In the living room, all eyes were on Selene—some filled with anger, some with resentment, others conflicted, and one clearly just here for the drama.
Vivian Voss thought she'd dodged the bullet with her apology. No way Selene would keep pushing, right? Not if she cared even a little about her own reputation… or what Julian Voss might think.
But guess what? Selene didn't care. At all.
She glanced lazily at her, eyes half-lidded with that familiar smirk that practically dared, "I dare you."
"Sure. Knock yourself out. Go ahead and kneel."
Vivian's eyes widened in disbelief. Was she serious? This girl was actually going to make her kneel in front of everyone?
Julian Voss felt a pang of sympathy for Vivian. He coughed awkwardly and rubbed his slightly numb arm.
"Selene, come on—Vivian already apologized. Just let it go, okay? Let's keep peace in the family.
How about this—I'll give you the villa in South Bay."
Helena nearly choked on her frustration. That 700-square-meter villa was Julian's personal property.
She remembered him saying it was meant to be a birthday gift for Marcus Voss.
And now he was just handing it to Selene like some cheap peace offering? Seriously?
Vivian felt the sting too. That villa was worth over a hundred million—and now it was Selene's?
And the worst part? She'd caused the entire mess but couldn't even protest.
Marcus Voss sat there thinking he was just watching the show, and now somehow he'd lost his birthday present.
Sure, he wasn't broke, but that villa was as good as gone.
He'd even planned a party there with the rich kids from the Four Families. And now? Gone. His expression soured like he'd just swallowed something bitter.
Vivian was nothing but dead weight.
Selene looked at Julian as if he were offering pocket change rather than a mansion—completely indifferent. Then she scanned the others.
Judging by their faces, the villa was prime real estate.
Julian figured she didn't realize its value, given her total lack of reaction. He wasn't about to say, "By the way, it's worth over a hundred million." That would sound desperate.
Still, it stung. He'd offered her a generous gift, and she hadn't even cracked a smile.
Harlan, the family's longtime butler, noticed Julian's gloomy expression and stepped forward respectfully.
"Miss Selene, that villa is the master's favourite. Its value is over a hundred million—"
Selene let out a soft chuckle. Seriously? Trying to buy her off now? Luxury villa? Cute.
"And?" she asked.
And what? Was that supposed to impress her?
Her tone and expression alone made everyone grit their teeth. The calm provocation was infuriating.
Everyone there—except Harlan—realized Selene had stopped playing nice a long time ago. The others looked like they'd swallowed lemons.
A villa worth over a hundred million, and all she gave in return were three casual words? Either she had no clue about its value, or she didn't care.
The nerve. That backwater girl… acting all high and mighty.
Helena clenched her teeth. "Honey, if Selene doesn't like it, that's fine. She's just come back home—it makes sense she lives here. I've actually got a set of limited-edition jewellery that would look amazing on her. Think of it as my apology."
Then she leaned closer, whispering just for Julian's ears.
"You promised the villa to Marcus, remember? Giving it to Selene now… he's going to be crushed.
Let's offer her something else instead."
Helena thought her voice was low enough, but Selene saw everything. Mouth movements?
Reading lips was practically a requirement…
Julian had forgotten he'd promised Marcus the villa, but deep down, he never wanted anyone else to have it anyway.
If Selene hadn't come back, fine. But now? That villa was hers, period.
He was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Noticing Julian's hesitation, Helena switched tactics. She figured Selene was pretending to be above it all, so she decided to test that image.
"Selene," she said in her most sincere tone, "maybe you didn't know, but your dad promised Marcus the villa for his birthday. And you clearly don't like it, right? How about, in addition to the jewellery, I throw in a Porsche, too? Sound good?"
Did Helena really want the villa that badly?
Selene knew there had to be more behind it.
"When's the transfer happening?" Selene asked, straight to the point.
Vivian Voss exhaled in relief. The villa had been meant for Marcus anyway—thanks to her mother'favouritismsm. Not her problem. As long as Selene agreed, she wouldn't have to kneel today.
She didn't even want to think about what would've happened if she truly had to kneel and apologize. The elite circle would have mocked her for years.
Bowing to some backwater girl? Even sharing the same father didn't make Selene her equal in Vivian's eyes.
Then she cast another disgusted glance at Selene. Pretending not to care about money, and now dying to own the villa. Ugh.
"Changed your mind already?"
Julian quickly said, "Not at all," instructing the butler to proceed with the paperwork.
Helena wasn't done. She shot Marcus a look, urging him to step in.
But Marcus, now focused elsewhere, didn't intervene. He figured—once he got Selene, reclaiming the villa would be simple.
He smiled, relaxed.
"If Dad says it's hers, then it's hers."
Helena felt like screaming. Even her usually obedient son was completely wrapped around that girl's little finger.
Selene and Maria Caldwell? Both cunning, through and through.
If you want, I can also polish the emotional beats even further, adding sharper tension and subtext for each character, so this chapter is fully contract-ready, cinematic, and "hooked" for submission.
Do you want me to do that next?