r an intimate, "welcome home" dinner, was the picture of domestic bliss, rich with the scent of imported roses and gourmet cuisine. But to Jin Yaotian, stepping across the marble threshold,

wearing a simple, elegant black dress that emphasized her flawless bone structure and the chilling, cold luminescence of her s

the stepmother, sat at the head of the table, her face a serene mask of authoritative concern. Beside her, Jin Meif

a dramatic award. Her arms opened in a gesture of welcome that was immediately belied by the icy glint of suspicion in her eye

the detached patience of a spectator observing a mildly annoying insect. She noticed

o hint of either deference or distress. "The doctor assured me it was merely exhaustion. Nothing th

to the conversation was a deliberate spike designed to pie

s to me! I am handling all those tiresome details while you focus on your magnificen

her elbow, radiating that fake sisterly submission. "Yes, Yao jie-jie. You look pale. You must take care of yourself bef

orcing the stepsister to quickly avert her eyes. Yaotian knew Meifen was secretly terrified-terrified that her jie-jie's s

al sparring. Director Xu quickly deployed the juicy scheme-a c

alled earlier. They are concerned about the terms of the pre-nuptial agreement, specifically re

ign over control of her grandfather's vast, unlisted assets-assets that were immune to public

en, frantic focus of both antagonists upon her. She took a slo

y separate until the marriage has successfully lasted for a minimum of ten years, with strict non-encumbrance clauses for the duration. Why would the Li family, with their v

g for necessity, not love. Director Xu's perfectly manicured hand, holding the knife, actua

h alarm. "That is terribly rude! Zhenyu loves you!

elieve that. But love, like loyalty, is a commodity best secured by careful contract, wouldn't you agree? I simply find the Li family's

p sound echoing in the sudden, charged silence. The Beta's f

ll not insult the family of your future husband! You are still an Omega, and you will show r

first subtle test of her Enigma power, not to win the argument-sh

. "Protect me, Mother Xu? I sincerely doubt that. I

power-and directed a minute, subtle pulse towards Director Xu's temporal lobe. The action was purely ment

for a small, leather-bound notebook beside her plate-the

Enigma influence

, already strained by Yaotian's cutting remarks, stuttered. She experienced a s

y her new constitution, leaned forward and smoothly picked up the notebook herself. Her movement was

ies. I thought you might have been reaching for a pen. I wanted to note down the exact date and tim

olic, and utterly shattering

n control. What happened? Why did I freeze? She felt a strange, cold emptiness in the

r voice thin. "That is private! It contains co

I am now so concerned about financial stability, I will ensure the contents are thoroughly review

d with barely suppressed horror. Her jie-jie was no longer the pampered, naive fool; she was a stunning, cold-blo

-jie," she said, nodding politely to Meifen. "Mother Xu, I look forward to discussing the 'ambiguities' of the ancestral as

single, profound sigh of satisfaction. The first test was passed. The Enigma was awake, controlled, and utterly devastating. The notebook in her hand contained the con