Semua Bab CEO Wants Me: Heiress Has Risen Again!: Bab 361 - Bab 370

Rhea's Pov My fingers twitched, and I almost threw the entire contract folder back across the desk in shock."Is this... a joke?" I choked out.Carmen didn't even flinch. She leaned back in her chair, looking completely unfazed by my reaction.“Hardly.” She replied, her voice smooth and even, “I don’t joke about money, Rhea. Not when it comes to business. That amount is your starting bonus. A signal of my good faith and a down payment for the work I know you are capable of.”I stared at the number, my mind doing dizzying flips. Ten million dollars. It was a lot, especially because of my situation right now. To have this kind of money as merely a ‘down payment’ was something that I didn't really expect. Not at all. “But… Why so much?” I whispered, trying to wrap my head around the sheer scale of the offer, “It’s… it’s huge.”“Because you are valuable.” Carmen stated simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, “I did my homework on you, Rhea. You are the best at what you

Rhea's Pov The red-haired woman, the stylist, apparently, was smiling brightly, completely unbothered by how much she’d just scared me.“Sorry, darling.” She said, though her grin said otherwise, “I just had to see for myself. Such a lovely frame! Slender build, graceful neck, perfect posture, oh, we can work with this!”“Uh… thank you?” I managed, still a bit startled.She clapped her hands, eyes sparkling, “Oh, I can already tell! You’re going to be my favorite client this week. Now, let’s get started before the light changes. Sit, sit!”She practically pushed me into the vanity chair.The mirror in front of me was so large I could see the whole room reflected in it, the flurry of motion, the steaming cups of tea Isla had left behind, the bed now empty without the children.The stylist leaned over my shoulder, examining my reflection like a scientist studying something rare, “Your skin is beautiful.” She said, tilting her head, “A bit tan, yes, but smooth. Natural glow. We’ll keep

Rhea's Pov “Things?” I asked, my curiosity deepening at the subtle shift in her voice. She shook her head with a wistful sigh, “It’s a long story. And in this world, long stories are better buried than told.” Something in her tone sent a ripple of intrigue through me, but I didn’t push. We've only stayed together for a few hours but I noticed that Carmen wasn’t the kind of woman you pried secrets from, she was the kind who revealed them only when she wanted to. Instead, I studied her expression. There was something almost nostalgic in the way she looked at me, as though the sight of me wearing this mask reminded her of something she’d lost. But just as quickly as it appeared, the moment was gone. Carmen straightened, her commanding aura slipping effortlessly back into place. “Anyway.” She said briskly, clasping her hands together, “We don’t have the luxury of reminiscing today, maybe when we have the chance we can talk properly. You’ll need to show yourself in public this eveni

Rhea's Pov “This is really crazy.” I whispered as I looked at myself in the mirror. The gown I wore shimmered like liquid midnight. Its base was a deep, celestial navy, flowing into layers of black tulle that caught the light and revealed hints of sapphire and amethyst when I moved. Tiny silver stars and swirling constellations were hand-embroidered into the fabric, cascading down the bodice and skirt like fragments of a fallen sky. The corset hugged my figure perfectly, its sheer illusion neckline adorned with delicate beadwork that glowed faintly under the chandelier’s light. Draped pearls and silver chains fell gracefully from the waist, giving the gown an otherworldly elegance. Each layered ruffle of the skirt moved with a quiet whisper, like midnight waves rippling beneath the moon. In my right hand, I held a slender, polished pipe, long and sleek, made of dark silver with intricate engravings near the mouthpiece. It wasn’t lit; it wasn’t meant to be. It was a symbol, an

Alaric's Pov “An interesting piece of news?” I repeated, my tone calm but my jaw tightened, “Then I’d like to hear about it myself. Go ahead and speak.” Rhea’s lips curved, amusement glimmering in her eyes, “Well…” She drawled softly, “It’s said that Alaric Vale and Isabelle Montaigne will be getting married soon. And this was said in person by Isabelle Montaigne herself, as per the person who spread the news in the first place. I'm too curious to let this pass, after all, we are talking about two very prominent families here.”“What?” Isabelle murmured, “What the hell are you implying?” She tilted her head slightly, her voice smooth, deliberately playful, “I just wanted to know how true it is. You know, a lot of rumors fly around these days. It wouldn’t be nice if the person involved doesn’t even know anything about the rumors, don’t you think?”The faint smirk on her lips was one thing, but it was her eyes that caught me. They gleamed like they knew more than they should, like sh