C6 When Secrets Strike Like Lightning

A week later—

Cleopatra was jolted awake by the sharp vibration of her phone against the nightstand.

Her brows furrowed sleepily as she reached for it, strands of dark hair falling across her face.

Katie.

The message was short.

Come to INK Model immediately.

The sleep vanished from Cleopatra’s eyes at once.

She sat upright instantly, pulse quickening.

Today.

Something about today felt important.

Dangerous.

Exciting.

Without wasting another second, she slipped out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. Warm water cascaded down her skin while her thoughts churned endlessly beneath the steam.

Calvin.

That man had occupied her mind far more than she wanted to admit lately.

The way he looked at her.

The way his voice turned cold whenever Anthony’s name surfaced.

The way he still reacted to her after six years.

A faint smile tugged at her lips.

Maybe…

Maybe she still had a place inside his heart after all.

After freshening up, Cleopatra headed toward the dining area and began eating breakfast quietly.

But midway through her meal—

Her gaze drifted toward her wardrobe.

And instantly, dissatisfaction clouded her expression.

Nothing.

Not a single outfit inside felt worthy enough.

Not for today.

Not for him.

She slowly placed down her fork.

Then rose gracefully from the table.

A quiet determination settled inside her chest.

If she was going to face Calvin today…

Then she would do it flawlessly.

Minutes later, Cleopatra arrived at one of Marvale’s most luxurious department stores.

The building itself radiated extravagance. Crystal lights glittered overhead while elegant instrumental music drifted through the polished halls. Designer fragrances lingered delicately in the air.

The moment she stepped inside, several attendants immediately straightened.

“Good morning, ma’am,” one of them greeted politely with a professional smile. “How may we assist you today?”

Another staff member stepped forward smoothly.

“What style are you looking for? We can help create the perfect look for you.”

Cleopatra paused thoughtfully.

Then her lips curved slightly.

“Something short,” she said calmly.

A dangerous glimmer flashed through her eyes.

“…And sexy.”

The attendant nearly lit up.

“Excellent choice, ma’am. Right this way.”

He guided her through rows of luxurious designer pieces while she brushed her fingertips lightly against silk, satin, velvet, and chiffon.

But then—

A familiar voice drifted through the store.

Cleopatra froze instantly.

Her heartbeat skipped.

No way.

Slowly, quietly, she stepped around one of the display shelves and looked ahead.

And there they were.

Guinevere.

And Emilia.

Mother and daughter sat elegantly across from one another on plush velvet chairs while staff surrounded them with racks of expensive clothing.

The atmosphere around Emilia alone was intimidating.

Every gesture she made carried arrogance and authority.

“How are your modeling jobs going lately?” Emilia asked casually while inspecting a dress with visible disdain. “Any trouble on set?”

Guinevere scoffed bitterly.

“Nothing’s changed. I’m still stuck at the bottom.”

Her irritation was obvious.

“I swear that useless manager of mine can’t do anything right. She still hasn’t managed to get Calvin’s attention on me.”

Emilia finally glanced at her daughter properly.

“That reminds me…” she murmured thoughtfully. “I saw Calvin on television recently.”

A flicker of approval crossed her sharp features.

“That man is extraordinary. Handsome. Capable. Influential.” Her eyes narrowed seriously. “You need to secure him.”

Guinevere’s face darkened immediately.

“I’ve spent SIX YEARS trying!” she snapped furiously. “And he barely even looks at me!”

Her nails dug into her knees.

“All he cares about is that stupid Cleo!”

The name instantly sharpened Emilia’s gaze.

“Cleo?” she repeated slowly. “Wasn’t she sent to the Castren District years ago?”

“She came back recently,” Guinevere muttered irritably. “Maybe a month or two ago.”

Then her expression twisted with unease.

“But she’s… different now.”

Emilia frowned.

“Different how?”

Guinevere hesitated.

“It’s hard to explain.” Her voice lowered slightly. “She doesn’t feel like the same Cleopatra anymore.”

A strange chill ran through Cleopatra’s spine while listening.

Guinevere continued bitterly.

“She acts calmer now. Smarter. More confident.” Her jaw tightened. “And now she’s suddenly all over Calvin again.”

Emilia’s expression instantly turned ugly.

“How shameless.”

The venom in her tone stunned even Cleopatra.

“That girl truly inherited her mother’s disgusting nature.”

Cleopatra froze completely.

Her mother?

“I could never stand that woman,” Emilia continued coldly. “Always acting kind and righteous while making me look like the villain.”

Each word struck Cleopatra like a slap.

“She spared me the trouble by dying in that accident alongside her husband.”

Silence.

For a split second—

Cleopatra forgot how to breathe.

Emilia laughed bitterly.

“If she hadn’t died early, your father would’ve continued comparing me to her forever.”

Guinevere blinked in surprise.

“Wait… Dad compared you to Auntie?”

“Constantly,” Emilia spat bitterly. “Honestly, if your father hadn’t insisted, I would never have allowed Cleopatra into our home.”

Shock flashed across Guinevere’s face.

“You mean bringing her in wasn’t your decision?”

Emilia scoffed loudly.

“Please. I hated her mother. Why would I willingly raise her daughter?”

The world tilted violently around Cleopatra.

Her vision blurred instantly.

A suffocating pressure crushed against her chest.

Every sound in the store became distorted.

Her mother…

The woman she had trusted…

The woman who smiled warmly at her all those years…

Had secretly despised her family this entire time?

Her knees nearly buckled.

“Ma’am?”

The staff member beside her immediately steadied her before she collapsed completely.

“Are you alright?”

Cleopatra’s lips trembled.

Her breathing turned ragged.

“R-restroom…” she whispered weakly. “Please…”

The attendant quickly guided her toward the restroom.

The second she entered—

She stumbled toward the sink and gripped it tightly.

Cold water splashed against her face repeatedly while panic thundered inside her chest.

“What… did I just hear…?”

Her reflection stared back at her in shattered disbelief.

“How could someone smile while secretly celebrating another person’s death?”

Her fingers trembled violently against the marble sink.

“All this time…”

Emilia had hated them.

Hated her mother.

Hated her father.

And somehow hid it perfectly.

Tears burned painfully behind Cleopatra’s eyes.

Her chest ached unbearably.

Because suddenly—

Everything felt different now.

Every memory from the past carried a new meaning.

A darker meaning.

Was this something she failed to notice in her previous life?

Or had Emilia truly hidden herself that well?

Cleopatra stared at herself in the mirror for a very long time.

Then slowly—

Her trembling eased.

A dangerous determination ignited inside her eyes.

“Can I really change my fate?” she whispered weakly.

Silence answered her.

But then—

Her grip around the sink tightened.

“Yes,” she muttered firmly.

The weakness vanished from her gaze.

“I can.”

Her breathing steadied.

Her eyes sharpened.

“I refuse to lose again.”

And just like that—

The broken girl in the mirror disappeared.

What remained…

Was someone determined to survive no matter what.

Cleopatra stepped out of the restroom with renewed composure.

Then suddenly—

Her eyes landed on a dress.

And instantly—

She knew.

It was perfect.

The gown was plum-colored with subtle orchid undertones, elegant yet dangerously seductive. The sleeveless design exposed her delicate shoulders while the plunging V-neckline hinted at just enough cleavage to drive men insane without appearing vulgar.

The back was completely open, held together only by intricate lace strings crossing delicately against bare skin.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Deadly.

Exactly what she needed.

After purchasing the dress, Cleopatra quietly exited through the side entrance of the store.

The evening breeze brushed gently against her skin as she headed home.

But the moment she arrived at her apartment—

She blinked in surprise.

Ana stood outside her door holding several shopping bags.

“Hi, Ana,” Cleopatra greeted with confusion. “What are you doing here?”

Ana stared at her like she’d lost her mind.

“…Seriously?”

She raised the bags dramatically.

“You asked me THIS MORNING to buy beauty products for you!”

Recognition instantly crossed Cleopatra’s face.

“Oh!”

She laughed awkwardly.

“Right… I forgot.”

Ana narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“You forgot?” she repeated slowly. “Cleo… are you secretly dating someone?”

“No!”

“Then why are you suddenly buying beauty products like a woman preparing for war?”

Cleopatra nearly choked on her laughter.

“Come inside first.”

But Ana immediately shook her head.

“I can’t. I’m still working.” Then her expression became dramatically nosy. “But listen carefully—you owe me details later.”

She pointed accusingly.

“And I want EVERYTHING.”

Cleopatra laughed helplessly while taking the bags.

“I’ll tell you later.”

“You better!”

Then Ana rushed away dramatically.

The moment Cleopatra entered her apartment, she headed straight for the bathroom.

Warm water washed away the emotional chaos of the day while silence filled the room.

Afterward—

She slipped into the plum gown.

And the effect was devastating.

The fabric hugged every elegant curve perfectly.

The slit revealed flashes of her smooth thighs whenever she moved.

The open back exposed enough skin to feel sinful.

Her collarbones.

Her shoulders.

Her waist.

Everything about her looked breathtaking.

She slowly sat before the mirror and began curling her hair carefully.

Then came the makeup.

Soft.

Elegant.

Enchanting.

Not too bold.

Just enough to make her impossible to forget.

When she finally finished—

Cleopatra stared at her reflection quietly.

For a moment…

Even she was stunned.

The woman staring back at her looked mesmerizing.

Powerful.

Irresistible.

A slow smile curved across her lips.

Beautiful.

For the first time in a very long time—

She truly felt beautiful.

Then softly…

Almost like a secret confession—

She whispered to herself:

“Now…”

Her eyes shimmered dangerously.

“…it’s time to go see Calvin."