Oh god.It had slipped out from the neckline of her gown, catching light like a secret begging to be seen. She hadnât worn it in months. Hadn't even touched it since the last time she'd sworn she was done caring. But tonight, her hands had trembled before the mirror and she'd needed something.She had no idea when it slipped free. Could've been minutes. Could've been the whole time.Panic whispered behind her ears.Dominic. Lana. Did they see it?Serena turned her body, subtly, tucking the chain back inside with practiced grace. Her fingers brushed against the gold as she hid it again, like tucking away a bruise.By the time she turned, Gia and Eli had caught up."There you are," Gia exhaled, half relieved, half exasperated. Her hair was pulled into a sleek updo that still somehow felt like an afterthought, her eyes sharp behind kohl and worry. "You disappeared on us."Eli appeared just behind her, adjusting his tie like he was preparing for battle. Or maybe he was just irritated. "P
Devacraux Estate â Somewhere Between the Ballroom and the ShadowsThere were too many mirrors in the Devacraux estate.Too many reflections to track. Too many corners that looked like stage lights and smelled like ambition.Serena was halfway to the west corridor, skimming the edge of the gala like a woman tracing her escape route, when she saw them.Lana Keene. Dominic's sister. And Leo.He was laughing.Not the kind that carried joy, but the kind that settled in your bones like smokeâcoiling, insinuating, familiar to every girl whoâd ever been told to lighten up or be smart about her career.Serena didnât recognize him by face. But she recognized the body language. The hand that hovered just a bit too low on Lanaâs waist. The tilt of his head as he said something that made Lana smileâbut only with her mouth. Serena remembered his attempt to do the same to her. It wasnât the first time heâd touched Lana. That was a certainty Serena didnât have to be told.Her heels were already piv
Devacraux Estate â East Balcony, Overlooking the Garden StairsLucian Vale didnât linger where he could be photographed. But he didnât need proximity to observe either.From his place at the edge of the upper terrace â behind glass, framed in soft downlighting and shadow â he saw everything.The curve of Serenaâs spine as she crouched. The slight hesitation in her fingers as the child offered her something. The way her smile changed â softened â when she took the folded paper into her hands.She didnât fake it. He knew the difference. Heâd seen her on carpets, at premieres, at press junkets when her smile was a shield. This wasnât that.This was the real thing.And it hit him harder than he expected.âSheâs good at this,â Aiden Wolfe said quietly beside him, holding a drink he wasnât sipping. âNot just the camera-ready kind of good. People feel her. Makes you want to do better.âLucian didnât respond. He watched the children gather. Three of them now. Then four. Like birds drawn to th
Devacraux Estate â 8:04 PMThe Foundation Gala, Arrival HourSerena Rivera didnât stumble. She didnât hesitate. On the outside.She stepped out of the car like she belonged in itâlike it was hers. Like the black silk pooling around her ankles hadnât been second-guessed fifteen times in front of a mirror. Like she didnât know exactly how many vultures were waiting just beyond the carpet with pens disguised as compliments.Youâre walking into a lionâs mouth, Ava Vale, her mother in law, had told her, fastening the last clasp of her earrings earlier that evening. 'So smile like you own the jungle.'She failed spectacularly, until Ava showed her some "references" and context behind some pictures of Seraphina, Aiden, and even her mom, Elizabeth Rivera. Her heart clenched when Ava bought out paparazzi photos of her mom. It was beautiful in its own way. Her mom was beautiful. She knew her mother, but she knew her hollywood's starlet less. Elizabeth Rivera, the person before she was a mother
đŹ EXCLUSIVE: Serena Rivera to Replace Seraphina Devacraux in Ravienne BiopicBy Harper Lane for Industry ConfidentialIn a move already shaking the foundations of industry circles, newcomer Serena Rivera has been tapped to replace Seraphina Devacraux in the upcoming Ravienne biopic â a role insiders long believed was locked for Devacraux, considered a spiritual successor to the legendary fashion icon.Rivera, known for her work in Half a Life, is reportedly stepping into the lead without public knowledge of a formal audition. The film, directed by newcomer Dominic Keene, marks a bold and controversial shift in casting â one that has raised more questions than answers.A representative for Devacraux declined to comment.But the public hasnât.Twitter Reactions:@filmanalystdailySeraphina Devacraux IS Ravienne. This is like casting a knockoff when you already had the original. Have you seen her CARDIGAN during Half A Life press tour??? I mean, THAT is not the girl that should be playi
Lucianâs Office â 8:17 PMThe silence came first. Thick. Heavy. The kind that didnât need to be commanded into the roomâit just arrived with Lucian Vale, uninvited and absolute.The door clicked shut with a hush too final to be casual.Lucian didnât speak. Didnât look up. He moved to the bar cart like he had all the time in the world, rolling his sleeves with the slow, deliberate grace of a man who preferred precision to volume. Ice rattled into crystal. No drink poured.Behind him, Jonathan stood at rigid attention near the desk, jaw tight. Eli hovered closer to the window, like it might open a way out.Lucian finally turned.âYou both lied to me.âThe words werenât loud. They didnât need to be. They landed like iron dropped on glassâsoft, but with the promise of shatter.Jonathan flinched, just barely. Eli lifted his chin.âWe didnât lie,â Eli said, his tone clipped. âWe honored a request from Miss Rivera.âLucian looked up. Slowly. Like that alone took restraint.âThatâs Mrs. Vale