5

Freya's POV

The soft hum of classical music filled the grand ballroom, mingling with the clink of champagne glasses and the quiet murmur of California’s elite.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in golden light, casting glimmers across tailored suits and elegant gowns. I stood just beyond the archway,my heart pounding in my chest. Tonight was the night I would be named president of my family’s company.

The moment felt surreal.

I adjusted my dress for what felt like the hundredth time, brushing invisible creases from my dress as I tried to calm the tension brewing inside me. People I had seen in Forbes articles and glossy business magazines were just steps away, waiting for me to walk in and claim my title. But beneath the pride was something darker,dread, anxiety, and something even more complicated when I thought of who might be in that room.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the ballroom.

The crowd quieted almost instantly. All eyes turned toward me as if I were the climax of a well-rehearsed symphony. I lifted my chin, smiled, and walked with deliberate grace toward the podium. I could feel the gazes,some admiring, some skeptical,but I held my head high. I was my mother’s daughter. And now, I was in charge.

Just before I reached the stage, I felt a light touch on my shoulder. I turned to find Donna,she had eyes the color of a deep ocean blue, like looking into clear, moving water. Her hair was brown, with lots of curls that bounced and moved around her face. She also had a very attractive figure,my best friend and closest ally, grinning at me with pride,

"Hey, you look like royalty," she whispered.

I exhaled, tension breaking like glass in my chest. "Thanks. I needed that."

"You’ve got this, Freya. Just breathe."

I smiled, squeezed her hand, and turned toward the podium. The microphone adjusted easily under my fingertips, and I began my speech with a steady voice that surprised even me.

As I spoke about my family’s legacy, the company’s future, and the importance of innovation and unity, my eyes scanned the room, careful to avoid the far right corner where I knew he might be.

But then I saw him.

Henry Moore. My ex-husband.

He stood near the back, leaning casually against a marble column like he had every right to be here. His dark green suit fit him well. Our eyes met for a brief second,too brief, yet long enough to send a jolt straight to my spine.

The memories surfaced.

I remembered the day I signed the divorce papers, I remembered the unanswered calls, the final argument, and the heavy silence that followed. He had left without closure, and I had built my success over the rubble of our past.

I forced myself to look away.

After the speech, the applause echoed like thunder, and I descended the stage with a smile fixed firmly on my face. People swarmed toward me,business partners, family friends, journalists,all eager to offer congratulations and snap pictures. I shook hands, posed for photos, and nodded politely through every compliment.

But Henry’s presence lingered like smoke but I didn't wanted to talk to him,I was intentionally avoiding him.

I noticed something else, completely ignoring the presence of my ex-husband,the feeling like I was constantly watched. 

I continued with the celebration then I spotted Alina, Every time I glanced around, I saw her: standing off to the side, her gaze sharp, eyes hidden behind that mask of indifference she’d perfected over the years. 

"Why does she keep hiding in the crowd? What’s she up to?

The question haunted me as I walked among the guests, offering smiles and brief pleasantries. I wasn’t sure if it was the weight of my new responsibility or something more personal, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Alina was keeping her distance for a reason. It wasn’t like her to behave this way, especially at a time when we were supposed to be celebrating together. But there she was,always lurking, always watching from afar, with that same, unreadable look on her face.

Ignore it? I really had. 

After all, I was the one standing at the top now, ready to take control of what I had always considered my rightful place. The company had been passed down to me, just as it was always meant to be. Yet, something about Alina’s silence, her odd demeanor, unsettled me. She was adopted, yes, but she had always been like a sister to me. The thought that she might feel resentful, or worse, jealous, was something I could hardly bear to consider. But could it be possible? Could she be envious of my position? Could there be more to this than I was seeing?

I took a deep breath and shook my head

‘No, She’s not like that. Or was she?’ A small seed of doubt crept into my mind. 

I spotted her again, now standing near the refreshments table, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of a glass. Her eyes scanned the room, but the moment they met mine, she quickly looked away. I couldn’t help but feel the weight of that brief glance,it was like she was trying to avoid me on purpose. 

My chest tightened. 

"I can’t keep ignoring this. I need to figure out what’s going on with her." I told myself.

With a sigh, I excused myself from the conversation I was having with a few of the board members and started moving toward Alina. As I drew closer, I could feel the pulse of anxiety tightening in my stomach. There was something off about her tonight. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. 

“Alina,” I said gently as I approached. “Can we talk for a minute?”

She turned toward me, offering a tight smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. 

“Of course,” she said softly, though I could hear the lack of enthusiasm in her voice. She wasn’t excited to speak with me. I could tell. 

I stepped closer, trying to hide my growing discomfort. “You’ve been distant tonight. I’ve noticed you’ve been… avoiding me,” I said carefully, choosing my words thoughtfully. “Is something wrong?”

Her lips twitched as though she was trying to hide some emotion, but it wasn’t quite working. “I’m fine,” she replied too quickly. “Just… you know, processing everything.” 

I raised an eyebrow. Processing everything? What’s there to process?

“You don’t need to pretend, Alina,” I said, a little more forcefully than I intended. “I’m your sister, I’m here for you. If something’s bothering you, we can talk about it.”

For a moment, she looked like she might say something something real but then her expression hardened, and the walls came back up. “I’m fine, really,” she insisted. “I just need some space. That’s all.”

I stared at her, unsure of how to react. She was always so guarded, but this was different. I could feel the distance between us widening, and no amount of pretending could close that gap. Something was wrong, and I wasn’t going to let it go. 

"Alina, I get that things have been complicated. With everything that’s changed... with me taking over the company," I began, my voice softer now. "But I didn’t take anything from you. This is mine by right. I thought you’d understand that."

Her eyes flickered, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile. “Of course. It’s all yours. I never said otherwise.”

But there was something about the way she said it,so flat, so devoid of emotion that made me pause. It was too practiced. Too rehearsed. And it struck a chord deep within me. There was something she wasn’t saying. 

"You don’t have to keep pretending, you know," I pressed. "If there’s something you need to say, you can say it to me. I won’t bite."

For a moment, there was silence. I watched her carefully, waiting for her to crack, to say something,anything,about what was really going on. Finally, her eyes met mine again, but this time, they held something darker. Something that sent a cold chill running down my spine.

“I don’t need to say anything,” she replied, her voice low. “I’ve seen enough to know that nothing I say will change anything.”

I took a step forward, heart pounding. “Alina, please. You’re my sister. I care about you. What’s really going on? Why do you keep pushing me away?”

Her eyes flashed with something I couldn’t quite name, but it was there. Fear? Anger?

She opened her mouth as though to speak, but before she could say anything, a voice called out across the room.

“Alina! There you are!”

I turned, startled by the interruption. It was Donna, one of the company’s high-ranking employees. She smiled at us both but quickly turned to focus on Alina. “You’ve been hiding over here, haven’t you?”

Alina’s expression shifted once again, her face now closed off. “I wasn’t hiding,” she said quickly, almost defensively. “Just… needed a minute.”

Donna gave her a small, reassuring smile before turning her attention back to me. “I hope everything’s going well with you, Miss President,” she said with a wink.

 I forced a smile, nodding politely. "Thank you, Donna. I’m just... trying to make sure everything goes smoothly." My eyes flickered back to Alina, but she was already stepping away from me, walking toward another part of the room. I wanted to follow, to press her more, but the moment was lost.

As I watched her retreat, a nagging feeling gnawed at my stomach. "What’s going on with her?" 

Later in the day,the celebration hasn't reach it peak, the air felt colder, heavier. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, that Alina was hiding something beneath her calm exterior. Despite the celebration continuing around me, my thoughts were consumed by her actions. She hadn’t changed,her attitude, her behavior,it was all too much like what I’d seen in the past. She’d always been quiet, distant at times, but tonight? There was something different about her. Something darker.

I turned to Donna again, trying to ignore the way my stomach twisted in knots. “Do you know if Alina’s had any issues with me?” I asked, my voice quieter this time.

Donna gave me a puzzled look. “Alina? No, not that I know of. But I can’t say I know her that well, she's your sister, you're suppose to know her more than me. Why do you ask?”

I shook my head, unsure of how to respond. “Just something feels off, you know?”

Donna frowned, clearly concerned. “Well, if anything happens, you’ll have the whole company behind you. Don’t worry.”

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was happening. Something I wasn’t seeing. As I turned back to look for Alina again, the uneasy feeling in my chest only grew. "What was she planning?" 

I finally decided to step outside, hoping a bit of fresh air would clear my head. I stood on the balcony, taking a deep breath, but my mind kept drifting back to Alina.

Then, a sudden movement caught my eye. I looked down at the ground below the balcony and saw Alina,standing alone, watching the building, her eyes scanning the horizon with a cold, calculating expression.