Step 4: Scare the opponent a little

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Castiel's sigh was a tremor in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken apologies. He couldn't meet Mrs. Smith's eyes, her judgment a physical weight pressing down on him. 

"She is rather... sensitive, isn't she?" Mrs. Smith drawled, her voice laced with a subtle but unmistakable disapproval. "Katherine was a whole lot nicer."

Castiel's heart stuttered, a sharp pang of guilt slicing through him. He tried to bury the image of Katherine, her nineteen-year-old self, a vibrant burst of sunshine wrapped in his arms. He'd never been able to resist her shy smile, her gentle touch. Her eyes, those brilliant emerald pools, always held him captive. He'd thought her the most beautiful woman in the world. His own Aphrodite.

Aphrodite... the goddess of love. He'd been blind to the irony then, just as he was blind now to the storm brewing within him.

He cleared his throat, the rasp of his voice a harsh echo in the room. "Please excuse me, Mrs. Smith." 

His feet moved automatically, propelled by a desperate urgency. He needed to find Caroline. He had to.

He couldn't avoid the whispers, the murmurs of disapproval that followed him like a persistent shadow. They called his choice a betrayal, a convenient replacement. He knew they were right. He knew Caroline was nothing like Katherine. 

Katherine, his first love, with her quiet grace, her gentle acceptance. She was a whisper, a soft breeze in a world of storms. 

Caroline was a hurricane. She commanded attention, demanded respect, and refused to be ignored. She was brilliant, ambitious, driven, and she hadn't shied away from the power that came with her beauty.

He never loved Caroline the way he loved Katherine. He couldn't. But he'd never seen her as a replacement, not truly. They were two distinct constellations, occupying different galaxies.

He navigated the throngs of masked figures, the symphony of swirling gowns and tailored suits, a sea of faces he didn't recognize. He could smell the champagne and the scent of expensive perfume, the air thick with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. This was the masquerade gala he'd orchestrated for his friend, a celebration that felt hollow and empty in his own hands.

A flicker of crimson caught his eye, a splash of color against the sea of black and gold. He saw her then, standing near the balcony, her back to him, her figure framed by the moonlit sky. He felt a rush of relief, a fleeting sense of peace. 

He drew closer, his heart thundering against his ribs. She was in conversation with someone, their voices a hushed murmur against the background music. 

"Get. Out," he heard her say, the words sharp, resolute, leaving no room for argument.

"And miss seeing your fiancé for the first time in years? Never." The reply was laced with a playful lilt, almost mocking.

"Caroline -" 

His footsteps faltered. His breath caught in his throat, the world around him dissolving into a blur of muted colors. He couldn't believe his eyes. 

Katherine.

She was here, standing inches away from Caroline, her presence radiating a quiet warmth that seemed to melt the tension in the air. He couldn't comprehend it, this impossible scenario, the impossible woman standing before him. 

Katherine. 

She was breathtaking. Her midnight hair, a cascade of silken strands, cascaded down her back, framing a face that was a study in ethereal beauty. Her eyes, emerald green like the leaves of a spring forest, held a glimmer of mischief, a mischievous twinkle that he hadn't seen in years. She was even more beautiful than he remembered.

"Katherine." He whispered her name, his voice barely a breath, his grey eyes wide with a mixture of shock and disbelief. 

A slow, beguiling smile curved her lips, a crimson stain against the pale ivory of her skin. She lifted her glass, the burgundy liquid shimmering in the moonlight, and took a sip. The motion was fluid, almost sensual, her gaze never leaving his. 

"Hello, Mister Groom," she said, her voice a soft melody, laced with a subtle irony that sent chills down his spine. "Congratulations on the wedding." 

The words were a punch to the gut, each syllable echoing the unspoken truth of his betrayal, the cold reality of his choices. His gaze swept across her, taking in the details of her attire, the intricate embroidery on her gown, the delicate pearls adorning her neck. He saw the familiar emerald bracelet he had gifted her, years ago, nestled on her wrist, a silent reminder of a love that had been betrayed. 

The world around him seemed to fade away, replaced by the overwhelming presence of Katherine. He felt the years fall away, memories flooding back, images of stolen kisses, secret promises, whispered dreams. 

"Katherine... how?" He could only manage a stammer, his mind struggling to grasp the reality of her presence.

She chuckled, a light, tinkling sound that filled the space between them. "Let's just say, I had some unexpected help getting here. A certain friend of mine... someone who knows you very well." Her eyes twinkled, a playful glint in the emerald depths. "She wanted to make sure I got to see you two tonight." 

A sense of dread washed over him, a cold wave of realization. He knew exactly who she was referring to. Caroline. 

His gaze shifted to Caroline, her expression unreadable, her face a mask of perfect composure. He saw the flicker of anger in her eyes, a spark of resentment he knew was directed at Katherine. He knew she was furious, not only for the betrayal but for the audacity of Katherine to stand before them, a ghost from his past, a reminder of what he had lost.

Her voice was gentle, almost teasing, but the steel underlying her words was unmistakable. She was ready to fight, to reclaim what was rightfully hers, and he knew, with an agonizing certainty, that this was just the beginning. He had finally opened Pando

ra's box, and he knew he wouldn't be able to close it again.