The nickname felt ancient. Xenia had always doubted her father's heroic death. He'd been a violent gambler, his rages directed at her and her mother until her mother fled. Her childhood was a blur of fear. Then, the accident. He'd died saving someone. The Liddells took her in. It didn't sit right; he'd been a monster. She'd buried the doubt, clinging to her new life. But a phone call, a claim he was alive, shattered her calm. Panic clawed at her. A knock.

"Xenia, taking your time?" Lucas's voice cut through the terror.

"I'm ready."

She frantically deleted the call log. It had to be a scam. He'd been dead for years. Composing herself, she joined him.

"Girls take forever," Lucas grumbled.

Noelle followed Cedric and Alfred. The bar… it looked familiar. Xenia's humiliation, a past life's cruel memory, flashed through her mind.

Cedric noticed her change. "Something wrong? We can go elsewhere."

"No, it's fine. Popular place, right?"

Alfred nodded. Cedric studied her. "Sure you're okay?"

Noelle masked her disgust. This time would be different.

Cedric watched, sensing a discordance in her demeanor. He wasn't sure what it was.

Inside, Noelle donned a fox mask. A masquerade. Just like before. She remembered Xenia, flirting with Justin, the campus heartthrob. Justin's fake confession, meant to protect her, had been met with jeers, Lucas among the scoffers. Humiliation burned. This time, things would change.

Music pulsed. Justin approached a girl in a rabbit mask, flowers in hand. Xenia.