her.

Damien examines me. I feel his gaze, heavy on me.

"Shall we?" His tone is gentle and composed.

I turn to see his palm held out.

I place mine in his, our fingers brushing, his warmth oozing into my skin.

A shiver goes down my spine.

We walk toward the door, step by step, deliberate march toward the ruin of the people who tried to bury me.

The driver is already waiting outside. The black limousine glows in the car park.

We enter and the door clicks shut; I breathe softly, a smirk forming on my lips.

Viviene is unaware of what's coming.

Damien sits next to me, silent, tapping his fingers on his knee.

I peek at him, my voice calm but firm.

"Viviene has no idea what's coming for her."

And as the car pulls off, a storm of revenge brews.

And I am at its centre.