The sun cast a golden glow over the city skyline as the news of the AI technology rising higher continued to dominate headlines. Antony sat in his office, enjoying in the success he believed he had won. His investment had tripled overnight, and with each passing hour, more industry experts were discussing the new advancements the AI company was making.
"This is it," Antony muttered, swirling the glass of whiskey in his hand. "With this, I'll finally take full control of the Camelo Corporation. Soon, Ariana won't even have a place to stand in this industry."
A smug smile crept across his face as he picked up his phone to check his stock portfolio. Numbers flashed across the screen, profits increasing, people that don't give him respect before are now licking his boot, has his name is attached to the most promising tech project of the century.
But what Antony didn't know was that his happiness was merely an illusion, the one Ariana had carefully planned for him to fall into.
———
Ariana sat in a quiet cafe, her fingers lazily tapping against her coffee cup. A slow, knowing smile spread across her lips as she read the latest reports on Antony's investment. Everything was going according to plan.
"Phase one is complete," she murmured. Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from her father's trusted driver. "Miss Ariana, your stepsister has just landed at the airport. Should I send a car?"
Ariana's brow lifted in mild surprise.
Her stepsister?
She hadn't expected her to return so soon, in her past life she had an accident on her way home and they was after everything had happened.
Ariana tapped a response. "I'll pick her up myself."
She had a feeling this reunion was about to be more interesting than expected. The bustling airport was filled with people coming and going, but Ariana's eyes immediately landed on a familiar figure standing near the arrival gate. Her stepsister, Madison Camelo, was exactly as she remembered, poised, elegant, with an air of superiority.
Madison was not as cunning as Rachel, but she had always looked down on Ariana, treating her like an outsider in their father's family. However, after Ariana's rebirth, she saw things differently.
Before Ariana could approach, a loud cheer erupted from the crowd.She turned, following the source of the excitement.
A young woman, dressed in stylish yet casual clothing, was surrounded by a group of fans. The camera flashes were relentless, people calling her name with awe.
"Natalie! Look here" "Natalie, we love you"
Ariana's eyes widened slightly. Natalie?
The name brought back memories, her childhood friend, the one she had lost contact with due to Rachel's schemes.
Madison who was also watching the scene unfold, scoffed lightly. "Tsk, what's all this fuss about?"
Ariana didn't respond immediately. Instead, she observed Natalie. She had changed.
The girl who had once followed Ariana around was now a star, a powerful presence in the entertainment industry. Her beauty was undeniable, but more than that, her confidence had grown.
As the crowd begin to leave after she gave them her autograph, Natalie's gaze suddenly met Ariana's. For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, Natalie's eyes flickered with recognition.
"Ariana?"
Her voice was soft, unsure as if she wasn't sure if she was seeing things correctly.
Ariana smiled slightly. "It's been a long time." Natalie took a step closer before suddenly pulling Ariana into a tight embrace.
"You have no idea how much I have missed you," Natalie whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Ariana hesitated for a split second before returning the embrace.
This wasn't something she had planned for, but it wasn't unwelcome.
———
As Ariana and Natalie walked out of the airport together, a photographer snapped a few pictures. It didn't take long before the images made their way to social media.
By the time Rachel sat down in her private dressing room, scrolling through the latest industry news, the first headline that popped up made her blood boil.
Breaking News: International Actress Natalie Arrives Home Seen With Mysterious Socialite Ariana Camelo.
Rachel's fingers tightened around her phone. Her nails dug into the leather seat beneath her.
Natalie.
Natalie was back.
But what angered her the most wasn't just her return, it was the fact that Natalie had overshadowed her in an instant.
Rachel had spent years trying to climb the entertainment ladder, doing everything she could to secure top roles. Yet now, Natalie's mere presence was enough to steal the spotlight.
As she scrolled through the comments, her mood worsened.
"Natalie's figures are insane. I can't wait to see her next movie!"
"OMG, she's even friends with Ariana? I'm so jealous of their friendship!"
"Meanwhile, Rachel Lawrence is still trying too hard to be relevant. LOL."
Rachel's hand shook with rage.
It wasn't fair.
She had done everything to secure her place in the entertainment industry, seduced investors, bribed directors, even eliminated competition.
And yet, Natalie had returned like a queen reclaiming her throne.A knock on the door pulled Rachel from her dark thoughts. Her assistant peeked inside, hesitating when she saw Rachel's expression.
"Miss Rachel… there's something you should know."
Rachel exhaled sharply. "What?"
The assistant swallowed nervously before handing over a tablet. Rachel's eyes skimmed through the screen. The latest casting announcement.
When she reached the highlighted part, her breathing got cut in her lungs. The lead role of the blockbuster movie she had been fighting for had gone to Natalie.
The same role she had used every trick in the book to secure.
It had been snatched away in an instant. Rachel's vision blurred with rage. "This… this can't be happening," she whispered.
The assistant took a step back. "Apparently, the investors believe Natalie is a better fit. The hype around her return is huge, and the director—"
Rachel slammed the tablet onto the floor, shattering the screen. "Find out who made this decision," she hissed. "And find out what Natalie 's role in this is. I want every single detail."
The assistant scurried away, leaving Rachel alone with her fury. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to calm herself. But there was no calming down.
Not this time.
Ariana…
Natalie…
She would make them both pay. And she already knew where to start. A wicked smile crept across Rachel's lips as an idea took root in her mind.