The Zhao family estate shimmered like a palace under the night sky. Golden chandeliers spilled light across towering marble pillars, while a fleet of luxury cars lined the sweeping driveway. Guests in gowns and tuxedos poured into the hall, their laughter and chatter blending into a symphony of wealth.
Sara gripped the hem of her silver dress nervously as she stepped out of the car. Grace had chosen it for her — elegant, understated, designed to make her look respectable without outshining anyone. Another cage, just prettier.
Her father adjusted his tie, proud to be among the influential crowd. Grace, radiant in emerald silk, walked ahead with the ease of someone who had long rehearsed this role.
Sara followed, every step heavy.
Inside, the ballroom glittered with crystal and music. Waiters floated by with champagne flutes, while the city's most powerful families mingled effortlessly. Everywhere Sara looked, people sparkled — with money, with ambition, with masks she couldn't read.
Whispers began almost immediately.
"Is that the Li daughter?""She looks… ordinary.""I heard Grace is grooming her for a Zhao match."
Sara's throat tightened. She kept her gaze down, but the sting of their words pressed against her like thorns.
Emily's laughter cut through the crowd like a whip. Sara froze as Emily appeared, dazzling in a crimson gown. Her parents flanked her — polished, confident, every inch the picture of a family bred for society.
"Well, well," Emily purred, circling like a predator. "The Li family finally makes an appearance. Sara, you look… quaint."
Her mother gave a polite smile, thin and cutting. "Grace, you've done well, but really, shouldn't you have dressed her more boldly? Shyness isn't fashionable these days."
Grace's smile didn't waver, but her fingers twitched around her clutch. "Sara prefers elegance over theatrics. Not everyone needs to scream for attention."
Sara's chest burned. Both women spoke as if she weren't even there.
Then, the air shifted.
Daniel entered.
He wore a dark suit, perfectly tailored, his presence commanding without effort. Conversations paused as people noticed him — the Li heir, the young man with a reputation for brilliance and cold detachment.
Sara felt the room tilt when his gaze found hers. For a fleeting moment, the whispers, the stares, the mocking smiles — all of it faded.
He approached with calm precision, stopping beside her.
"Miss Li," he said smoothly, just loud enough for others to hear. "I didn't expect to see you here."
Grace's eyes glittered at the formality. Emily's expression soured instantly.
Daniel turned, offering his arm. "Since you're here, would you care to join me? I'd like to introduce you to my friends."
Sara blinked, startled. Whispers erupted again. Grace froze. Emily's smile cracked.
But Daniel's arm was steady, waiting.
Sara hesitated only a second before placing her hand on his.
He led her across the ballroom to a quieter corner where three young men stood.
Adrian grinned the moment he saw them. "About time you showed up, Li. And you brought company."
Ryan gave a lazy smirk, raising his glass. "Didn't think Sara would survive the shark pit this long. Impressive."
Leo adjusted his cufflinks, his sharp gaze scanning the crowd. "Her composure speaks for itself. Most would have fled already."
Sara flushed under their attention, but Daniel's calm presence steadied her.
"These are my friends," Daniel said simply. "Adrian, Ryan, Leo. You'll be seeing them often."
The three exchanged knowing glances, each in their own way acknowledging her. For the first time tonight, Sara felt a thread of safety weaving around her.
But safety was fragile.
As the orchestra swelled and dancers filled the floor, Emily watched from across the hall, her nails digging into her glass. Sara could feel her gaze like a knife.
Grace leaned in to Sara's father, whispering softly, her eyes locked on the Zhao family seated near the head table. Sara caught just one phrase:
"Soon, she'll be theirs."
Sara's stomach dropped. The glittering hall, the music, the gowns — all of it felt less like a celebration and more like a cage.
But when Daniel's hand brushed against hers lightly, grounding her, she took a breath. Maybe a cage could also be a battlefield.
And if it was, she wasn't standing in it alone anymore.