Chapter 4 — The Engagement Lie

Aria barely slept that night.

The message replayed in her mind over and over.

If you expose Lena, your father dies.

That sentence should have been impossible.

Victor Vale had been declared dead three years ago after a helicopter crash in the Alps. The wreckage had been found. The news had spread across every major network.

Aria remembered the day clearly.

The black dresses.

The quiet condolences.

The suffocating feeling of losing the only person who truly understood her.

She had mourned him.

The entire world had.

So how could someone threaten to kill a man who was already dead?

Unless—

Her phone buzzed again beside her bed.

Another message.

But this time it wasn’t the unknown number.

It was from Adrian Cross.

Adrian:

Don’t do anything yet.

Aria sat up.

Aria:

You saw the message?

Three dots appeared.

Adrian:

Yes.

I expected something like this.

Her heart skipped.

Aria:

You expected someone to threaten my father?

The reply took longer this time.

When it finally came, it sent a chill down her spine.

Adrian:

Aria… I don’t think your father is dead.

Morning arrived too quickly.

Campus was louder than usual.

Students crowded around their phones, whispering excitedly.

The engagement news had spread everywhere.

Aria walked through the courtyard quietly, keeping her head down as conversations floated through the air.

“Did you see Lena’s ring?”

“It’s huge.”

“Of course it is. She’s literally a billionaire.”

“Her fiancé is that business student, right? Daniel?”

Aria’s steps slowed.

They sounded impressed.

Admiring.

Lena had gone from scholarship student to campus royalty overnight.

Aria stopped near the student center and pulled out her phone.

Social media was flooded with photos from the proposal.

Daniel kneeling.

Lena pretending to look shocked.

Crowds cheering.

But Aria noticed something else.

The background.

The restaurant.

That place cost thousands per night.

Daniel could never afford it.

Which meant Lena had paid.

Or someone had.

Her phone buzzed again.

Adrian:

She’s hosting an engagement party tonight.

Aria blinked.

Aria:

Already?

Adrian:

Fast moves are useful when you’re lying.

Another message followed.

The party is at the Aurora Club.

Aria knew the place immediately.

Aurora was the most exclusive club in the city.

Celebrities, executives, and wealthy investors went there.

Students didn’t.

Unless they were extremely rich.

Or pretending to be.

Aria:

You think she’ll announce something.

Adrian:

Yes.

A third message appeared.

And I think you should attend.

Aria frowned.

Aria:

Why would I walk into my own humiliation?

Adrian’s reply came instantly.

Because tonight she’ll make a mistake.

That evening, the Aurora Club glittered with light.

Luxury cars lined the entrance.

Music pulsed faintly from inside.

Aria stepped out of the taxi and looked up at the building.

Glass walls.

Golden lights.

A red carpet entrance.

Lena had chosen her stage carefully.

Aria adjusted her black dress and walked toward the door.

Inside, the club was packed.

Students from Northbridge filled the room, along with people Aria recognized from local business circles.

Lena had invited everyone who mattered.

A perfect audience.

Aria moved quietly through the crowd.

Most people didn’t notice her.

Those who did simply stared.

Whispers followed her like shadows.

“That’s the fake girl.”

“She actually came?”

“Embarrassing.”

Aria ignored them.

She scanned the room.

Then she saw Lena.

Standing on a raised platform near the bar.

Her dress sparkled under the lights.

The diamond ring on her finger flashed every time she moved her hand.

Beside her stood Daniel.

Looking proud.

Victorious.

Aria felt a flicker of anger rise in her chest.

But she pushed it down.

Anger was useful.

But only when controlled.

Lena lifted a glass of champagne.

“Everyone!” she called.

The music softened.

Conversations quieted.

All eyes turned toward her.

Lena smiled brightly.

“I just want to thank all of you for celebrating with me tonight.”

Applause rippled through the room.

Daniel slipped an arm around her waist.

Lena leaned against him slightly.

“Northbridge has been such an incredible experience,” she continued. “I came here hoping to live a normal life despite my family’s… circumstances.”

A few people laughed knowingly.

Aria crossed her arms.

Lena was playing the role perfectly.

The humble billionaire.

The secret heiress.

Lena continued speaking.

“But now that Daniel and I are engaged…”

She held up her ring.

“I think it’s time to stop hiding.”

The room buzzed with excitement.

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

This was it.

Lena spread her arms dramatically.

“My father built Vale Global from nothing,” she said proudly.

“And soon…”

She paused for effect.

“I’ll be taking my place in the company.”

The crowd erupted.

Cheers.

Applause.

Some people even started chanting her name.

Aria watched silently.

Lena had just publicly claimed leadership of a multi-billion-dollar corporation.

A corporation she had nothing to do with.

But Lena wasn’t finished.

Her smile widened.

“And to celebrate this new chapter…”

She gestured toward a group of photographers near the stage.

“I’ve invited a few journalists tonight.”

Aria’s pulse quickened.

Journalists?

Lena was escalating the lie to the next level.

Cameras flashed.

Questions began flying.

“Miss Vale!”

“When will you officially join the company?”

“Will your fiancé work with Vale Global?”

Lena laughed softly.

“Oh, Daniel will definitely have a role.”

Daniel grinned proudly.

Aria felt a cold realization settle in.

This wasn’t just about stealing her identity anymore.

Daniel was planning to use Lena’s fake status to climb into Vale Global.

He thought he was marrying into power.

Aria glanced around the room.

Then she noticed something.

Across the club, leaning casually against the bar—

Adrian Cross.

Watching everything.

Their eyes met briefly.

He gave the smallest nod.

Wait.

Aria understood the message.

Let Lena continue.

Let her dig deeper.

Because every lie she told now…

would destroy her later.

Back on stage, Lena raised her glass again.

“One more thing,” she announced.

The room quieted once more.

“I have a special surprise tonight.”

Aria’s stomach tightened.

What now?

Lena snapped her fingers.

The club doors opened.

Several men in expensive suits entered.

Executives.

Businessmen.

People Aria recognized instantly.

Her breath caught.

They were Vale Global board members.

What were they doing here?

Lena stepped down from the stage and greeted them warmly.

“Thank you for coming,” she said.

One of the executives shook her hand respectfully.

“Of course, Miss Vale.”

Aria felt the room spin slightly.

They believed her.

Even the board believed Lena was the heiress.

Adrian suddenly appeared beside Aria.

His voice was quiet.

“This is worse than I thought.”

“How did she convince them?” Aria whispered.

Adrian’s expression darkened.

“She didn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

He nodded toward the executives.

“They already knew she was coming.”

Aria’s heart pounded.

“Someone invited them.”

“Yes.”

Adrian’s gaze turned sharp.

“And that means the person helping Lena…”

“…has influence inside Vale Global.”

Before Aria could respond, Lena climbed back onto the stage.

Her voice rang through the club.

“I’d like everyone to meet the future leadership partners of Vale Global.”

Applause filled the room again.

Lena smiled brightly.

“And soon…”

She looked directly toward Aria across the crowd.

“…we’ll also be dealing with a small problem.”

The crowd followed her gaze.

Every eye turned toward Aria.

Lena’s smile turned cold.

“This girl has been pretending to be me for weeks.”

Gasps spread through the room.

Aria stood perfectly still.

Lena’s voice grew sharper.

“I tried to ignore it, but she’s been stalking me, spreading lies, and harassing my fiancé.”

Daniel nodded firmly beside her.

“She needs help,” he added.

Aria felt the entire club watching her now.

Waiting.

Judging.

Lena sighed dramatically.

“So tonight I’m officially reporting her for harassment.”

The room erupted into whispers.

Aria slowly lifted her head.

Their eyes met.

Lena’s gaze glittered with triumph.

Security guards began moving toward Aria.

But just as they reached her—

Adrian stepped forward.

His voice cut cleanly through the noise.

“That might be difficult.”

The room went silent.

Lena frowned.

“Who are you?”

Adrian slipped his hands into his pockets calmly.

“Adrian Cross.”

Gasps rippled across the club.

Even the Vale executives stiffened.

Lena blinked.

The confidence in her eyes wavered for the first time.

Adrian continued casually.

“And I’m afraid you’ve made a very serious mistake tonight.”

Lena forced a laugh.

“What mistake?”

Adrian’s gray eyes turned toward Aria.

Then back to Lena.

“The mistake of accusing the wrong woman.”

Silence fell across the room.

Lena’s smile slowly returned.

“Oh?” she said sweetly.

“And why would that be?”

Adrian’s voice was calm.

But deadly serious.

“Because the girl you’re trying to remove…”

He gestured toward Aria.

“…is the real heiress of Vale Global.”

The club exploded into chaos.

But Lena didn’t panic.

Instead…

she started laughing.

Slow.

Cold.

Confident.

“Oh Adrian,” she said.

“You really should have checked your facts.”

She pulled out her phone.

Tapped the screen.

And turned it toward the crowd.

A document appeared on the massive projector screen behind the stage.

Official.

Stamped.

Signed.

The title read:

VALE GLOBAL HEIRSHIP CONFIRMATION

And beneath it—

Lena Ward’s name.

Aria’s blood ran cold.

Because the document looked completely real.

Lena’s smile widened.

“You see,” she said softly.

“I already own the proof.”

Then she leaned closer to the microphone and whispered one final sentence.

“Now let’s see how the real heiress explains this.”