Chapter 7 — The Masks of Society
In Silverwood City, appearances were everything.The elite loved three things: money, secrets, and pretending to have neither.
Now the newest obsession was Mr. and Mrs. Lee.
Within a week of their wedding, magazines called them "The City's Power Couple." Photographers trailed them at every gala. Socialites whispered that Elena's poise and Damian's composure were too perfect to be real.
They were right—but no one could prove it.
Gala of Shadows
Their first appearance as a couple came at the Silverwood Foundation Charity Ball.Elena wore black satin instead of white; she said she was done with innocence. Damian matched her in a sleek tuxedo, his hand resting lightly on her back as they entered.
The room fell silent for half a second—the kind of silence that means envy.
"Elena," someone murmured as they passed, "she's changed."
"Yes," another replied. "Into someone untouchable."
Across the hall, Noah Han and Vivian Seo stood together, masks of polite surprise fixed to their faces.
Vivian's smile trembled for a moment."Elena always did have a taste for drama," she whispered.
Elena caught her sister's gaze and raised her glass in a slow, deliberate toast.Vivian's painted smile froze.
Damian leaned close enough for only Elena to hear."You enjoy this more than you admit."
She didn't deny it."Watching people choke on their own pride? It's refreshing."
The Corporate Move
While the gossip swirled, Nova Enterprise quietly began acquiring minor companies that once supplied Arden Group.By the time the newspapers noticed, the damage was done.
When Noah confronted Damian at a business luncheon, the tension was thick enough to cut.
"You think you can corner my market with a few acquisitions?" Noah snapped.
Damian's expression never changed. "A few? I'm aiming for all."
Elena, seated beside Damian, added softly, "You should pay attention to your own house, Mr. Han. Some foundations crack faster than you think."
The remark drew polite laughter from the other guests—and a furious look from Vivian.
For the first time, Noah realized Elena wasn't playing defense.She was attacking.
Private Confessions
That night, back at the penthouse, Elena dropped her heels by the door and poured herself a glass of wine.Damian loosened his tie, watching her with quiet curiosity.
"You handle them well," he said.
"They taught me how," she replied.
A pause stretched between them—not awkward, but charged.
"You don't have to fight alone anymore," Damian said finally.
Elena turned toward him, startled by the softness in his voice."This isn't about needing help."
"I didn't say it was," he answered. "I said you're not alone."
For a moment, her heart wavered—just enough for warmth to slip through the cracks of revenge.
Then she looked away."I'll remember that," she murmured.
The Rumors Begin
By dawn, tabloids buzzed with speculation:
'Are Elena Seo and Damian Lee the real thing?''The Marriage That Changed the Market.'
Every headline fed her plan.Every whisper twisted the knife deeper into Noah and Vivian's pride.
But Elena knew the higher she climbed, the thinner the air would get.
For now, though, she allowed herself a single thought as she watched the sunrise over Silverwood City:
The masks are cracking.