The café just outside the hospital was polished and discreet.
Positioned near the window, Hadi pulled out a chair for himself as if Venice was suddenly non-existent.
At first, the conversation flowed mostly between Calin and Hadi.
They spoke of mutual acquaintances, upcoming events, small ripples within their social circle. Names floated back and forth like coded currency.
Venice sat there smiling politely, catching perhaps every third reference. It was like listening to two aristocrats discuss a private chess match while she held a pawn with no board.
Hadi leaned forward eagerly, pouring tea for Calin before refilling his own.
He adjusted the sugar bowl closer to her without being asked, offered her the better pastry, even dabbed at a stray drop near her saucer with a napkin.
Venice could no longer contain her fake smile.
If devotion could be bottled, Hadi would be the brand ambassador.
What made her irritation simmer harder was that Calin appeared completely unaware. Or perhaps she was pretending?
In Venice's mind, there was no possibility Calin did not know about Hadi's blatant affection.
Men did not orbit women like satellites without emitting obvious signals.
Then, mid conversation, Calin's expression shifted as if she had remembered something crucial.
"Hadi," she said softly, "could you do me a favor?"
"Of course," he responded immediately, almost too quickly.
"I left my medication at the hospital pharmacy. Would you mind picking it up for me?"
"Not at all."
He rose without hesitation, already reaching for his wallet and phone. "I'll be right back."
And just like that, he was gone.
The moment the café door closed behind him, Calin's pleasant expression altered. She turned her gaze directly to Venice.
"Do you like Hadi Keir?"
The question landed without warning and Venice stiffened. "What?"
Calin tilted her head slightly, studying her reaction. "You like him, don't you?"
Venice's denial came a beat too late. "Of course not."
Calin smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I wouldn't tell his wife. Liking someone isn't a crime."
Venice's cheeks flushed, her eyes darting around. "I-It's not like that."
Calin's expression softened, almost apologetic. "Gosh, forgive my bluntness, I've always been straightforward. I shouldn't have said it so openly. Please don't take it the wrong way."
Venice still flustered could only say, "I don't mind."
Calin's smile deepened, warmer this time.
"You're different from your cousin Yeri."
As expected, Venice's attention sharpened instantly.
"What do you mean? Wait- You know Yeri?"
Calin hesitated, lowering her gaze as though debating whether to speak. The performance was delicate, her expression careful.
"Back then," Calin began quietly, fingertips grazing the rim of her cup, "I admit I took a liking to Brother Shin. One time, I visited him at the hospital. It was purely out of family ties, and that was the first time I met Yeri."
Venice's fingers tightened around her porcelain cup, this was new to her.
Calin's expression dimmed, bitterness threading through her delicate features.
"I don't know what happened," she continued softly. "But after that day, Brother Shin seemed to have a bad impression of me. He became distant. I mean, it's not like we were very close… but we were friends."
Venice "..."
"I even asked Yeri if she could speak on my behalf. But…" Her voice thinned. "I don't know if that worked."
Silence expanded between them, heavy as wet velvet.
Venice's mind raced.
She had underestimated that dead girl. Beneath that mild expression and studious image, she had been scheming for this long?
But still… seduce Shin Keir?
The idea felt ridiculous, and yet for Shin Keir to distance himself from Calin… could it be he had actually listened to something Yeri said?
Venice disliked Calin but she hated Yeri more.
"You're overthinking," she said smoothly. "There's no way someone like Shin Keir would fall for Yeri. Isn't he already engaged? Besides, I just found out Yeri herself is engaged."
For a fleeting second, something sharp flickered in Calin's eyes: mockery.
So Venice didn't know?
Interesting.
This confirmed what Calin had suspected: the two were not on good terms. And Venice was entirely unaware that the woman Shin Keir was engaged to was, in fact, Yeri.
Calin composed herself and nodded lightly. "You're right. It's only natural for girls to admire someone like Brother Shin. Yeri wouldn't be an exception."
"She's delusional," Venice muttered, no longer bothering to filter her tone. "Instead of focusing on her studies, she goes around chasing men. It's embarrassing, really a shame to the Zhi family."
Calin listened with quiet satisfaction.
She had not expected Venice to know the full story of how Shin and Yeri became close. But that hardly mattered.
An enemy of an enemy was a convenient ally.
Venice might be more useful than she realized.
"How is Yeri doing now?" Calin asked, stirring her coffee with deliberate ease. "After what happened with Madam Nafplion, she must've been traumatized."
Venice blinked. "What?"
Calin paused, brows lifting slightly. "Could it be… you didn't know?"
The confusion on Venice's face was unmistakable.
Calin leaned in, lowering her voice as though unveiling something delicate and confidential.
"Some time ago, Yeri was abducted by Madam Nafplion. She blamed Yeri for her son's death."
The words settled heavily between them.
"She was rescued, fortunately," Calin continued, her tone soft with calculated sympathy. "But I heard she was in a terrible state afterward, it's understandable her parents didn't want it made public. I also heard another girl was dragged into it unwillingly."
Venice stared at her, eyes widening.
For a split second, shock overtook everything else.
Then a darker thought crept in, Yeri really was like a stubborn ghost. No matter what happened, she survived.
"By terrible state," Venice asked slowly, "what exactly do you mean?"
Calin shook her head, letting a faint crease form between her brows.
"I don't know the details. I only heard fragments." She paused, then added gently, "Please send her my regards. I hope she's doing well."
Venice had not seen Yeri since Zoren Lin's banquet. Clearly, much had unfolded behind closed doors.
What if Yeri truly had something to do with Leo Nafplion's death?
The possibility felt outrageous… yet strangely convenient.
While Venice drifted into speculation, Calin adopted a worried expression.
"I hope Yeri won't misunderstand me for mentioning this," she said softly. "Let's keep this between us, okay?"
Venice nodded immediately. "Of course."
Although she viewed Calin as a rival, being on friendly terms with someone of her status was far from disadvantageous.
At that moment, Hadi returned, medication bag in hand, interrupting the thick undercurrent between the two women.
Venice wore a quiet sense of triumph blooming inside her. She believed she had gained leverage over Yeri through this unexpected encounter.
However, she did not notice the faint, satisfied curve at the corner of Calin's lips.
Calin had navigated the entertainment world and high society long enough to recognize pliable minds. Venice, for all her pride, was easy to manipulate.
When Calin eventually departed, Venice lost interest in prolonging her stay with Hadi. Her thoughts were already racing ahead.
Before leaving, however, she turned to him with a coy smile.
"By the way," she said lightly, "about the situation at Zhi Corporation… do you think you could help my father regarding the CEO position?"
Hadi, with nothing going on in his head, frowned slightly. "What predicament is he facing?"
Venice hesitated. Truthfully, she had no idea about the specifics. She only knew her father needed a strong backer.
"Maybe we could arrange dinner sometime," she suggested smoothly. "With my dad. So you can discuss it properly."
Hadi felt a flicker of annoyance. Another obligation. Another expectation.
Still, he nodded. "We'll see."
In his mind, that answer bought him time.
Satisfied enough, Venice parted ways with him and went straight to the Zhi manor.
Upon arrival, Madam Zhi informed her calmly that Yeri was currently staying at a penthouse, preparing for her engagement.
The word sent a thrill through Venice.
"Who is she engaged to?" Venice pressed.
Madam Zhi's expression shifted subtly. She knew well that Venice and Yeri did not get along. The last thing she wanted was unnecessary drama before such an important occasion.
"You'll know on the day of the engagement," Madam Zhi replied vaguely.
This avoidance only fueled Venice's imagination.
She left the manor with a smug smile. In her mind, a theory formed quickly and cruelly.
What if Yeri had been assaulted during the abduction?
What if the family was rushing her into an engagement to preserve appearances?
What if some clueless, unsuspecting man had agreed to marry damaged goods?
The thought made Venice's lips curl faintly. She could hardly wait to see her cousin.
"Yeri, oh Yeri… so much for dreaming of becoming Shin Keir's wife. Now your parents can't wait to dump you onto someone else…"
Venice muttered the words under her breath like a private toast of mockery as she dialed Yeri's number only to realise she'd been blocked.
For a second, she stared at the screen, then she laughed softly.
Yeri must be too busy recuperating.
Venice slipped her phone back into her purse, entirely unbothered.
The engagement was the day after tomorrow, there would be a spectacle to watch.
---
Meanwhile, across the city at the courthouse, a different kind of performance was unfolding.
The courtroom buzzed with restrained tension with many people, including reporters present.
At the defendants' table sat Tiffany and Rita.
Once, they had been spectacle enough at a wedding that ended in chaos. One the bride. The other the mistress.
Now, they faced a long pending case of bullying that had refused to fade quietly into memory.
Rita looked like a wilted flower, her complexion was pale to the point of translucence, her gaze drifted, unfocused and distant.
After the miscarriage, her body had not fully recovered.
A medical attendant sat beside her, occasionally adjusting a bottle of water or whispering reminders.
Tiffany, in stark contrast, radiated defiance.
She sat upright, chin lifted, eyes sharp with indignation.
Every few minutes she rolled her eyes so dramatically it was a wonder they did not detach and fall onto the polished floor.
"That's not what happened," she snapped at one point, interrupting the proceedings. "I'm being framed! It's malicious slander! All fake!"
Her voice cut through the courtroom like a blade, drawing disapproving glances from the judge.
If there was one person who had displayed actual foresight, it was Cherry.
After the scandal, she had conveniently flown abroad. Calls went unanswered. Messages unread. Clearly, no sign of returning.