The Seventh Daughter of Jezebel

"Maggie," Claudia interrupted sharply.

Shantel met Maggie's gaze head-on. "Like what?"

Maggie smirked, but her eyes gleamed sharper like someone who had finally unraveled a well kept secret.. "Like someone running away from herself."

Shantel didn't flinch, though her fingers twitched at her side. She exhaled, slow and measured, before turning away. "If you came to insult me, you can leave now."

"Oh, come on," Selene interjected. "We're not here to fight." Her voice was firm, but her eyes held that same judgment like her younger sister. "We're here because Mom will want to see you. And frankly, after all these years of you avoiding her, I think the least you can do is show your face."

"What has my face got to do with her? Besides, she sees my face every time she looks in the mirror," Shantel muttered, turning back to the counter.

Claudia sighed. "Shan—"

"I said I'll come," Shantel cut in, sharper than intended. the last thing she wanted was to have a fallout with the only sister who has ever tried to understand her. 

A thick unyielding silence settled around them which was only broken by Selena's deep exhale. She exchanged glances with Maggie, then nodded. "Fine. We'll be downstairs."

Maggie lingered, her eyes narrowing slightly as if debating whether to push further, but eventually turned and left with Selene.

Only Claudia remained, watching her.

Shantel met her gaze. "You too?"

Claudia hesitated, then shook her head. "I just—" She sighed. "You don't have to stay long. Just make an appearance, say a few words to Mom, and then leave if you want."

Shantel exhaled through her nose. "It's not that simple, Claud."

Claudia nodded as if she understood, though they both knew she never could. "Just… don't let them think they've won by making you hide up here all night."

With that, she left, closing the door behind her.

Shantel stood there for a long moment, staring at the space they had occupied.

Then, with a quiet curse, she grabbed the wine glass and downed the rest in one go before heading to her closet.

Though it was just a few blocks away, she needed to appear in a car as part of the packaging. By the time she stepped out of the car at the grand entrance of Three Star, the event was already in full swing. 

The golden glow of chandeliers poured through the glass ballroom, casting reflections against the night sky. The music, the laughter, the murmurs of business and politics—it was all the same as she remembered.

The doorman barely had time to acknowledge her before she strode past him, slipping through the entrance with the ease of someone who had done it a thousand times before. She hadn't needed an invitation. Her name and face alone could get her through any door in this city.

Inside the ballroom, elegance and ambition filled the air. Women in stunning gowns moved gracefully through the crowd, their jewelry sparkling under the lights. Men in sharp tuxedos exchanged quiet conversations, discussing business and their influences over glasses of whiskey.

Shantel adjusted her dress which she had chosen to fit the role she was here to play tonight.

It was a sleek, black silk dress that hugged her figure perfectly, catching the light with every step. A high slit revealed just enough leg to turn heads, while delicate lace traced the deep neckline, adding a touch of elegance. A simple diamond necklace rested against her collarbone, complementing the bold red of her lips.

As she entered the ballroom, conversations slowed, and eyes turned her way. Some admired, some speculated, while some shameless men who only made decisions based on their third legs winked lewdly at her. 

Sweeping her gaze across the ballroom, she caught sight of Selene and Maggie almost immediately. They were near the grand staircase, engaged in conversation with some high-ranking officials. 

Claudia was nowhere to be seen, but that wasn't surprising. She was likely lingering at the edges, keeping a quieter presence.

And then there was her— Jessica Hale… the soul of the gathering tonight. 

Standing at the heart of it all. She was dressed in a blood-red gown that was tailored to perfection. At the moment she was laughing just as Shantel had envisaged even before stepping foot into the hall. As always, her posture was regal and her expression which she had used to bewitch countless men over the years was effortlessly captivating. Around her, admirers and skeptics alike hung onto her every word.

There was nothing she hated than being around such fake and boring lives. 

Shantel knew the exact moment her mother noticed her.

Jessica didn't falter or pause in her actions. She simply lifted a champagne flute as a subtle signal of acknowledgment, before returning to her conversation.

Very classic of Jessica Hale aka, Queen Jezebel.

Shantel exhaled slowly and made her way toward the bar, ignoring the curious glances that followed her.

She had barely taken a sip of her drink when a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"Well, well."

Shantel's grip tightened slightly around her glass before she turned.

As Shantel turned, she was met with the strikingly smug expression of George Summers, CEO of SummTech Electronics—one of the leading luxury tech companies in the country. 

He stood there, effortlessly handsome in a dark navy tuxedo, his polished confidence radiating as he swirled the whiskey in his glass. His sharp blue eyes swept over her, slow and assessing, before settling on her face with a knowing smirk.

"Well, well," he repeated, his voice rich with amusement. "If it isn't the elusive Shantel Hale. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten how to show up at these things."

Shantel arched a brow, bringing her glass to her lips without breaking eye contact. "And yet, here I am," she said smoothly. "Tragic for you, I'm sure."

George chuckled, tilting his head slightly as if studying a rare artifact. "Not tragic. Pleasantly surprising, I'd rather say." 

He took a step closer, his cologne—woody with a hint of spice was just as annoyingly refined as she remembered. 

"You've been avoiding your mother for years, and suddenly, you appear at her grand little gathering today? Either hell has frozen over, or you've finally realized it's easier to play by her rules."

Shantel scoffed, setting her glass down on the counter. "You always did talk too much." She let her gaze flick over him, unimpressed. "Still the same, I see. Arrogant, overconfident, and convinced that you know everything."

George grinned, clearly entertained rather than offended. "And you're still as impossible as ever." 

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Tell me, are you finally here to claim your birthright? Or just to make sure Mommy Dearest doesn't forget you exist?"

Shantel's jaw tightened, but she refused to let him see even a flicker of irritation. She had dealt with men like George all her life—powerful, entitled, and always assuming they had the upper hand. She had walked away from him before, and she could just as easily do it again. No big deal.

She picked up her drink and took a slow sip. "You're as predictable as ever, George," she murmured. "Still circling like a vulture, waiting for an opportunity to sink your claws into something that isn't yours."

He laughed, unfazed. "Oh, I don't wait. I take." His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes. "But you know that, don't you?"

She rolled her eyes, about to fire back a retort, when a sudden shift in the atmosphere caught her attention.