Beneath the Gilded Veil

As Archer Leighton passed past the imposing iron gates, a warning from the stinging wind grazed his skin. Five years later, freedom tasted even colder than he had imagined. Breathing out in little puffs, he saw the city towering before him, a confusing jumble of steel, concrete, and recollections. Everything felt weird now that he was gone, the world having continued to spin.

He looked about, looking for something he recognized in the streets. Nothing. The formerly vibrant metropolis was now humming with an unsettling apathy. Archer shrugged, his limbs still stiff from being confined to a jail. The exertion of holding himself together for so long caused his muscles to hurt. However, his intellect was more keen than before. Each stride ahead rekindled the flame inside of him.

His fists clinched in his coat pockets as he thought back to the day they had hauled him into that courtroom and how Sebastian Morland's betrayal had destroyed his life. That same Sebastian, who'd been his closest confidant, business associate, and most reliable ally. That was prior to the deception and the set-up that caused him to lose his empire.

Elena Sinclair was the only person who no longer provided Archer with a place to live or company. Even just hearing her name made him uncomfortable, but he buried it behind the other pieces of his damaged heart. Weakness had no place here. Not right now.

He stopped at the corner of the street and stared at the hazy lights of oncoming cars. Sebastian prospered somewhere, leading the life that Archer had known. Elena was also with him, I believe.

It was the concept that made me feel angry. He was filled with a five-year supply of rage, betrayal, and helplessness. However, that period was ended. He was freed from the prison of bars. Now that he was free, he intended to reclaim what they had taken from him.

He steadied himself by inhaling deeply. His desire to restore what was rightfully his had not changed, despite the changes in the city. He would destroy them all one by one, starting with Sebastian.

The excessive cleanliness and sheen of the streets irritated Archer's recollection. The spots where he used to hang out and observe transactions seemed to have lost all of their dirt. The eateries he used to visit were now decked out in sparkling lights, ready to greet the affluent set he was no longer a part of. Archer could feel the city breathing without him, that it was thriving without his name as he traveled.

He went by the soaring glass structure that previously housed the emblem of his successful business. His fingers quivered by his sides as he recalled completing transactions and signing contracts, experiencing the surge of power that accompanied each transaction. Now that life had died, buried beneath Sebastian's deceit.

His thoughts strayed to the evenings he'd shared with Elena, her touch gentle on his skin, her laughter resonating in those opulent penthouses. He recalled the aroma of her perfume and the coziness of her company. She served as his compass during the storm. But the worst betrayal of all had been hers.

For what duration was she aware of Sebastian's scheme? Did she truly love him, or was it all just a part of the lie?

Archer's thoughts became bitter as his heart hammered in his chest. He had been gullible. Believing. And he'd lost everything because of that trust. However, it is no longer the case. The period of grief has ended. The instant the prison gates opened, he had discarded that skin.

Sebastian's playground, which used to be the headquarters of his firm, caught his attention as he focused his gaze. He could see the top floor's lights flickering from this distance. his former workplace. Elena was standing someplace in that building, experiencing the life they had taken from each other.

Not for long, though.

Leaning against the bare walls of his temporary dwelling, Archer surveyed the new space. It was little more than a location to reorganize, strategize, and plot. After removing his coat and throwing it across the vacant bed, he turned to face the table where a large, still-sealed envelope was lying.

Only a few hours after his release had the invitation arrived. Its immaculate envelope was exquisite and crisp, bearing the distinctive stamp of the world's elite that Archer had previously dominated. His insatiable curiosity prevented him from tearing it apart at first.

Now, he tore open the envelope and removed the elegant card from within.

** "You are cordially invited to the Morland Charity Gala, hosted by Sebastian Morland and Elena Sinclair..."**

He gasped for air. Thus, it was accurate. They were in unison. Strongly holding the card, Archer continued to read. The gala served as more than simply a fundraiser; it was a platform for Sebastian to demonstrate his strength and influence in public. Archer would also be entering the lion's den by going.

A sour grimace twisted his lips. Sebastian felt he had prevailed. He believed Archer was defeated and shattered. But this offer was more of a challenge than a tease. He was being dared by Sebastian to come and witness the life he had lost.

Archer's heartbeat accelerated. The invitation marked more than just the start of Archer's comeback. He would go, but he would not be a guest. He was coming back to take back all that had been taken.

With the decision bearing down on him, Archer sat in the darkened room as night fell. It was peaceful inside, but the city outside was teeming with activity. Far too silent. His mind stirred, biting at him.

He was free to leave. He could restart his life in peace, escape the gala, and put the past behind him. He had enough wounds, enough betrayal memories. Why reopen old wounds?

However, retribution was an alluring mistress, and her murmurs were more audible than before. He was eager to watch Sebastian's reaction when he showed up at the event and experience his pride at having stood tall in the location where everyone had assumed he would never return.

And Elena, how would she respond? Did she still feel haunted by his presence, or had she moved on so quickly? That part of him that yearned to know if she had ever really loved him was something he detested.

The buzzing of his phone startled him out of his reverie. A letter from **Adeline Ravenscroft**, the only supporter who remained by his side during the trial. She was well aware of all the dangers that lurked in the shadows, as well as Sebastian's plots and the unseen forces at work.

Her message was straightforward: **"Assess your readiness."**

After a minute, Archer put the phone in his pocket and resumed staring at the screen. He was not going to go. The game was only getting started.

The lavish, extravagant event, attended by the most influential people in the city, was everything Archer had remembered. Other than the fact that he was no longer one of them, it appeared as though nothing had changed.

With effortless grace, he slipped past the throng while keeping his eyes peeled for his target. The laughing reverberated and the champagne flowed, but Archer's attention was laser-focused.

That's where. In the middle of the space, **Sebastian Morland** stood, endearing, self-assured, and unaware. And **Elena Sinclair** was beside him, elegantly dressed.

As he watched her, Archer's breath caught as a surge of emotions washed over him. Her laughter resounded like a bell, and her beauty remained unaltered. However, despite its beauty, Archer could see the little fissures. Was she acting like she had to, or had she moved on?

As their gazes locked across the room, his heart thumped in his chest. It felt as though time had stopped for a moment. Elena looked up at him, her grin faltering.

And then it was over in an instant. The harm was done even if she averted her gaze.

One thing Archer was positive of was that everything will change tonight.