Revenge is best served cold

Elsa put on her best remorseful expression. "Jane, I really know I was wrong. I'm here to apologize for what happened today. As long as you forgive me, I'll leave right away."

I raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly do you expect me to forgive you?"

Hearing my response, Elsa's eyes lit up. She lifted the glass of red wine in her hand and held it out toward me. "This is a rare vintage from the host's private collection. I asked a friend to get it for me, and I thought you might like to try it. If you drink it, that means you forgive me. And I promise, I won't bother you again tonight." She blinked at me, looking as innocent as a little rabbit.

I reached for the glass but stopped just in time to notice the glint in her eyes.

In an instant, I changed direction, pretending to adjust the necklace around my neck instead.

However, Elsa couldn't stop her outstretched hand in time.

The red wine spilled all over her face, the dark liquid trickling down her neck and staining her pristine white dress. Under the dim glow of the evening lights, it looked just like blooming red roses.

Before I could say anything, Elsa's friend rushed over, pulling out a handkerchief to dab at Elsa's dress.

"Elsa was already apologizing. What more do you want? Do you have any idea how much this dress costs? It's a designer piece!"

After scolding me, she turned back to Elsa with a look of concern. "I told you I should've come with you, but you wouldn't listen. See what happened?"

She shot me a glare for good measure.

I glanced at Elsa, who was standing there looking fragile and pitiful. I couldn't help but scoff.

"If she had brought you along, then she wouldn't have been about to spill it, would she?"

Elsa averted her gaze, still looking as if she might faint at any moment.

However, her friend was completely oblivious to the deeper meaning of my words. She lifted her chin with an air of arrogance. "Of course! If I were here, you wouldn't even have gotten the chance to bully Elsa!"

My gaze flickered between the two of them, and for a brief moment, my thoughts drifted back to my past life. Back then, it had been a similar scene. Jeremiah had taken me to a banquet. Before that, Elsa had taken the evening gown that was meant for me, leaving me with no choice but to wear an ill-fitting replacement.

Near the end of the banquet, she approached me with a glass of red wine, claiming she wanted to apologize. But just as I accepted her apology and reached for the wine, she seized the opportunity to dump the entire glass of wine on herself.

With her pitiful expression, the onlookers immediately sided with her. Jeremiah hadn't even hesitated. He abandoned me in the banquet hall and carried Elsa away in his arms.

Now that I had a second chance at life, I wasn't going to be that gullible again. The moment she approached me with that glass of wine, I already knew what she was up to.

From the shadows, Levi shifted as if to intervene, but I gave him a subtle shake of my head before turning back to Elsa.

By now, a few guests had noticed the commotion and started looking in our direction. "Are you sure I was the one who spilled it?"

My voice wasn't loud, but it was just enough for Elsa to hear.

She wiped at her tears, her pale face leaning into her friend's embrace. "Jane, I already apologized. If you really want to punish me, then fine. But do it at home. You're the one who said we should maintain our family's reputation in public, but now, you're..."

With that single sentence, she turned me into the villain yet again.

She was implying that I bullied her behind closed doors, pretending to be kind in front of others while being cruel in private.

I stayed silent, watching as more people gathered around. A satisfied smile tugged at my lips.

"Are you sure..." I took a step closer, my voice slow and deliberate, each word sharp and precise. "...that I was the one who spilled it on you?"

"Who else could it be?" Elsa's foolish friend spoke up again, acting as her mouthpiece.

I let out a soft laugh.

"No worries. I'm sure someone saw exactly what happened."

I clapped my hands together.

A second later, Levi stepped out from the shadows. He tilted his camera slightly, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.