The Lu family mansion had not known peace since Adrian's intrusion. Every corridor seemed to hum with heightened vigilance—guards stationed at every possible entry point, cameras checked twice an hour, and whispers between servants cut short the moment Emily entered the room.
Emily had never felt so trapped in a place so grand.
By the third day, her nerves were raw, her sleep fractured by dreams of shadowy men and silver flames. Leonard remained a closed book, his focus swallowed entirely by securing the estate and meeting with allies she never saw. When he did appear, he was curt, composed, and more distant than ever.
But one evening, a letter arrived.
It was delivered not by a guard, nor by a servant, but slipped beneath Emily's door in a black envelope sealed with red wax. Her heart stuttered as she lifted it. No one in the household could have placed it there without being seen.
Hands trembling, she broke the seal.
"Mrs. Lu,You have been cordially invited to the annual Cheng Society Masquerade Ball. Attendance is expected.—A Friend"
Emily reread the note, her pulse racing. A friend? Hardly. Every instinct told her this was connected to Adrian.
When she showed the letter to Leonard, his reaction was instantaneous.
His jaw clenched, and he crushed the paper in his fist. "You're not going."
Emily bristled. "You can't decide that for me. It's addressed to me."
"You don't understand," Leonard said sharply. "The Cheng Society is no ordinary gathering. It's a nest of vipers. That invitation is a trap."
"Then why send it to me?" Emily challenged. "Why not to you?"
Leonard's silence spoke volumes. Whoever had arranged this wanted her specifically.
That night, Emily lay awake, staring at the ceiling. She thought about Adrian's piercing eyes, the way he had studied her as if she were already tangled in his web. If he wanted her to be at that ball, refusing to go might not protect her. It might only make her appear weaker.
By morning, her mind was made up.
She would attend the masquerade—whether Leonard allowed it or not.
The night of the ball, the city glittered beneath a blanket of stars. The Cheng Society's venue was a historic palace-turned-banquet hall, its marble columns draped in gold and crimson silks. Chandeliers glittered like frozen constellations, their crystals scattering light over the masked crowd.
Emily had never seen anything like it.
Her gown was a midnight blue that clung to her form with effortless elegance, its flowing skirts embroidered with silver thread. A delicate mask of filigree covered the upper half of her face, lending her an air of mystery. Though she'd left the mansion under the pretense of a quiet evening drive, she knew Leonard would discover her absence soon enough.
Her heart hammered with both fear and exhilaration. For once, she wasn't the passive pawn trapped in Leonard's gilded cage. Tonight, she was stepping into the game on her own terms.
As she entered the ballroom, a hush rippled through the guests. Conversations faltered, eyes turned, and Emily felt dozens of stares slide over her like silk and steel combined. Some were curious, others appraising. And a few carried the unmistakable glint of malice.
A man in a silver mask approached, bowing slightly. "Mrs. Lu," he greeted, his tone dripping with familiarity. "An honor."
Emily's spine stiffened. "Do I know you?"
"You will," he said with a smile before melting back into the crowd.
She barely had time to recover before another figure appeared—this one far less ambiguous.
Adrian.
His mask was black, adorned with a raven feather on one side. His eyes, however, were unmistakable—sharp, predatory, filled with amusement as they locked onto hers.
"You came," he murmured, stepping close enough that the scent of his cologne brushed her senses. "Braver than I thought."
Emily forced her voice not to tremble. "You invited me. Why?"
Adrian's smile deepened, but before he could answer, a ripple spread through the crowd. The music swelled, and guests turned toward the grand staircase.
Leonard Lu had arrived.
He wore a tailored black suit and a mask of dark gold, simple yet commanding. His presence cut through the opulence like a blade—sharp, undeniable, impossible to ignore. Emily's breath caught at the sight of him.
Leonard's gaze found her instantly. For a fleeting second, she saw raw fury flash in his eyes. He strode across the ballroom without hesitation, every step echoing with authority.
Adrian chuckled under his breath. "And so the king comes for his queen."
"Emily." Leonard's voice was low, dangerous, when he reached her side. "We're leaving. Now."
Emily swallowed hard, but she didn't move. "Not yet."
Adrian raised his glass in mock salute. "You see? She's not as compliant as you'd like her to be."
Leonard's glare could have shattered glass. "Stay away from her."
"Why?" Adrian asked smoothly. "Because she might finally learn the truth you've been hiding?"
Emily's pulse thundered. "What truth?"
Neither man answered. Instead, the orchestra struck up a waltz, and Adrian offered his hand with a flourish.
"May I have this dance, Mrs. Lu?"
Emily froze, caught between fear and defiance. Refusing might provoke him. Accepting might enrage Leonard. And yet, in this glittering hall of masks and secrets, she realized something chilling—every eye was on them.
This was no simple dance. It was a declaration.
Leonard's hand closed around hers before she could decide. "She's with me," he said, his voice like iron.
He pulled her onto the dance floor, his grip firm, his movements precise. The crowd parted, giving them space as the music carried them into motion.
Emily struggled to find her rhythm, but Leonard guided her effortlessly, his hand at her waist, his gaze burning into hers.
"What were you thinking?" he hissed under the cover of the music. "Coming here alone? Do you have any idea what you've walked into?"
Emily met his glare, her chin lifting stubbornly. "I won't be sheltered like some fragile doll. If Adrian wants to involve me, I need to understand why."
Leonard's jaw clenched. "You think this is a game? You don't know what he's capable of."
"Then tell me," she shot back. "Tell me the truth, Leonard. Stop keeping me in the dark."
The music swelled, spinning them across the floor. Around them, masked faces watched intently, whispering, speculating.
Leonard didn't answer. Not with words.
Instead, he pulled her closer, their bodies almost touching, his breath brushing her ear. "He's not after me, Emily. He's after us. You're already in the crossfire."
Emily's heart stuttered.
The waltz ended, but the tension didn't. Applause echoed around them, but Emily barely heard it. Her mind was spinning, her body thrumming with adrenaline.
As Leonard led her from the floor, Adrian's voice drifted after them, soft enough that only they could hear.
"Secrets, Leonard," he said. "No mask lasts forever. Not even yours."
Later, in the carriage ride back to the Lu mansion, silence stretched thick between them. The city lights flickered past, painting Emily's reflection on the glass in fractured colors.
Finally, she broke the quiet. "He knows something. About you. About us."
Leonard's gaze was fixed out the window, but his hand tightened on his knee.
"Yes," he admitted at last. "And that's what makes him dangerous."
Emily turned to him, her voice steady despite the storm in her chest. "Then stop shutting me out. If we're in this together, Leonard, I need to know what we're really fighting."
His eyes flicked to hers, sharp, unreadable. For a long moment, she thought he might refuse again. But then, something in his expression softened—like a crack in the armor.
"Soon," he said. "I'll tell you soon."
Emily held his gaze, searching for the truth he wouldn't yet give. But deep inside, she knew one thing:
The masked ball had changed everything.
The lines were drawn, the stage was set. And whatever secrets Leonard carried, they would not stay buried much longer.