Episode 4: The Man With Crimson Eyes

...Episode 4: The Man With Crimson Eyes...

As Seraphina walked through the grand hallway of the West estate, the echoes of laughter and whispers from yesterday’s luncheon still lingered in her mind. People were confused. Startled. Some even amused. The famous villainess, smiling like a gentle spring breeze? It had to be a trick. But Ariya, trapped in Seraphina’s body, knew it wasn’t.

She passed a mirror and paused.

The woman staring back at her had golden hair, skin as pale as porcelain, and eyes that were no longer cruel but... thoughtful. Determined.

"Rayan Faruq..." she whispered the name like a vow.

Today, she was going to meet him.

In the original novel, this was the week he reappeared after a trip abroad, attending a business meeting at the Mirza Group headquarters. Zayyan Mirza would be there. So would Meera. And, in a small moment easily missed by the original readers, Seraphina had also been invited but had rejected the offer out of jealousy.

But this time, Ariya wasn’t letting that moment slip away.

---

The headquarters of the Mirza Group stood tall, a sleek glass tower piercing the clouds. As Seraphina stepped out of her car, heads turned. Phones snapped photos. Even here, she was known as the West heiress. Beautiful. Ruthless. Alone.

She walked through the lobby with her head held high, ignoring the murmurs around her.

“Is that really her?”

“She’s smiling...?”

“Did she go mad?”

Inside the elevator, she let herself exhale.

“Stay calm. You’re here for Rayan. Not to start a war with Zayyan,” she muttered under her breath.

---

The boardroom was large and intimidating. Zayyan sat at the head, cold and unreadable, flipping through some documents. Meera was beside him, typing notes like the obedient assistant she was in this part of the story.

And then, just as Seraphina walked in, the doors opened again.

He entered.

Rayan Faruq.

He looked just like she remembered—dark black hair, sharp jawline, and those unforgettable crimson red eyes that seemed to burn through every soul in the room. He didn’t look surprised to see her. Just... curious.

Their eyes met.

For a second, everything froze. The world outside the glass walls, the ticking of the clock, the tension in Zayyan’s jaw—none of it mattered.

Only him.

“Miss West,” Rayan greeted, his voice deep and smooth. “It’s an honor.”

Ariya blinked. This was different. In the novel, Rayan had always ignored Seraphina unless forced to speak. But now... he was smiling at her?

“I should be the one saying that,” she replied gently. “You’re even more impressive in person.”

A small twitch tugged at the corner of Zayyan’s lips. Was that... annoyance?

The meeting went on, but Ariya barely heard a word. She was watching Rayan. Observing. Every nod, every smirk, every thoughtful pause.

This wasn’t just about saving him anymore.

It was about understanding him.

Who was Rayan Faruq, really?

And why did she feel like… he was also watching her?

End..Episode 4

Note: Seraphina has finally come face-to-face with Rayan Faruq, the second male lead whose fate she swore to change. But things aren’t exactly following the original script. Could he already sense the difference in her? Or is Rayan hiding more secrets than she thought?

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