Back in her room.
After freshening up, Serena changed into her pajamas.
She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows and gazed at the neon-lit cityscape.
She thought back to the pleading mercenaries from earlier.
Raising her hand, her thumb gently traced the blood-red ring on her finger.
This was the symbol of the Ghost Alliance in the Gray Zone.
It was also the mark of the Demon.
Over the past few years, this ring had struck fear into far too many people.
Those who saw it either submitted or died.
Originally, she hadn't wanted to expose it.
But... today, her family had spent so much money and effort to meticulously plan this grand Vinton Debutante Gala.
It was all for her.
The farce Isabella created had already disrupted the banquet.
As for those mercenaries.
She hadn't even needed to step in.
Douglas could have handled it.
Black Jack and Jaxon could have easily subdued them as well.
But in the process, a physical fight would inevitably have caused massive damage to the carefully decorated venue.
If heavy weapons were truly unleashed, who could guarantee the guests wouldn't be caught in the crossfire?
If blood was shed at the banquet.
All the hard work her grandparents and uncles put in would have been ruined.
Serena didn't want to see that happen.
So, she wore the ring that symbolized the Demon.
It was also the first time she had revealed her ties to the Gray Zone to her family.
She thought they might be tense, afraid, or unable to accept... that she roamed the underworld.
But they weren't.
They only felt heartache for her.
An overwhelming heartache.
She pressed her hand to her chest, a faint smile touching her lips.
No matter how the outside world buzzed with excitement.
Any online videos or photos from the banquet that featured Serena...
Were wiped clean by an invisible force.
They were entirely blurred out by heavy pixelation.
Not even a strand of her hair was visible.
Even her voice had been run through a special filter, making it sound like an emotionless robot.
Even the most elite hackers couldn't restore the original footage.
One stubborn individual tried to post a bounty on the dark web, seeking Serena's real identity.
But less than three seconds after the post went live.
Their account was permanently deleted.
Their IP address was locked with a stark warning.
A blood-red skull popped up on their screen, dripping virtual blood alongside a countdown timer.
Terrified, the hacker yanked out their router, booked a flight, and fled the country overnight.
Everyone in the circle implicitly understood.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Messing With Her? Are You Crazy!