Chapter 574: Blackmailing
Whenever Mia stepped out or was distracted, Sel would somehow find a way to appear, slipping into their lives like an uninvited shadow. At first, Selena ignored it. She didn’t want to make a fuss.
Mia had already assured her. "I won’t go back to her."
And after their engagement, Mia had indeed been calmer. More distant from Sel.
But who would have thought... Sel would start crossing boundaries.
Entering Selena’s space. Provoking her.
Not openly... but in subtle, passive-aggressive ways that left no evidence, yet stirred unease deep within her.
At first, Mia didn’t notice.
"You’re overthinking," Mia had said lightly. Those words had pushed Selena to the edge.
The frustration. The helplessness. Finally, unable to bear it anymore, she reached out to Aurora.
When Aurora heard everything, she fell silent for a moment.
’This situation...’
Then, she let out a small, incredulous laugh.
"You really know how to get yourself into complicated situations," she teased lightly.
Selena sighed.
"I tried talking to Mia," she admitted, her voice tired. "Every time I tell her Sel is dangerous, she just nods."
Aurora leaned back slightly, thinking."Did she not say anything else?"
Selena’s expression darkened.
"She says Sel is just going through a hard time," she replied. "She says... as her friend, and even as her sister, I should help her."
Aurora chuckled softly. "Then if she’s so determined... why don’t you do the same?"
Selena blinked. "What?"
Aurora’s eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief.
"Find someone else," she said. "Someone who needs help even more."
For a moment, Selena didn’t understand.
Then... It clicked. A slow smile spread across her face.
"You... you’re suggesting I do the same thing?" she asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "I didn’t think you’d ever suggest double-crossing your own best friend."
Aurora laughed lightly.
"If my best friend is going in the wrong direction," she replied calmly, "then it’s my responsibility to guide her back."
Selena nodded slowly. ’I see...’
The next day, a woman named Lana started appearing more frequently at Selena’s house. Selena introduced her to Mia.
"This is Lana," she said casually. "She’s going through a tough time."
At first, Mia was sympathetic. Of course she was.
She helped Lana, spoke kindly to her, even tried to comfort her. But as time passed...something changed.
Mia began to notice. Lana’s constant craving for Selena’s attention and even clinginess.
A strange feeling crept into Mia’s chest. Jealousy. Subtle at first. Then sharper.
"You know..." Mia began one day, her tone hesitant, "maybe she shouldn’t come here so often..."
Before she could finish... Selena cut her off. "You’re overthinking."
The same words. The same tone. Mia froze.
The words struck her harder than she expected. Without another word, she turned and left.
As soon as the door closed, Selena’s expression changed. She immediately reached for her phone.
’That was too much...’
Meanwhile, Mia walked away, her emotions swirling chaotically. ’I should just go to Sel...’
The thought appeared suddenly. But the moment it did...she stopped.
Her steps halted. Her breath caught. ’What am I thinking...?’
A realization struck her. Hard.
’Is this... what Selena has been feeling all along...?’
That discomfort. That unease. That strange pull.
Mia pressed her fingers against her forehead, her voice low and strained. "I don’t even like Sel like that... so why...?"
Why did she feel compelled to listen? To follow? Even when she knew something was wrong?
Confusion filled her mind. Eventually, she turned back.
When she returned, Selena was already waiting.
The moment she saw Mia...she rushed forward and hugged her tightly.
"I’m sorry," Selena whispered, her voice trembling. "I won’t do that again... I’m really sorry..."
Mia froze for a second...then hugged her back.
"I’m sorry too," she replied softly. "I should’ve understood how you felt... but I kept ignoring you."
Her grip tightened. "I’m the one at fault."
Selena stiffened slightly. Mia continued, her voice quieter now. "I think... I understand now."
She hesitated before speaking again. "It’s not love... but when I’m around Sel... it feels like I have to listen to her."
She frowned slightly. "Even when I know she’s being hypocritical... I still let her in."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I don’t understand what’s wrong with me..."
Selena’s eyes widened. This was the first time she truly understood Mia’s perspective.
She gently patted her back. "It’s okay," she murmured. "We’ll figure it out."
As they hugged, Selena’s thoughts grew heavier. ’This isn’t normal...’
A suspicion formed in her mind. ’This... might be Sel’s doing.’
The next day, Selena went to find Sel. Without hesitation, she spoke firmly.
"Stay away from Mia," she said. "Don’t come near her again."
Sel raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes.
"Oh?" she let out a soft laugh. "And what exactly do you have to offer me... in return for that peace?"
Selena froze. ’So that’s it...’
Money. That was her real goal. Taking a deep breath, Selena steadied herself.
"How much do you want?" she asked.
Sel smiled slowly. "At least this much."
She raised a single finger. Selena misunderstood slightly and replied without hesitation...
"I can give you a hundred dollars."
The air fell silent for a brief moment.
Sel let out a low chuckle, the sound laced with mockery as she tilted her head slightly.
"100 dollars? You know what I mean," she said slowly, her eyes gleaming with amusement, "and yet you’re still pretending to be this naïve?"
She stepped closer, her presence pressing in like an invisible weight.
"Do you really think I’d settle for that little?" her lips curled faintly. "Selena, you’ve been playing in the stock market... and doing very well for yourself."
Selena stiffened. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.
’She knows...?’
A flicker of shock passed through her eyes. Sel noticed it immediately.
"Oh?" she chuckled again, softer this time, almost delighted. "You didn’t expect me to know?"
She leaned back casually, crossing her arms. "I should thank Mia for that."
Selena’s brows furrowed. "Mia...?"
Sel smiled knowingly.
"One day, she invited me over," she began, her tone almost conversational, "and purely by accident... I happened to see something interesting."
Her eyes darkened slightly. "Your financial records."
Selena’s breath hitched. Sel continued, almost savoring every word.
"You were receiving dividends of nearly a million dollars a year," she said, her voice dropping slightly. "Do you have any idea how huge that is?"
She let out a quiet laugh. "And that was just the beginning."
Selena remained silent, her expression tightening.
"I looked deeper," Sel went on, her tone sharpening. "And what I saw... was only the tip of the iceberg."
She raised a finger, counting slowly.
"Ten million in profits. Fifteen million in total investments. A growing list of clients. And ongoing projects that could easily bring in another million once completed."
Each word felt heavier than the last.
Sel’s smile widened.
"Even for someone like you... that’s not a small amount, is it?"
Selena’s jaw tightened. Now it all made sense.
’So this was her plan... from the beginning...’
Sel had never come here by coincidence.She had been watching. Calculating. Waiting.
Sel took a step forward, her voice lowering into something almost dangerous.
"I’ve been patient," she admitted. "I made sure to appear more often... to get closer... to make you uncomfortable."
Her eyes locked onto Selena’s. "Because I knew... one day... you’d come to me yourself."
A soft, chilling laugh escaped her lips. "And offer me money... just to get rid of me."
She tilted her head slightly. "And when that moment came... I would drain you completely."
Selena slowly lifted her gaze, her expression returning to calm.
"You can forget about a million dollars," she said steadily.
Her voice was firm. Unshaken.
"That’s a huge amount," she continued. "And no matter what you say... I won’t give it to you."
She paused for a moment before adding coldly...
"If needed... I’ll file a restraining order against you."
Sel blinked...then burst into laughter.
A sharp, mocking sound.
"A restraining order?" she repeated, amusement dripping from every syllable. "Against me?"
She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing.
"How exactly are you planning to do that... against a family member who hasn’t done anything?"
Selena’s expression hardened. "Don’t test me," she replied quietly. "You’ll get nothing from me."
Sel’s laughter faded, replaced by something darker. Her gaze turned cold.
’So she refuses...’
For a brief moment, silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating before Selena walked away.
Then... Sel’s lips slowly curled into a twisted smile.
"If I can’t have your money..." she murmured softly, almost to herself, "then you shouldn’t have it either."
A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone. Her fingers moved quickly.
Dialing.
On the other end, her parents picked up. Sel’s voice changed instantly, turning emotional, almost trembling.
"I need to tell you something..."
And then...she revealed everything. Every detail. About Selena. About her money. About her success.
When the call ended, Sel lowered her phone slowly. A smile spread across her face.
The kind of smile that didn’t belong to victory... But to destruction.
’If I can’t rise...’
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
’Then I’ll drag her down with me.’