Louis'' usually unppable poker face cracked slightly at the sight of Calista, a testament to the stark transformation she had undergone. The Calista they once knew seemed a distant memorypared to the striking figure she presented now. It was as if she personified the phrase "aplete transformation," resonating powerfully with just a nce. Calista, noticing their astonished expressions, allowed a small, knowing smile to y upon her lips. "Are you gentlemen ready? We should be making our way now."


    Kallum was quick to join her, affirming with a simple, "Alright, let''s go."


    As he uncharacteristically left his two friends behind, their murmurs and Remus'' incredulous shouts faded into the background.


    Feeling a need to defend his friend, Kallum admitted, "Um... Remus didn''t mean any harm, he often speaks without thinking."


    Calista''sugh was light, a gentle sound that eased the slight tension. "No, he''s right. I did use to bother you quite a bit, and I wasn''t exactly attractive back then."


    A twinge of regret shadowed Kallum''s features for a moment, regretting how the conversation had veered into the past-a past he wished he could rewrite every minute to spare Calista any distress.


    "Actually... um, you weren''t ugly before either..." Kallum hastened to add, his voice earnest.


    He truly never saw her as unattractive, even when her face was mostly obscured by her thick bangs. She had a delicate beauty that didn''t need the spotlight to be seen, although it was true that she shone much brighter now.


    Calista sensed his anxiousness and was about to tease him when they were interrupted by a new arrival.


    "Mr. Kallum?" A woman in a stunning blue dress with a daring slit approached them, her presencemanding yet elegant.


    Kallum recognized her immediately-Charlene Leighton, a rtive from his mother''s side, technically his cousin. He nodded coolly in acknowledgment, his demeanor turning noticeably colder.


    Charlene, picking up on the shift in his attitude, was puzzled and slightly wary. Remembering her underlying mission, she mustered the courage to approach him, clutching her ornately beaded purse. With practiced poise, she said, "It''s been a few years since west met, hasn''t it? I hope you still remember me."


    Her words were apanied by a yful blink and a dismissive nce toward Calista, who she considered no more than an inconvenient addition to the family due to Wanda''s impulsive favoritism.


    "How about we head to the banquet hall together?" Charlene suggested, stepping closer and reaching to hook her arm through Kallum''s. Her purse swung forward, poised to brush against his hand. Yet, just as her bag was about to make contact, Calista intercepted, grabbing the strap.


    Calista held up the purse, examining it closely with a smirk. "Could you possibly exin why there are these sharp objects attached to your bag, Ms. Leighton?"


    To an untrained eye, the detail might


    have gone unnoticed. But Calista''s


    sharp vision had immediately


    vel


    spotted the tiny needle cleverly concealed among the embellishments of the purse. A simple scratch from it could potentially draw blood from Kallum in an instant.


    Most would dismiss such an incident as an idental scrape from an unpolished gemstone, chalking it up to mere coincidence. Yet, it was this very design that could cunningly collect a blood sample without suspicion. "Sharp?" Charlene responded, visibly startled, then quickly recovered with a forced chuckle, "Are you talking about the pearls and gems on my bag? Oh, they are not sharp in the slightest. I''m puzzled as to why you would ask." As she tried to reim her purse, her efforts were futile against Calista''s firm grip. By then, Kallum''s expression had darkened considerably.


    Exchanging a significant look with


    Calista, he then turned his piercing gaze to Charlene, his voice cold and steady. "trust what Callie said. As for you, what exactly are you after? My blood sample? Considering our families are connected through


    marriage, are you trying to sever thatPlease check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    tie now?"


    "No!" Charlene''s face nched at his usation. "Have you misunderstood something?"


    She continued to struggle to reim her bag, persisting despite the awkwardness of the situation. "Mr. Kallum... Please don''t be swayed by her words! Take a closer look; is there really anything amiss with my bag?"


    She was confident in the bag''s subtle design, convinced that the tiny, less-than-half-a-centimeter needle was well-concealed by the gemstones'' brilliance. Surely, Calista must have been setting a trap for her.


    Calista maintained her yful demeanor, locking eyes with Charlene. "Well, the only way to be certain of any issue is to put it to the test, isn''t it?"


    Charlene hesitated, unsure of Calista''s intentions.


    In the next instant, Calista tightened her grip on the purse and, without any warning, pressed the side with the embedded needle against Charlene''s arm.


    A sharp cry of pain escaped


    Charlene as the needle broke her


    the wall of the corridor, in


    skin. Calista held her firmly against


    herpletely. She didn''t stop there with a chilling smile, slowly dragged the needle down,


    creating a superficial cut along


    Charlene''s fair skin.


    The pain was akin to a knife''s edge, exacerbated by the intensity of Calista''s imposing stare, which seemed even more menacing than the needle itself.


    Charlene felt her sanity fraying at the edges as she cried out, "Let go! You b*tch, let go of me!"


    In her panic, Charlene''s free hand iled, reaching to grab at Calista''s hair, but Kallum was quicker, seizing her hand before it could make contact. His gaze fixed on the fresh bloodstain, his eyes aze with a fierce protectiveness that bordered on murderous.