Love beyond the mask201-300

Novel Catalog

Chapter_254

Elaine steadied herself, a polite smile on her lips, though it faltered the moment she recognized the woman standing before her. This wasn’t just any woman. She was tall, her presence commanding, exuding an elegance that bordered on intimidating. Her eyes were sharp, calculating, and as cold as ice, yet they held an undeniable authority. The woman’s dark, wavy hair framed her face perfectly, and the sleek black dress she wore clung to her form with effortless grace. But it wasn’t her beauty that caught Elaine off guard—it was the unmistakable aura of power that seemed to radiate from her.

Elaine’s heart skipped a beat. She knew this woman. “You,” Elaine said, her voice thick with disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

The woman didn’t respond right away. She simply regarded Elaine with a detached gaze, as if observing a scene from afar, unbothered by its significance. Then, with a slight sigh, she spoke in a tone that was both calm and unsettlingly certain. “I think the real question is, what are you doing here?”

Elaine’s smile tightened as she quickly regained her composure. “I’m here for the auction,” she said, her voice cool and steady. “Skye Gem Ltd. is about to become mine, and I’m sure you understand how important this is.”

The woman’s lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile, though her eyes remained fixed, cold and unwavering. “Important?” she echoed. “Hardly. It’s just a piece of a broken company. From where I stand, it seems you’re simply eager to add it to your collection of trophies.”

Elaine’s pulse quickened, a flicker of irritation rising within her. But she masked it with a practiced calm. “I’m not here for the broken company,” she said evenly. “I’m here for the opportunity it presents.”

The woman stepped forward, her gaze never leaving Elaine’s. The air between them seemed to thicken as she spoke, her voice low but laced with something more. “An opportunity? Or a power play? You’ve had your eyes on that company for quite some time, haven’t you? It’s not just wealth you’re after. It’s the chance to prove you’ve won, to show everyone you can take what belongs to others.”

Elaine’s stomach clenched, but she refused to let the woman see how deeply her words struck. She had to stay composed. But there was something about this encounter—this woman—that felt like a threat, subtle yet unyielding. “Who are you?” she demanded, trying to regain control of the conversation.

The woman didn’t answer right away. Instead, she allowed the question to hang in the air, before offering a faint, almost pitying smile. “The real question, Elaine, isn’t who I am. It’s why you’re here, at this very moment, with everything at stake. Do you truly believe you’ll walk away with Skye Gem Ltd. tonight?”

Elaine’s heart stuttered for the briefest second, a sense of doubt creeping in, though she refused to show it. Who was this woman? And why was she making her question everything?

“Of course I will,” Elaine replied, forcing confidence into her voice, though it faltered slightly. “My fiancé is practically buying it for me.”

The woman’s gaze seemed to penetrate deeper, as though she could see right through the façade Elaine had carefully constructed. “Your fiancé?” she repeated, as if considering the words. “How… interesting. And what about the past? How does it feel, Elaine, to live in the shadow of what was once someone else’s?”

Before Elaine could respond, the woman turned away, her voice drifting back to her. “Be careful,” she warned, her tone dropping to a whisper. “Power isn’t the only thing that comes with this.”

Elaine stood frozen, her mind reeling. The woman’s presence, her words—everything about this encounter left her unsettled. But she couldn’t afford to dwell on it. Not now. Not when everything she’d worked for was so close within reach.

With a deep breath, Elaine forced herself to focus. She couldn’t allow this woman, or anyone, to distract her. Skye Gem Ltd. was as good as hers. Once she had it, there would be no turning back.

But the strange unease in her chest remained, gnawing at her with every passing second.

As she turned toward the stage, where the auction was now in full swing, she reminded herself that nothing and no one could stand in her way. She had already calculated every step, ensured every move was in her favor. Tonight was hers.

Yet, despite her best efforts, the woman’s cold, calculating gaze lingered in her mind, leaving Elaine with an unsettling feeling—one she couldn’t quite shake.

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