Reborn: The Tyrant's Obsession-Chapter 208: It’s not Adrian

Just as Ella had downed a few glasses of wine, she heard a familiar voice.

’’You don’t look as happy as I had expected you to be...’’

Ella slowly turned her head, the rim of her glass brushing her bottom lip as her gaze settled on the voice’s source.

Jenny stood a few feet away, her posture casual, her red silk gown clinging to every curve like it had been painted on.

Ella lowered her glass, arching a brow. "Hold my glass."

Jenny frowned, "What...?"

Ella blinked, a little tipsy by now, "Hold my glass so I can dance on tables and show you how happy I am.’’

Jenny’s eyes sharpened, "You..." she paused and put on an elegant smile when she spotted Dean Mo at a little distance, "No need to take it to heart. I was just saying. Because considering how you just snatched the spotlight from Esther, I thought you’d be gloating a little more."

Ella swirled her wine. "Is that what you would do?"

"I mean, isn’t that what you’ve always done?" Jenny stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Reappear from nowhere and stir up a mess. It’s your brand, isn’t it? First the Imperial University... and now this party."

Ella gave a slow smile, unbothered. "Professor, it has been quite a while since you got suspended from the university. Why are you still sulking?"

Jenny’s smile dropped for half a second before returning, glassy and dangerous. "Don’t be so smug, Ella. It won’t take me a second to wipe the smile off your face."

Ella blinked, feigning innocence, "Professor, even if you are offended, you should take it out on your man, not me. Dean Mo was the one who made the decision after all.’’

Thinking about the past few weeks where she had to lick Dean Mo’s boots to stay in his good books, Jenny felt her blood boil. When had she ever faced such a humiliation?

Ella’s taunt landed like a slap.

Jenny’s hand clenched around her wine glass.

And then—

’Splash’

The wine hit Ella’s shoulder and chest, crimson spilling across the white fabric like fresh blood.

The crowd gasped audibly.

Jenny froze, hand still raised, as if she hadn’t meant to do it. "Oh my—" she gasped. "I’m so sorry. My hand slipped."

Ella stood still, droplets of red wine clinging to her skin and the delicate curve of her collarbone. The liquid trickled down slowly, dying her pale dress with a dramatic flourish.

"Oh my god... How embarrassing..."

"Tsk... I heard they have a grudge between them."

"Really?"

"Haven’t you heard of the recent scandal of the Imperial University...?"

’’Ella has been disgraced thoroughly huh!"

Mrs. Yu walked over as the whispers from the wine incident started dying down.

"Ella," she said gently, frowning at the deep red stain blossoming across Ella’s white dress. "You should freshen up first."

Before Ella could respond, Mrs. Yu turned to a nearby maid and instructed, "Take her to one of the suites upstairs and help her clean up. Quickly."

As she followed the maid through the side exit, the laughter and music of the ballroom faded into the distance.

In a discreet corner near the carved pillars of the ballroom balcony, two masked guests observed the scene in silence, faces hidden beneath ornate black and silver masks.

"Are you ready for the show?" Eli muttered under his breath.

Beside him, Lilith raised a glass to her lips but didn’t drink. Her lips curved upward slightly, "I am hoping that it doesn’t disappoint."

...

The suite was enshrouded in darkness when Ella stepped in. She had just taken a step inside when she halted in her tracks.

The maid flipped the switch, but only the small bedside lamp flickered to life briefly before going dark again, "Young Miss, I’ll make the arrangements for you to clean up and be right back."

Before Ella could say a word, the girl had already scurried off, the door clicking shut behind her.

Ella stood still, feeling the mild throb of her head. The gentle hum of the ballroom felt miles away now.

She instinctively raised her hand, but in the vast stretch of darkness, she could not see it. Something clawed up from deep inside her, the echo of damp stone walls,squeaking sounds of the rats, iron bars, the chill of the dark cell that had caged her a lifetime ago.

Ella’s heart raced, a layer of cold sweat coating her body. She stumbled back a step, swallowing tightly.

Ella turned toward the door, gripping the handle—

But before she could open it, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind.

Ella froze.

For a second, her body didn’t respond and she stood still as if her limbs had forgotten how to move. Then suddenly, an unfamiliar scent hit her. Musky. Reeking of cheap cologne mixed with liquor.

It took her a full heartbeat to register—

It’s not him. It’s not Adrian.

Her skin erupted in goosebumps as she instinctively jerked forward, but the arms around her coiled tighter, locking her in place like steel bands. A rough hand brushed up her side, grazing the soaked fabric clinging to her skin.

"No—!" she gasped, the sound catching painfully in her throat as she struggled against the man.

Her breath caught when the person pushed her into the door, her back colliding with a hard chest. A calloused hand pressed against her waist, creeping higher with sickening ease.

She thrashed, elbowing blindly, but he caught her wrists with a force that jolted her bones. "Shhh," a voice slurred into her ear, hot and foul, breath stinking of cheap alcohol and sweat.

Ella’s skin crawled.

Ella jerked forward once again, trying to break free with full force, but the person moved with ease, shoving her back against the wall. The thud of her skull against it made stars burst behind her eyes.

His hand tore at the fabric clinging to her chest. Cold air hit her collarbone as her dress slipped lower.

No.

NO!

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