CHAPTER 14: The Invitation She Refused

The Blackwood gala was less a social event and more a power display.

It was an annual evening of wealth, dominance, and precision, held in the most secure estate in the capital's elite quadrant. Celebrities, CEOs, foreign dignitaries—everyone who mattered in any corner of the world came.

And Victor Blackwood wanted one woman in particular to be there this year.

Isabella stared at the silver embossed envelope he had delivered personally.

It sat unopened on her bedside table.

She hadn't touched it.

Because she didn't need to open it to know what it said.

She had already seen the guest list—months ago.

Victor's world liked to think itself hidden. But most systems cracked under her fingers, and the Blackwood event planning server was no exception.

Victor stood across from her in the Lin estate's sitting room now, casual and confident in his fitted black sweater and tailored coat.

"So?" he asked. "Will you come?"

"No."

He blinked. "No?"

She looked up at him coolly. "I don't belong there."

Victor crossed the space between them slowly. "You belong wherever I say you do."

"Then we have a problem," she said evenly. "Because I don't take orders."

Victor's jaw tensed—but not in anger.

She wasn't just resisting him.

She was challenging him.

And she was beautiful when she did.

"I'll send a car," he said anyway.

"I won't be in it."

He leaned down, close enough for his breath to brush her cheek.

"You're starting to sound like someone who's afraid," he murmured.

She met his gaze, unfazed. "You're starting to sound like someone who doesn't understand the word no."

He chuckled softly. "That's true."

And then he turned to leave.

That night, she received another message.

[AshenWolf]: "Have you ever had someone try to own you?"

She stared at the screen for a long moment before responding.

[SkyeEcho]: "Many have tried. All of them failed."

Meanwhile, at the Blackwood estate, Victor stood on the rooftop balcony, staring over the city, one hand curled loosely around a glass of scotch.

"She's not coming?" Markus asked from the shadows.

Victor didn't turn. "No."

"You expected her to?"

"I dared her not to."

Markus raised an eyebrow. "You sound pleased."

Victor finally smiled.

"I am."

But the next morning, a buzz of murmurs spread through high society like wildfire.

Not because Isabella Lin attended the gala.

But because she was the only one who didn't.

And when one of the world's most powerful men escorted a foreign princess instead—with eyes scanning every corner of the ballroom, clearly searching for someone not there—it only made people wonder harder:

Who was the girl that said no to Victor Blackwood?

Next Chapter Teaser: Victor shows up at Isabella's college under the pretense of "checking in"—but it's clear the game has shifted. She may be the only woman who can reject him… and he's starting to love it.