LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 9: shadows behind the veil
The grand dining hall was as lavish as ever, bathed in the golden glow of the chandelier. The long mahogany table was set with perfection, yet Serena had no appetite. She sat across from the man she had called father all her life, watching as he cut into his steak with precise, measured movements.
"You were quite the spectacle at the party," her *father* mused, taking a sip of his wine. "I trust you didn't disappoint me."
Serena swirled the red liquid in her own glass, her lips curving in a faint, unreadable smile. "Disappoint? Why, Father, I thought I was rather… enchanting."
His gaze sharpened. "Did the boy fall into your trap?"
Serena tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh, I don't know. Men are so easy to charm, don't you think?"
His jaw tensed, a flicker of impatience breaking through his usual composure. "Don't play games with me, Serena. You know what I mean. Did he surrender himself?"
She took a slow sip of her wine before answering, letting the silence stretch. "Let's just say… he gave me everything I needed."
His eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Good." He set his glass down and leaned forward. "Then there's only one thing left to discuss—your wedding."
Serena's fingers tightened slightly around the stem of her glass, but her expression remained smooth. "You seem rather eager to see me married off. Should I be flattered?"
Her *father* exhaled, feigning exasperation. "You're not a child, Serena. You know marriage is about alliances, not romance. It is necessary."
Her smirk didn't waver, but beneath the surface, her mind raced. Why is he pushing this so hard? What is he planning?
"And here I thought you'd be more sentimental," she said lightly. "After all, I am your daughter."
The look he gave her was unreadable, but something in it made her stomach coil with unease. "You are what I made you," he corrected. "And you will do as you are told."
Sirena leaned back, crossing her legs leisurely. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I'll do what I always do—what I decide."
A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Do not test me, Serena. I've given you everything. You owe me."
She met his gaze, unflinching. "Oh, believe me, Father… I will repay every debt."
His eyes narrowed, as if trying to decipher the hidden meaning in her words. But before he could say anything else, Serena pushed back her chair and stood.
"I do appreciate the dinner," she said smoothly, picking up her glass and finishing the last sip of wine. "But I'm afraid I must take my leave. The anticipation of my wedding has me… overwhelmed."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and strode toward the door, her heels clicking against the marble floor. But just before she exited, his voice cut through the air, low and dangerous.
"Don't make me regret trusting you, Serena."
She paused, glancing over her shoulder with a slow, knowing smile. "Oh, Father… you never trusted me to begin with."
And with that, she disappeared into the night, her mind already working to unravel the secrets lurking beneath her father's schemes.