The Bennett family villa was lit up like a Christmas tree, the crowd inside buzzing with small talk and clinking glasses.
"Have you seen the eldest Miss Bennett yet? They're throwing this entire family reunion bash for her, and she hasn't even made an appearance."
"She's from some backwoods village, right? Seriously, what's the point of all this show? Bet she doesn't even know how to hold a wine glass properly—total embarrassment waiting to happen."
"Totally. Just look at Chloe. That's what a real socialite looks like. She studied under Leonard Bell, she's got talent and poise, and that engagement with Brandon Hughes? Power couple, for sure. This random chick showing up out of nowhere is a joke—can't even shine Chloe's shoes."
"It's been way too long. Maybe she freaked out seeing so many people and locked herself in a room. Wouldn't surprise me."
A few well-dressed ladies snorted with amusement, trading smug glances. Their eyes were full of disdain, like they couldn't wait to see the drama unfold.
Meanwhile, upstairs, far removed from the noise and glitz below, tension crackled in a starkly different room.
"Move!" the leader snapped. In an instant, four figures lunged at Nicole Bennett, precision movements aiming to lock down her arms and legs. Clearly, they were going for a quick takedown.
But Nicole shifted.
It wasn't that she moved fast, more like she moved just right—slipping effortlessly through their attacks like smoke. Her body weaved and turned, blocking, locking, striking—like a choreographed dance with brutal grace.
"Crack!"
That sound was unmistakable—a wrist popping out of place.
One of the assassins slammed into the wall, his body crumpling with a grunt.
Within seconds, all four attackers—each with an active international warrant—were out cold on the floor. And Nicole? She hadn't even stepped away from the spot where she started.
She looked down at the groaning mess of men at her feet, not a hint of emotion in her gaze. Calmly, she asked, "So, who sent you?"
They'd smashed through the window, surrounded her, and now laid broken—in no more than ten seconds. While they were now bleeding and bruised, Nicole... didn't even blink once.
The team leader bit back his panic, responding firmly, "We mean no harm. We're under orders to request your return."
Nicole slowly rolled up her sleeve, revealing a slender yet visibly powerful wrist. Her gaze swept over them like the cutting edge of a blade.
"Request? This is what Ethan Smith calls asking nicely now?"
The man winced, cradling his dislocated arm, sweat dripping from his forehead. He didn't dare move a muscle as he spoke again, voice trembling.
"Things have gone south in F-continent and the Americas. Several of the big figures turned against us at once. We lost a lot. Mr. Smith said if anyone could fix it, it's you. He really didn't have a choice."
Nicole's eyes flickered with a trace of realization as his words settled in.Sure enough, Ethan still caved in.
Nicole walked to the window and glanced down at the hazy crowd in the garden.
This was a far cry from the chaos of F Continent and the dangerous nights in the Americas—like two completely different worlds.
"Go tell Ethan. I walked away for a reason, and I'm not turning back. That mess in F Continent and the Americas? He can clean it up himself. As long as he keeps his hands out of this country, I'll pretend it never happened."
She paused then, her gaze suddenly sharp as a blade. "But if he dares to poke around again, I won't hold back."
"Y-yes, yes! We'll let him know right away!"
Scared stiff and desperate to avoid another beatdown, the four men nodded quickly and vanished through the window, dragging their battered bodies with them.
Just then, an annoying voice rang out from the hallway.
"Miss Nicole! Are you ready yet? The party's been going on for ages! The Master and Madam are waiting downstairs, and so are all the guests! If you don't come out soon, the dress Madam picked for you will be a total waste!"
Emma was all fake concern on the outside, but her smirk gave her real feelings away.
That dress was garbage—cheap, tacky, and just plain embarrassing. She couldn't wait to see Nicole walk in wearing that mess and get laughed out of the room. Just the thought made her want to burst out laughing.
Inside the room, Nicole glanced at the hideous excuse for a gown and let out a cold, mocking smile.
They really thought she'd go out looking like that?
She didn't reply. Instead, she walked straight to the large floor-to-ceiling window. Her eyes landed on the heavy drapes next to it.
The deep sea blue silk shimmered subtly under the light—luxurious and expensive, of course. The Bennetts always showed off their wealth, even in things like curtains.
With a sneer tinged with sarcasm, Nicole muttered, "At least this looks better than that trash over there."
Without hesitation, she grabbed the edge of a curtain and yanked it down in one smooth motion.
The huge swath of silk came down with it. She didn't even look around for scissors. Instead, she pinched the corner of the fabric between her fingers and tore it cleanly, ripping out a long section by hand.
Because it was torn and not cut, the edges were slightly uneven—giving it a kind of natural flow you couldn't get from neat machine-stitched lines.
Then came the transformation.
She tossed the silk over one shoulder, threading it carefully around her left side, securing it tightly near the shoulder blade with a thin strip she'd torn off. Just like that—a simple and elegant one-shoulder strap appeared.
Next, she positioned her right hand just under her chest, twisting and tucking the extra fabric backward. The natural tension of the material created a clean set of pleats and hugged her waist perfectly, showing off a slim, graceful silhouette.
The leftover silk draped behind her like a train. She calmly tore another narrow strip and tied it around her waist on the right side, forming a small, tasteful knot that shaped the dress beautifully and made her legs appear longer.
The whole thing took only a moment—flawless, fluid, no tools, no thread. And just like that, a one-of-a-kind evening gown was born.