Victoria


    (DAY BEFORE THE LAUNCH)


    Bright lights, paparazzi and ssical music yed in the background as the waiter refilled my ss with wine. This is how I’d loved to spend my Thursdays. At least, I used to; I barely sipped it. The atmosphere in the private lounge that was once alluring to me had now be… suffocating.


    I hade to this little gathering expecting what I always did-admiration, envy, subtle but obvious praise for my son,


    Mason.


    But tonight was different.


    The women who usually fawned over me barely spared me a nce. Instead, they were too busy gushing about their children’s perfect marriages.


    “My Emily is finally expecting,” Sylvia announced, her voice dripping with pride. “It’s been a long wait, but she and her husband are beyond excited. The first grandchild of the family.”


    A few women gasped in delight.


    “That’s wonderful news,” Margaret said, smiling. “Children are a blessing. My Diana just returned from her honeymoon in Greece, and they’re already talking about starting a family.”


    “My son and his wife are the same,” another woman added. “A strong marriage is the foundation of sess.” I forced a smile, my fingers tightening around my ss.


    Was this what they were doing now? Ignoring me because my son hasn’t remarried yet?


    How ridiculous.


    I leaned back, adjusting the fur shawl around my shoulders. “Mason has been very busy with business matters,” I said smoothly. “Marriage is important, but it’s not everything. He’s focused on expanding Woods Enterprises, and as you all know, he’s doing an excellent job.”


    Silence.


    A few of the women exchanged looks before someone cleared their throat.


    “Well…” Sylvia said hesitantly. “I did hear that Woods Enterprises has been facing some…petitiontely.”


    My eyes snapped to her.


    “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice sharp.


    She


    gave me a pitying smile. “Kavas Corporation, dear. They seem to be making quite the name for themselves. There’s talk that they might even-” She stopped as if realizing she had gone too far. I clenched my jaw.


    Kavas Corporation again.


    I had heard the whispers. I had seen the headlines. A faceless woman rising from nowhere, threatening to overshadow my son’s empire. I wouldn’t allow it.


    1 forced out a smallugh. “Competition is a good thing,” I said. “It keeps the market interesting. But let’s not be mistaken-


    Woods Enterprises isn’t going anywhere.”


    A few murmurs of agreement followed, but the topic of conversation quickly changed.


    Margaret sighed dramatically, cing a hand on her chest. “Speaking of important matters, I’ve been trying to get my hands on the St. ire’s antique ne for my daughter.”


    “The St. ire’s ne?” another woman gasped. I blinked, trying to recall what they were talking about.


    “It’s a rare piece,” Margaret continued. “A true collector’s item. Very few could afford it, even if it were avable.”


    “Oh, I heard it’s priceless,” another woman chimed in.


    “Not just priceless,” Sylvia added. “Impossible to get. I mean… There is an auction that’ll be held this evening but my husband just wouldn’t let me spend so much on jewelry. I don’t think anyone in this room could even dream of—”


    “I’ll be gifting it to my future daughter-inw,” I cut in and as though I had just said something absurd, they all turned to me


    in silence.


    There it was, the admiration. The envy.


    I smiled. I had no idea what ne they were talking about. But it didn’t matter. I’ll get it.


    “Really?” Margaret said, raising an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware that you even had so much to spend on such antique jewellery.”


    “Oh, it won’t be easy,” I said airily, swirling my wine. “But for my son’s future bride, I’ll make sure she has only the best.” Julia’s face shed in my mind. She would love this.


    And I would make sure she has it. The women continued to stare, their curiosity and admiration making my smile widen.


    Mason would be engaged soon. And when that happened, I would make sure every single one of these women regretted ever trying to humiliate me.


    As soon as the asion came to a close, I left without saying goodbye to anyone. I already had Kim look into the ne and he’d sent me the address for the auction.


    By the time I arrived at the location, I was already quitete and was thest person to go in. I walked into a low hum of hushed conversation and clinking sses. I stood near a long table disying an array of rare items, but my focus was solely on one piece: the antique ne.


    The pictures of it online were nothing next to what was in front of me. Oh, this is so precious.


    Its delicate filigree and sparkling gems caught the light, and I could already picture it resting perfectly around my future daughter-inw’s neck.


    I leaned in to examine the ne more closely as the auctioneer’s voice rang through the hall. “Ladies and gentlemen, next we have the St. ire’s ne-an exquisite piece with a storied history. Bidding will start at $250,000.”


    I murmured to myself, “It’s mine… I must have it.”


    Nearby, a group of women whispered among themselves. One of them said, “I heard it is one of a kind. Only one person in the world could own it.”


    I smiled faintly. I knew exactly who that person would be-if only it were me. As the bidding began, several hands went up and numbers were shouted out. “$250,000, $275,000… $300,000…” I watched intently as the price climbed higher and higher. I exchanged nces with Margaret who was also bidding, but I held my ground.


    $350,000!” the auctioneer called.


    My heart pounded. I pressed my lips together and whispered, “I have to win this.”


    Then, just as the auctioneer was about to call for a final bid, a voice from the VIP section dered, “$375,000!”


    I turned slowly. In a secluded corner of the room, a woman in an elegant ck dress sat, her face hidden behind a sheer, ornate transnt covering.


    I felt a sh of anger. How dare she snatch the prize from under my nose? I raised my hand to bid. I shouted, “$400,000!”


    A murmur went through the crowd, but then the auctioneer spoke. “We have a final bid of $1,000,000 from the VIP section. Sold!”


    The room erupted in subdued apuse. I stood there frozen for a moment, my face burning with frustration and humiliation. That mysterious woman had taken the ne from me.


    I turned to Margaret who walked up to me. “I can’t believe that. I was so close.”


    She shrugged. “It seems like she must want it more than you did to bid a million grand.” I narrowed my eyes. “Reasons my foot. I pray they burn her skin so badly they turn bloody red.”


    I didn’t wait for a response. I stormed out of the auction hall, My mind raced with thoughts of mockery from my so-called friends. How would they talk about me now? How could I have lost something so valuable to an unknown woman?


    Once outside, I walked quickly toward the parking lot. The cool night air did little to calm my anger. I cursed under my breath. “That wretched witch… Who does she think she is?”


    I reached my car and opened the door with force, mming it behind me. My hands trembled as I started the engine, determined to clear my head. I drove slowly along the empty road, my thoughts spiralling as I reyed every moment of the auction.


    Just as I was about to park near the exit, I saw someone across the lot. At first, I thought my eyes were ying tricks on me. There, near a row of sleek ck vehicles, stood a woman who looked unmistakably like…


    Lydia.


    Could it actually be… Lydia.


    Lydia?


    She perished in that fire at the prison five years ago so… How could this person be her? I rubbed my eyes, certain that grief and anger were mingling in my mind and making me delusional. “No…. that can’t be,” I muttered.


    Without thinking, I mmed on the brakes and jumped out of the car. I rushed over to her immediately “Lydia!” I called, praying inwardly that it wasn’t her.


    The woman turned slowly, and for a heartbeat, I stared at her, expecting to see the familiar face. But when she met my gaze, I saw that I had been mistaken because she and Lydia had the exact same facial structure. She wasn’t Lydia.


    I stopped in my tracks, feeling quite embarrassed. “I’m sorry,” I blurted out suddenly, stepping back. “I thought… I thought


    you were someone else.”


    She frowned slightly, her tone cautious. “It’s all right, ma’am. I understand.” I managed a small nod, “Sorry,” I repeated softly before hurrying back to my car.


    What was that? Why would I even think for a second that that woman would be alive?


    She died in that fire.


    She’s gone.