Ziva’s jaw almost hit the floor as she stared at Carris in horror. "The middle of my forehead?" she breathed. "Are you insane? I have a reputation! I represent the future of Aurelia’s talent industry!"

"Oh come on," Elara joined in, her voice calm but her eyes dancing with mischief. "It’ll match your glasses. You’ll become the most trendy assistant in all of Aurelia."

"I’ll become the most unemployed assistant in the country!" Ziva shrieked grabbing her tablet and hugging it tightly against her chest like a protective shield. She quickly scrambled backward toward the exit. "If either of you come near me with a needle, I’ll personally make sure neither of you ever uses your legs again!"

Carris slowly followed after her with both hands tucked lazily into his pockets. "Just a tiny one," he said with a smile. "Or maybe at the bottom of your foot."

"Stay away from me you possessed duo!" she yelled already halfway out the door. "The two of you are going to be the death of my blood pressure. I’m going to the car. If you’re done ruining lives, come meet me there!"

Then she walked out of the parlor, her steps hurried as she moved toward the car.

A small amused smile escaped Elara’s lips as she watched her departing back.

But that wasn’t the real problem.

The real problem started when Tonio came over later that day and saw the matching tattoos on Elara and Carris.

The moment his eyes landed on them, his entire expression darkened like someone had personally declared war on him. He didn’t even stay long enough to complain properly.

He simply stared at Carris’s neck tattoo then at the tiny star beneath Elara’s eye before snorting coldly and leaving almost immediately.

The next morning, Elara had barely woken up when the doorbell rang loudly through the apartment. She frowned in confusion wondering who could possibly be visiting at such an ungodly hour. Still half asleep, she dragged herself to the door and pulled it open.

Tonio stood outside.

He looked like he hadn’t slept for days. His hair was messy, his eyes slightly bloodshot, and his expression filled with determination.

"Tonio, what are you..."

Before Elara could finish speaking, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and yanked it upward to his chest.

"Look," he mummured pointing toward the side of his waist.

Elara blinked a few times trying to force her sleepy vision to focus properly. Then she finally saw it.

Right along his waistline was a fresh red tattoo of a crescent moon.

Tonio lowered his shirt again and proudly patted Elara’s shoulder like a man who had just saved the universe.

"The galaxy," he announced with an unmistakable satisfaction, "is now complete."

–

Relanie stared at the video playing on the phone in front of her, a sneer resting on her lips.

"This Elara is really skilled," she muttered to herself coldly. "She actually managed to pull Carris into her circle too."

She snorted softly, her eyes darkening.

Who would have thought this was what she went to do in Solmere. No wonder she had been so confident when she broke the sponsorship with the Vales.

Stretching out her hand, Relanie scrolled through the screen again. She kept scoffing at every new video and comment section she opened.

"These people are so unreliable," she muttered hatefully. "Fickle mindless people."

Just days ago, they had all been doing exactly what they were supposed to do. Tearing Elara apart. Mocking her image. Dragging her through every headline they could find.

But now, apart from her own fans and PR team, the same people who once booed her were suddenly turning into her loudest supporters.

Relanie’s brows tightened hatefully when another edited clip appeared on her screen, this one showing Elara and Carris singing together with romantic captions splashed across the video.

The moment she moved her fingers to type a nasty comment from one of her burner accounts, her phone suddenly rang. Her eyes flashed with irritation at the interruption.

Because it was her private number, whoever was calling had to be someone close enough to have access to it.

"Who is this," she muttered, her voice still sharp from the remains of her anger.

A cold snort came from the other end.

Relanie’s heartbeat hitched instantly. Her lips pressed together tightly. Even if it had only been the faintest breath, she still would have recognized it immediately.

"Adrian..." she muttered, trying to keep her voice calm though her fingers had already tightened around the phone. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

It really had been a long time. He almost never called her himself. She could count the number of times on one hand.

There was a long silence from the other side of the line. She could hear the faint hum of a car engine so she guessed he was probably driving.

"You really like to talk."

His voice finally came through. It was cold, flat, and dangerously calm.

Relanie’s brows furrowed in confusion.

"Adrian," she whispered. "I don’t understand what you’re talking about. What do you mean?"

"How do you feel now?" he muttered not giving her time to process anything. "Satisfied, right?"

Relanie’s breath quickened uncontrollably. "Satisfied with what? If something had happened and you think I am–"

"Why did you tell her about Lia?" he suddenly spoke up cutting her short. His voice remained calm even as he asked something like that.

Relanie’s lips pursed into a thin line.

She didn’t have to ask whom he was talking about. In Adrian’s world, if a woman was being discussed, it was Elara. It was always Elara.

So it all led back to her after all. He seldom called her and now that he did, it was because of that bitch of a girl.

"I never really told her anything Adrian," she said, regaining her voice. "But truly, isn’t it good for you?"

"That girl is a slut, can’t you see it?" she continued, her tone sharpening hatefully. "The moment she left you, she didn’t even stop to breathe before she was holding onto Carris Riole. She’s not really worth all you’re doing."