An assistant whispered into Vella's ear. Her expression shifted for a heartbeat, then calmed. "Sorry, we haven't installed cameras in her room yet. But your daughter is safe," she said.
Kaivan frowned. He knew she was lying. "You're not telling the truth," he said quietly, yet clearly. "Because Livia is with me. She's safe."
Silence froze the room. All eyes turned to Kaivan. Vella flinched for a moment before Rapi whispered something into her ear. Vella's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a slow smile.
"Oh… Kaivan," she murmured, somewhere between admiration and threat. She lifted her hand. "Release him. And his friends. Now."
Shock rippled through the crowd. Guests whispered in confusion. Kaivan stayed calm, surrounded by curious eyes, even as questions spun in his head.
The cuffs on Kaivan and Zinnia were unlocked, and Felicia's chains were removed. Amid her subordinates, Vella stepped off the stage, her stride graceful yet commanding. She approached Kaivan, stopping right before him, her smile serene.
"Forgive my people. They didn't know who you were," she said softly. "They didn't mean to restrain you."
Kaivan held back his surprise. "It's fine," he replied gently, though confusion churned in his thoughts. "But… why call this an honor?"
Vella moved closer, so close their faces almost touched. She took his hand with a tenderness that seemed to freeze the air around them. "You're the user of the Tome Omnicent, aren't you? I've wanted to meet you for so long. With your guidance, we can shape a more stable world." Her gaze was deep, her voice as soft as a breeze hiding a storm.
Felicia, newly freed, could only stare at them in disbelief. A quiet tension burned in her eyes. Seeing Vella hold Kaivan's hand like that felt wrong, uncomfortable, even a little painful.
Vella then moved behind Kaivan, her hands sliding gently over his shoulders, leaning close with an intimacy that bordered on suspicious. "Imagine… if we stood together. This world could be ours," she whispered warmly into his ear.
Zinnia and Felicia exchanged glances. A silent unease passed between them. The softness Vella showed, there was something else hiding underneath.
Kaivan tried to stay composed. "Sorry, but… I'm still a student."
Vella smiled. "That's not a problem. I'm thirty. Age is just a number." She lowered her gaze slightly, her voice dropping to a soft, lingering murmur. "And I'm not married."
Before Kaivan could respond, a loud voice tore through the room.
"What is this?! If this deal goes through, I lose control of my company!"
Chaos erupted. A wave of screams filled the ballroom as panic spread. Blood pooled across the once-elegant floor; the man's headless body lay there, silent, cold, horrifying.
Yet in the middle of the chaos, Vella remained calm. She stood tall, a faint smile on her lips. With a voice sharp yet controlled, she spoke softly, "Please… don't interrupt when someone is talking."
All eyes turned toward her. She ignored them, returning her gaze to Kaivan.
"So, Kaivan? My offer isn't bad, is it?"
Kaivan swallowed hard, trying to process everything. The moment of death still pulsed in his mind. But Vella… acted as if it were nothing more than a brief distraction.
He opened his mouth, "At most…"
A phone rang, slicing through the tension.
Vella answered it, her tone suddenly formal. "Yes, of course, sir. I'll be right there."
She hung up and turned to the room with a graceful smile. "Forgive me. I have an urgent matter to attend to. I'll take my leave."
Her steps were slow toward the door, but just before she exited, she paused. Her eyes found Kaivan, sharp, knowing.
"When we meet again… make sure you've chosen," she whispered, leaving a chill behind.
Zinnia grasped Kaivan's arm, her voice trembling. "Kaivan… that man died instantly…"
Kaivan nodded, steadying his breath. "I know. But how she did it… That glass… it moved too fast."
Felicia stepped forward, eyes fixed on the shattered window. Her voice was calm but firm. "She didn't throw it. She controlled it. Those shards came from the window, and look. The cut is too clean."
Kaivan followed her gaze. The edges were precise, almost mechanical. A cold shiver crawled down his spine.
While he examined the window, a gentle voice called to him. He turned to see a married couple clutching a contract, their faces tight with worry.
The father stepped closer. "Your name is Kaivan, right? Our daughter, Livia… she's with you, isn't she?"
Kaivan nodded slowly. "Yes, sir. Livia is safe. She's with my friends."
Relief washed over the man. He smiled, then tore the contract in his hands into pieces.
His wife gasped. "Honey! Why did you tear it?!"