Chapter 176

• Vanessa's POV
• The music was loud, and the bass thumped so hard it vibrated through my chest. Neon lights danced across the room, casting shifting shadows and dazzling patterns against the walls and our champagne flutes. I leaned against the velvet couch, swirling the golden liquid in my glass, eyes narrowed in satisfaction. Around me, laughter and chatter filled the lavish penthouse, a private party for the elite—and, more importantly, for those of us who knew how to make chaos look like fun.
• Renata was draped on the other end of the couch, a smirk playing on her lips as she scrolled through her phone. She had that glint in her eye—the one that meant she was about to say something deliciously cruel.