The sky outside the window looked pitch dark, yet the faint glow of the city lights still managed to slip through the gaps in the curtains of Sia's room.
In front of the full-length mirror in her room, Sia stood still.
She slowly turned her body to the right, then to the left, observing her own reflection with a hesitant gaze. Her fingers moved gently, straightening the fabric at the side of her body before falling still again. The dress fit her perfectly.
Sia stared at herself for a few seconds longer than usual. Honestly… she almost did not recognize the figure in the mirror.
Behind her, Yana stood with a gentle smile. The woman's gaze was full of warmth, yet there was something else there. Something that almost resembled longing.
"You look so beautiful," Yana said softly.
Sia lowered her head slightly, her face suddenly flushing awkwardly. "…Mom, you're exaggerating."
"I'm serious," Yana replied gently. She slowly walked closer until she stood right behind Sia. Both her hands lifted, resting carefully on her daughter's shoulders as if afraid of ruining something fragile.
Yana's gaze met Sia's reflection in the mirror. Then, a faint smile filled with memories appeared on her face once again.
"…You really do look like her," she murmured quietly.
Sia fell silent for a moment. Her eyes lowered slowly, yet the corners of her lips remained forced upward into a small smile. "Yeah," she answered softly.
Yana watched her daughter's face for a few seconds before speaking again, her voice much gentler than before. "If only she were here…" Her hand gently rubbed Sia's shoulder. "…seeing you wear her dress like this… she would definitely be very happy."
That sentence suddenly made the atmosphere in the room fall silent.
Sia was still smiling, but the smile did not truly reach her eyes. A small sadness crossed her face so quickly, so faintly, yet clear enough for Yana to notice it. And Yana immediately regretted bringing it up.
"…Ah, never mind," Yana said quickly with a small smile, trying to chase away the awkwardness. "Tonight isn't for being sad."
She gently patted Sia's shoulder, then glanced at Sia's phone lying on the vanity table, its screen having just lit up with a message notification.
"Oh right, your phone lit up again," Yana continued before walking toward the bedroom door. "I happened to see it earlier when I came into your room. Garin sent a message, saying the driver will arrive at the alley entrance soon."
Sia turned toward her phone, then gave a small nod.
"She also reminded you in the message not to worry about the address," Yana added with a soft laugh, remembering how overly dramatic her daughter's friend typed. "She said she deliberately sent a car to pick you up so you wouldn't have trouble finding her house."
Sia lowered her gaze slightly, hiding her amused smile. After Yana turned away, she picked up her phone and opened their chat room. She still clearly remembered how Garin had suddenly contacted her two days ago.
The messages were far too long and rambling. Which was already characteristic of Garin.
At that time, a confused Sia had asked where Garin got her contact number from. And amazingly, the girl casually replied:
"From the class group chat, obviously! Where else, the supernatural world? Hehe."
Leaving behind the memory of that conversation from two days ago, Sia unconsciously smiled faintly again.
Yana, who was still standing by the doorway, noticed the small change in her daughter's expression and felt relieved seeing Sia beginning to open herself up to her friends.
"If the driver's already here, hurry outside, okay," Yana said gently. "Don't make people wait."
"Yes, Mom."
Yana then left the room and slowly closed the door.
Click.
The room fell silent once more. Sia stood still for a few moments in front of the mirror. Her gaze once again fell upon her own reflection.
Strange. Tonight felt so different that it made her chest feel slightly tight.
Slowly, her eyes moved, shifting toward the top of the wardrobe in the corner of the room, expecting to see Asher sitting there. But it was empty.
Sia blinked slowly. Usually Asher would be there. Sitting carelessly with his legs swinging, sleeping, or intentionally bothering her with annoying comments that always succeeded in provoking her emotions.
But tonight… there was no one there. That spot only held dust and emptiness.
"…Where did he go?" Sia murmured softly.
The silence of the night gave no answer whatsoever. Sia kept staring at the corner of the wardrobe for several seconds before finally letting out a small sigh and turning her face away.
"…Whatever," she whispered to herself, trying to convince the thoughts in her head that were beginning to fill with questions.
Wasn't this a good thing? No one would bother her tonight. No noisy Asher, no annoying teasing, and no mysterious stares that always made her feel awkward for no reason. She should feel happy and free, right?
***
The luxurious residence of Garin's family had been transformed into a sea of dazzling lights.
Rows of massive crystal chandeliers hung magnificently from the ceilings of the hall all the way to the open garden area, casting luxurious golden glows across the white marble floors.
In the central courtyard, a grand fountain splashed water in rhythmic patterns, blending perfectly with the classical violin melodies played by a group of professional musicians. The atmosphere truly felt expensive.
Luxury cars of the highest class arrived one after another in front of the tightly guarded gate.
The guests stepped out gracefully, showing off their finest outfits.
Designer dresses sparkled beneath the lights, while the men in perfectly tailored suits seemed to dominate the room. The thick scent of expensive perfume lingered in the air, blending together within the glamorous atmosphere of the party.
Servers in black-and-white uniforms moved swiftly through the crowd, carrying trays filled with crystal glasses and appetizers arranged aesthetically like works of art.
In one corner of the hall, the dessert table was filled with towering layered cakes, imported chocolates, and exotic fruits arranged so perfectly that the guests almost felt reluctant to touch them.
The party was clearly no ordinary gathering. Faces often seen on television, from brilliant businessmen and top models to famous celebrities, could be seen exchanging elegant laughter behind their wine glasses.
Yet amidst the noisy luxury, Lira chose to be alone. She stood leaning near one of the large pillars in the main hall, observing everything with an ice-cold gaze.
Tonight, Lira wore a soft blue evening gown that fit perfectly around her body. The fabric was smooth satin, faintly shimmering whenever it caught the light from the chandeliers above.
The one-shoulder design exposed her sharp collarbone, giving her an elegant yet untouchable impression. The lower part of the dress flowed in layers, creating beautiful waves every time she shifted her feet.
Her long hair was styled half-tied behind her back, letting the rest of the soft waves fall down her back. Several strands were intentionally left framing her face, slightly softening her flat expression, though her pair of eyes still watched the room sharply.
"You look very beautiful tonight, Lira," an elegant female voice broke Lira's thoughts.
Lira turned and found a middle-aged woman in an elegant black dress walking toward her with a warm smile. Lira immediately recognized the face: Mrs. Elaine, one of the legendary senior models whose face still frequently appeared on fashion magazine covers.
There was a split second of pause before Lira responded. Straightening her posture, a faint smile formed on the girl's lips, a formal smile that looked perfect on the outside yet did not touch her eyes at all.
"Thank you, Aunt Elaine," Lira answered politely.
Mrs. Elaine stopped right in front of her, looking at Lira with a friendly evaluative gaze. "It's been such a long time since I last met your mother. How is she doing now?"
"Mother is doing fine," Lira replied with a calm, practiced tone. "Although sometimes… well, you know, Auntie."
Mrs. Elaine stared at Lira for a few moments. Her gaze softened, radiating faint yet sincere sympathy. "I see…" The woman reached out, gently rubbing Lira's shoulder. "You're a strong child, Lira."
Lira only replied with the same faint smile.
Before their conversation could continue further, a neatly dressed man who appeared to be Mrs. Elaine's personal secretary approached with calm steps.
The man bowed slightly in respect before quietly whispering, "Mrs. Elaine, sorry to interrupt. The host and several colleagues from the agency have gathered in the VIP lounge. They're waiting for your presence."
Mrs. Elaine turned, then let out an elegant small laugh. "Ah, it seems I'm being summoned already." She looked back at Lira warmly. "We'll continue our conversation another time, alright? Give my regards to your mother."
"Of course, Auntie," Lira replied with a small nod.
As soon as Mrs. Elaine disappeared behind the crowd of guests heading toward the VIP area, the formal smile on Lira's face instantly collapsed. Her expression returned to being flat and cold. She exhaled sharply through her nose.
"So exhausting," she muttered quietly.
A server carrying a tray of drinks happened to pass nearby.
With a brief hand gesture, Lira stopped the server and took a glass of orange juice, then slowly drank the cold liquid to soothe her dry throat.
Her eyes swept across the crowded hall once again with an irritated gaze.
"Why do rich people love wasting time on meaningless small talk so much…" Lira complained to herself. "Fake smiles, pretending to be friendly, pretending to care…" She took another sip of juice. "It's truly exhausting just to appear pleasant."
Her gaze then shifted toward the wide-open entrance of the hall. New guests were still arriving continuously, until finally, Lira's eyes stopped on one figure she knew very well.
Arven.
The boy stepped inside with a calm aura that immediately attracted attention around him. The formal black suit fitted to his body actually had a simple design compared to the extravagant outfits of the other guests, yet it was precisely that simplicity that radiated class.
The clean white shirt beneath his suit was paired with a neatly fastened black tie. His hair was combed slightly back, making his jawline appear sharper and more mature tonight.
Beside Arven walked an adult man with similar facial features. His older brother.
The blood relation between them was too obvious to ignore: from their calm gazes and upright postures to the naturally cold aura they both carried. The only difference was that the older brother appeared more mature and sharper in his exclusive dark gray suit and expensive watch gleaming on his wrist.
The two brothers' steps were frequently halted by important business colleagues greeting them. Throughout the conversations, Arven maintained his usual expressionless face.
Even so, Arven's presence clearly made several teenage girls inside the hall restless. They whispered among themselves, deliberately laughed loudly when passing by him, and some even openly approached to ask for photos together.
Lira watched the scene from afar while sipping her juice again. "Such troublesome popularity," she sneered flatly.
At that exact moment, Arven swept his gaze across the entire room. His eyes accidentally caught sight of Lira standing alone near the pillar. His steps paused for a second.
Then, a small smile appeared on Arven's face. A smile that looked far more relaxed and genuine compared to the formal expression he had shown since stepping into the party.
After whispering something briefly to his brother, Arven immediately separated himself from the crowd and walked straight toward Lira.
"Lira," Arven greeted once he reached her.
Lira glanced at him lazily. "You finally showed up."
Arven stood close to her, his eyes sweeping over Lira's appearance from head to toe for several seconds before the corners of his lips curved slightly. "Blue suits you."
Lira immediately looked away and drank her juice again, trying to hide any reaction from her expressionless face. "And you immediately start the conversation with a cliché line."
Arven was not offended. The smile on his face only widened further, showing his teeth with a playful impression that contrasted greatly with his usual calm aura.
It seemed Arven had already become far too immune to Lira's cold responses, to the point where her sharp stares no longer affected him.
"I can guess," Arven said casually while glancing at the midnight-blue dress hugging Lira's body. "Your mother definitely picked that dress, right?"
Lira glanced at him briefly, giving him her trademark flat stare before turning her face away. She pretended to focus on the crowded party around them to hide her prideful embarrassment.
"Your guess is correct," Lira finally answered lazily. "She forced me to wear something she said was worthy of being seen by the public."
Arven chuckled softly upon hearing the resigned grumbling.
Lira exhaled a long breath, then continued in a much flatter tone, as though tired of repeating the same sentence every single day. "I always have to appear perfect. Consider it the occupational hazard of being the child of a famous designer."
"Hm, sounds rough being a walking display piece," Arven joked while nodding in understanding.
"Not really," Lira replied quickly, unwilling to lose. "I'm just tired of pretending to be elegant for hours in front of cameras."
"How pitiful."
"Your tone sounds mocking, Arven."
"Because I am mocking you, Lira."
Lira immediately shot him a sharp glare, but Arven only laughed freely.
The atmosphere around them was still noisy with the formal conversations of the guests, the clinking of crystal glasses colliding, and the elegant classical music floating through the air.
But in that corner by the pillar, the conversation between the two of them felt far more alive and real, free from the masks of small talk worn by the people in the middle of the hall.
Arven's laughter slowly subsided. He swept his gaze across the room before speaking again in a more serious tone. "By the way… do you think Sia will really come tonight?"
Lira raised one eyebrow. "You doubt her?"
"I'm not doubting Sia," Arven answered calmly, his gaze moving over the expensive outfits and prideful smiles of the guests. "I just think an environment like this won't be easy for an ordinary person to enter."
Lira fell silent, choosing to listen.
"The people in this place are too obsessed with class and status," Arven continued quietly, a faintly cynical tone hidden in his voice.
"They're used to measuring people's worth by what they wear, who they come with, or how prestigious the family name behind them is."
Lira exhaled softly through her nose, agreeing with him. "An annoying environment."
"Indeed," Arven replied. His gaze shifted, staring directly toward the grand entrance of the hall. "That's why I'm a little worried. Does Sia even have a dress that's… suitable enough for an event this rigid?"
Silence suddenly crept between them. Lira also directed her gaze toward the massive doors that continued opening wide to welcome the arriving guests.
Still staring at the entrance, Lira answered in a low voice, "If Garin went as far as inviting her, I think that girl already considered the consequences."
Even though her words sounded confident, the calmness in Lira's sharp eyes suddenly cracked, revealing a trace of doubt she tried to hide.
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Hello everyone, loyal readers of Beneath My Skin, She Lives! ❤
First of all, I want to sincerely apologize for suddenly disappearing and not giving any updates over the past two weeks. I'm really sorry for making you wait so long for the next chapter. 😭🙏
Honestly, my schedule has been extremely busy lately because I've been focusing on graduation preparations, which have taken up a lot of my time and energy. On top of that, there were also a few personal issues that caused my motivation to write to completely drop for a while. I didn't want to force myself to write in that condition, because I want to give you the best possible chapters that truly satisfy you all, not something rushed just for the sake of updating.
But don't worry, I'm back now! The creative process for this story is running again. Thank you so much to those of you who still faithfully keep this story in your libraries and patiently wait for it. Your support really means a lot and helped bring back my motivation.
Enjoy reading this newest chapter, okay? I love you guys! ✨