The radiant sunlight painted the sprawling Sylvain mansion in hues of gold, a stark contrast to its shadowy past marred by whispers of the underworld that even the bravest officials dared not confront.
Inside the grand living room, Erica sprawled on the plush brown leather couch, wincing as a maidservant attempted a soothing massage on her weary ankle. Just back from the hospital, the agony of the traffic jam gnawed at her, reigniting the pent-up frustration from the mall incident and the prestigious event she'd missed.
Gritting her teeth, Erica shot a sharp glance at the maid. "Ahhh... take it easy, unless you want me to break your fingers!"
The maid shivered, her hands trembling.
"I'm sorry, Young Miss. I'll be extra gentle," she stammered, her voice laced with desperation.
With a dismissive wave, Erica reached for her phone resting on the couch. She wanted to see how the event had played out, but before she could scroll, the thunderous sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
Turning her head, she caught sight of her mother, Cecilia, storming into the room, her expression as furious as a bull.
Plopping down on the couch, Cecilia's chest heaved with a mixture of anxiety and rage, her thoughts clearly spiralling out of control again.
"Mother, what's wrong? You look like you've just seen a ghost. Did something happen with Rafael?" Erica inquired, sensing the storm brewing within her mother.
Cecilia's fearful gaze locked onto Erica. "How long did it take you to miss that event?" she snapped, quickly brushing aside her question. "It's just as well you weren't there. It went terribly. Someone is back—someone who should never have returned."
Intrigued yet confused, Erica leaned in closer. "What do you mean? The only person who had been away for a week is Mr. Tristan."
Cecilia shot a glance at the maid, who continued quietly massaging Erica's ankle, looking intrigued discreetly.
"That wretched Margaux is back!" Cecilia thundered.
Erica nearly burst into laughter at her mother's dramatic panic. "Margaux? She has no reason to return to this city after her father banished her. Even if she did, why would you worry about that pathetic weakling?"
Cecilia's expression soured further as if she were trying to find the words to convey the gravity of the situation. "I wouldn't be so concerned if she were really Margaux. You don't understand—the things she said were terrifying. I couldn't tell if she was possessed by her sister's spirit or just being her usual dramatic self. She always causes trouble."
Cecilia groaned, pressing her hand to her head as if trying to ward off an impending headache. "I can't even begin to process this. My head is aching badly."
Still perplexed yet sensing the seriousness behind her mother's words, Erica grabbed her phone to dig deeper. She scrolled through viral articles detailing the chaos at the event, Rafael's erratic behaviour surfacing as a key theme.
Just then, she stumbled across an article featuring a woman claiming to be Margaux, now going by Madelyn. Erica zoomed in on the photo, her heart racing as she recognized Margaux—the same woman who had humiliated her at Lynn's Department Store.
"She's back… and she's the one who made me look like a fool! How dare she?" Erica muttered through clenched teeth, her fists tightening in rage.
"What do you mean? You've met Margaux? Why didn't you say anything?" Cecilia demanded, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"I ran into her at the mall and didn't realize who she was! She's the reason my ankle is sprained! And now I'm trending online because of the humiliation she put me through!" Erica shouted, flinging her phone onto the couch in frustration. She raked her fingers through her hair, trying to calm the storm inside her.
Cecilia's jaw dropped in shock, and the maid, unable to contain herself, snickered silently at Erica's predicament.
That laughter snapped Erica's gaze to the maid, fury igniting within her. "How dare you laugh while I'm in distress?" she hissed, her voice dripping with rage.
The maid quickly lowered her head, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry, miss. I didn't mean to…"
In a blur of anger, Erica swung her hand, striking the maid across the cheek.
"No one laughs when I'm upset! Get out, you filthy brat!" she spat, her shame and anger swelling tenfold at the realization it all traced back to Margaux.
She had always toyed with him like no one else could, even though they never truly saw eye to eye.
The only person who tolerated her was Madelyn—the thoughtful, calm presence, as steady and quiet as still water.
With tears brimming in her eyes, the maid fled the room, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
"Why is she suddenly back after disappearing for twelve years?" Cecilia murmured, trying to fathom the chaos before them.
Erica's brow furrowed, echoing the troubled look of her mother as she spoke. "I can't shake the feeling that Rafael's disastrous event is somehow tied to her. He's always been meticulous, and there's no way he'd let all that he's fought for crumble so easily. Margaux has never liked him; it's been a constant game of cat-and-mouse between them. I think she's back for revenge."
"Revenge?" Cecilia echoed, incredulous. "Margaux is all talk. Ever since Tristan banished her, no one would dare side with her against us. She's impulsive, always stirring up trouble, but she lacks the power to handle serious matters." Her words were a shaky attempt to reassure herself, grounded in years of history with Margaux.
"But it's been decades since we've had any real connection with her. People change, you know." Erica's voice held a tremor of unease.
Cecilia straightened up, adopting an air of confidence that concealed her growing anxiety. "After all, we treated them well and there's no reason for her to retaliate. Especially since we've been under Tristan's protection, we can't let her intimidate us with her mischievous nature. She poses no real threat to us."
"You're right, Mother. Margaux can't touch us, and she certainly can't take the Iris five-star restaurant and cosmetic corporation from us. I refuse to let that happen," Erica asserted, her resolve solid as she met Cecilia's nod of agreement.
The two women shared a moment of solidarity, convinced that Margaux was merely up to her usual mischief. Putting her back in her place would be effortless, they thought.
With Madelyn gone and never to return, they were certain that Margaux was simply lashing out in her grief, clinging to remnants of her sister's identity in her chaotic claims.
"We should send Margaux away again before she causes a mess. I have a bad feeling that she might do something worse to us," Cecilia whispered.
"We'll send her away," Erica asserted, clenching her fist.