Anna paused at the grand doors of the hotel ballroom. Her black dress hugged her confidently, yet a flicker of doubt crept into her chest. Memories of taunts, whispers, and sneers from schooldays swirled around her. With a deep breath, she stepped inside, heels clicking on the polished marble. The room shimmered with crystal chandeliers, laughter, and the soft clinking of glasses.
The First Encounter
Her eyes scanned the crowd, landing on familiar faces that had aged but retained the sharpness of their youth. Victoria Rybak, the girl who had tormented Anna the most, glided toward her with a sweet, practiced smile. Beside her, Sophia Kravchuk and Polina Levitskaya followed, eyes glinting with quiet judgment.
