AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA
As I arrived, the doors opened I stepped in. I knew that from this moment on, I would have to survive an event where the original Bella was supposed to disappear in the background, but I was sure it wasn't going to be that easy.
"Oh-"And immediately someone whispered.
"Wait, who is that?"Another voice followed.
"Is she a model?"She asked.
A woman near the entrance openly grabbed her friend's arm.
"I don't recognize her." The friend muttered. "But that hair-"
I froze for half a second, then forced my legs to move. Walk, smile, do not trip, do NOT trip. As I passed the first group, I caught snippets of conversation like bullets.
"Hearthstone?"One of the guests whispered.
"No, impossible."Another one whispered.
"Is she even eighteen?"Another asked.
"Red eyes, are they contacts?"One of them asked.
"If they are, they're terrifyingly expensive."Someone laughed nervously.
A man actually stepped into my path.
"I'm sorry." He said, clearly not sorry at all, eyes flicking over me. "Have we met before?"
"No." I replied quickly, then added. "But I am very forgettable."
"I don't think you are."He blinked.
I slipped past him before he could say anything else.
"That's Rosalie Hearthstone's stepdaughter."Behind me, a woman hissed.
"What? Since when did she look like that?"Another one asked.
"I thought she was quiet."Someone whispered.
"Oh, she is. That's what makes it worse."Another said.
I reached the edge of the ballroom and grabbed a glass off a passing tray just to give my hands something to do.
"Wow." A girl beside me whispered, leaning over far too close. "You're stealing the spotlight."
"I do not want it." I muttered back.
"Good luck with that."She laughed.
Across the room, I heard someone say it. Low, calm and way too familiar.
"So she did come."A male vice said.
"You know her?"A man near him asked.
The CEO's voice followed, amused.
"Not yet, maybe a little bit."Another mad said.
I turned slowly, bad idea, his eyes met mine, sharp and focused like the rest of the room had blurred out around me. The CEO was at the gala, and it might cause more problems than I ever wanted. He wasn't smiling, but his gaze said he found you all the same. I lifted my glass, pretending confidence.
"Do not." I mouthed.
He raised his own in response.
"I was wondering. "He said to no one in particular. "Why the room suddenly got interesting."
Someone laughed awkwardly as I took a step back.
"This." I muttered to myself. "Is why side characters don't attend galas."
"You look pleased, Stoneheart."A man beside him laughed nervously.
"I am."The CEO's gaze never left me.
He stepped closer. Every step felt deliberate, measured. Like he knew exactly how much attention he was drawing, and didn't care.
"I don't believe we've been formally introduced." He said stopping in front of me.
"That depends. Are you about to make this worse?"I lifted my chin.
A few people nearby snorted. His lips twitched.
"Usually."Ceo said. "Xavier Stoneheart." He said clearly, voice carrying just enough to reach the curious ears around us. "CEO of Stoneheart Group."
Of course. Of course, that was his name. I stared at his hand like it might bite me.
"Stoneheart? That Stoneheart?"Behind me, someone whispered,.
"Why is he talking to her?"Another man asked.
I took his hand, his grip was warm.
"Isabella Hearthstone." I said. "Unfortunately."
"Unfortunately?"His eyes darkened with interest.
"I have a complicated relationship with fate." I replied.
"So do I."He chuckled softly.
He released my hand slowly, like he didn't quite want to let go.
"Well." He continued. "I am glad we finally met properly."
I glanced around at the watching crowd, then back at him.
"Define 'properly'."I sighed.
His smile sharpened.
"Publicly." Xavier Stoneheart said.
I took a careful step back, trying to melt into the crowd, pretending my legs weren't threatening to collapse under me.
"I, I should probably get a drink or something." I muttered, already inching toward the nearest exit.
I was already inching toward the exit when the atmosphere of the ballroom shifted. Not loud, not dramatic just different. The low murmur of conversation softened like someone had gently pressed a mute button. A few heads turned, then more, then nearly all of them. Heels echoed against the marble floor. The doors opened wider, and Wanessa Roisane walked in, and my brain immediately supplied the label I never wanted to think about in real life, 'Original female lead'.
She wore a soft ivory gown, elegant without being flashy, the kind of dress that looked expensive because it didn't need to prove it. The fabric flowed smoothly with each step, catching the chandelier light just enough to glow. Her dark hair was styled neatly, falling in controlled waves past her shoulders, framing a face that was gentle rather than sharp, clear eyes, calm expression, the sort of beauty that made people instinctively lower their voices. The room reacted instantly.
"That's Wanessa Roisane."One guest said.
"She finally arrived."Another one said.
"No wonder look at her."A man near us said.
Every head turned toward her including mine. The woman the plot revolved around. The one meant to clash with the CEO, resist him, suffer beautifully, and eventually walk away stronger. She stepped fully into the ballroom, acknowledging greetings with polite nods, clearly used to this kind of attention. The crowd parted naturally, like the story itself was making space for her. Beside me, Xavier's focus shifted. For the first time since he'd approached me, his gaze left me completely and settled on her. Relief hit me so hard I almost laughed. Good, yes. That's right. Look at her. Remember the script. Forget I exist. Wanessa's eyes swept across the room and stopped on me. Her brows knit slightly, curiosity flickering across her face. Not recognition. Not judgment, but interest. Side characters evaporate when the female lead appears. I took another careful step.
"Oh?" Wanessa's voice carried lightly across the space. "Who is she?"
My soul left my body.
"That's Rosalie Hearthstone's stepdaughter."A man said.
"She's usually very quiet."Another added.
"No idea what's going on tonight."Another woman said.
I turned slowly, cursing every instinct that made me polite. Wanessa had stopped a respectful distance away, her expression open, thoughtful.
"I don't think we have met." She said gently. "I am Wanessa Roisane."
There it was, full name, canon confirmed.
"Isabella Hearthstone." I replied, forcing a calm smile while internally screaming. "Nice to meet you."
Her eyes brightened just a fraction.
"Hearthstone… I thought so."She said.
Behind her, the whispers started again. Xavier watched us both now, expression unreadable, interested in a way that made my skin crawl. This was my cue.
"Well." I said quickly, already stepping back. "It was nice meeting you, but I really should leave."
Instead, the room seemed to tighten around me, attention settling like a net and I had a horrible feeling that being noticed by Wanessa Roisane was the beginning of a very expensive, very unavoidable plot detour.