CHAPTER 386: A WALK TO HER DOOM

"Here, look here!"

"Take off your shades, please, Mari!"

Voices and chatter filled the air, blending with the relentless clicking of camera shutters. Photographers called out to the celebrities and influencers they wanted to capture, while others strolled casually toward the building where the show was about to begin.

Melissa sat idly in her car, parked near the barricades that closed off the road. She bit her thumb as she stared at herself in the rearview mirror. She was dressed to impress—far more elegantly than usual. Her jewelry gleamed, and her hair was styled perfectly, just the way she wanted it. It was her own work of art.

"I shouldn’t have come, right?" she muttered, anxiety tightening her chest as the reality of being so close to the venue set in. "But Renny said he’s already on the way."

Gripping the steering wheel, she lowered her head until her forehead rested against it.

"Come on, Melissa," she whispered to herself. "You already thought this through."

Her goal tonight wasn’t simply to attend the event—it was to make a statement. To show that she was fine. That she was doing better than everyone expected. Even if that wasn’t true, appearances mattered. By showing up, she could silence the mockery and whispers, proving she was still living—with or without the Lancasters.

But now, her resolve was starting to crumble.

DING!

The sharp sound of her phone notification made her jump. Slowly, she lifted her head from the steering wheel and reached for her handbag beside her.

[From: Renny

I’m almost there. Melissa, are you coming? The driver I sent to pick you up told me you already left.]

She pursed her lips and reread the message. They’d agreed earlier that Renny—her secret admirer—would send a car to pick her up and take her straight to the event. But Melissa had decided to drive herself for one reason only:

This.

Whatever this hesitation was.

If she’d ridden in the limousine he sent, she wouldn’t have had the chance to back out.

"I shouldn’t have gone," she whispered weakly. "Maybe Mom’s right. It’s too soon to show myself in public without proper preparation."

As the words left her lips, she started the engine and buckled her seatbelt. But before she could pull away, she froze.

"But if I leave now, Renny will be disappointed," she murmured. "I’m supposed to be his plus one... even though I already had an invitation from Lola."

Her tone soured at the thought. She didn’t trust the invitations Lola had handed out at the tea party. After all, the same woman had publicly ruined her engagement. Melissa wouldn’t trust anything from her.

DING!

[From: Renny

Almost there. Let me know where you are. I’ll be waiting for you at the entrance.]

Melissa sighed, staring at her phone before turning the engine off again.

[To: Renny

I’m scared.]

DING!

[From: Renny

Do you not want to go anymore?]

She bit her lip as she read his reply—it was short, but in her head, it sounded tinged with sadness.

DING!

[From: Renny

Melissa, I told you before, but I’ll say it again. If you’re not comfortable, don’t go. I don’t want to force you to show yourself in public if you’re not ready.]

Another message followed.

[Even though I admire you for everything, your comfort comes first. Just tell me. It’s fine.]

Melissa read his messages twice, her thumb hovering over the keyboard before she began typing.

[To: Renny

Can I be honest?]

[Renny]

Of course.

[Melissa]

I don’t feel ready. People are cruel—they judge everything I do. Besides, Lola knows the designer. Who knows what she’s told her about me?

[Renny]

I also know the designer. She’s someone I’m close with. And trust me, your sister might claim to be her friend, but I’ve never seen her in our circle. The designer behind MEG doesn’t have a large group of friends. If anything, it’s more of a dot than a circle.

Melissa stifled a laugh at that.

[Renny]

So, if you’re worried about your half-sister, don’t be. The owner of this brand won’t burn bridges because of someone like her. Besides, I already told her about you, and she didn’t mind me bringing you as my plus one.

"Really?" Melissa whispered, raising a brow. "He didn’t say that yesterday... or even this morning."

Still, she couldn’t ignore it—the tone of his messages was different today. Shorter. Slower. Like there were long pauses between every reply. It was probably his short replies—and how busy he seemed—that made Melissa start doubting her decision. After all, she hadn’t hesitated when he first asked if she would be his date for tonight’s event.

"Okay," she whispered as she began typing.

[I’ll go. Wait for me. Are you there yet?]

[From: Renny

I just arrived. Already making my way to the entrance. Let me know where you are so I can wait for you.]

She nodded, choosing not to reply anymore. Instead, she looked up at the rearview mirror to check her reflection. Her makeup was still flawless—nothing smudged, nothing out of place.

"I look good," she murmured, closing her eyes for a brief moment as she gathered herself.

When she opened them again, a renewed determination glimmered in her gaze.

Tonight, she would make a statement—that she hadn’t fallen, that she was still standing tall, and that those who mocked her would finally see:

Melissa Young was far from finished.

With one final touch of makeup, Melissa picked up her bag and sent Renny one last message.

[I’m wearing the dress you sent me. I’ll go straight to the entrance. Please wait for me there.]

And just like that, Melissa stepped out of the car and sauntered straight toward her doom.

*****

At the same time...

"Slater, eyes here, please!"

"Slater! Slater! You look amazing tonight!"

"Give us another pose!"

Camera flashes flooded the night, illuminating the superstar who’d just arrived with a bang. The photographers didn’t stop clicking, each one desperate to capture the perfect shot, even if it meant filling their entire memory cards with nothing but him.

"Hehe..." Slater chuckled, striking poses confidently, knowing full well every angle of him was worth a picture.

DING!

His phone buzzed again. Despite the relentless flashes, he glanced down to check the message.

[From: Delusional Witch

I’m wearing the dress you sent me. I’ll go straight to the entrance. Please wait for me there.]

"Oh, dear," he giggled mischievously, causing even more camera flashes to explode around him. "My big sister let you off the hook so easily... but I won’t. Hehe."

With that, Slater shut down his phone and turned back to the cameras, flashing them an even more dazzling smile.

"I should throw this phone away later," he muttered through his grin. "Even a baptism and an exorcism wouldn’t cleanse what’s inside it. Gee! I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it."