Born Into Villain's Family: I Have a 200\% Rebate System-Chapter 196: Sabotage

"Don’t bother calling me. Don’t text me. Don’t show up near Aurora again, either of you. Otherwise, this video will reach your parents and your real fiancé."

He turned and walked out of the room without another glance.

Diana stood there trembling, her hands balled into fists.

"He’ll regret this," she hissed. "He’ll regret throwing me away."

Aiden didn’t respond. He just sat back on the bed, the thrill of the moment gone, a cold pit forming in his stomach.

Meanwhile, Spencer walked down the stairs with that same dangerous calm. The maids bowed low, not daring to meet his eyes.

.......................................

The evening sunlight poured through the tall arched windows of the engagement venue, casting golden streaks along the marble floors.

Aurora stepped out of the car, dressed in a sleek, midnight-blue dress that clung to her frame in all the right ways.

A thin black veil covered the upper half of her face, lending her an air of mystery and elegance.

Her heels clicked softly as she walked beside Emily, who was dressed in a soft lavender gown.

The invitation had been addressed to "Miss Dawn."

When they reached the grand entrance, the suited guard glanced at the names on his tablet.

His eyes widened slightly upon seeing the invitation, and he gave a respectful bow.

"Welcome, Miss Dawn. Please, follow me."

Inside, the hall shimmered with opulence—crystal chandeliers, golden railings, and hundreds of glittering guests dressed in their finest.

Laughter floated in the air, mingling with the soft notes of the piano playing in the background.

Aurora, however, didn’t care for the glamour.

She preferred the far corner near the tall windows, slightly obscured by a potted plant. It gave her a clear view of the entire room.

She took a seat and picked up a porcelain teacup, sipping the fragrant Earl Grey. Her fingers were elegant, composed. Her posture was poised.

Suddenly, a mechanical voice buzzed in her ears like a whisper:

[The target is Adam Price. He is destined to soar and take over the metal company.]

Aurora’s hand froze mid-sip. Her eyes narrowed under the veil.

That voice...there was no mistaking it. It was the voice of Eleanor’s system. Which could only mean one thing.

Eleanor was here.

Slowly, Aurora’s gaze swept across the ballroom.

There. Sitting near the center of the room in a powder-blue gown that shimmered like moonlight. H

Her golden hair was styled in soft curls, pinned with sapphire hairpins.

She looked like a fairytale princess—calm, graceful, confident.

But Aurora knew better.

Behind that pretty face and fluttering lashes was a schemer. And a very active one, by the sound of it.

The mechanical voice continued, unaware it was broadcasting to the wrong girl:

[Task One: Perform in front of Adam Price. Task Two: Showcase beauty. Task Three: Save him from a chandelier. He would fall for you, and the mission will be completed. Success sequence is mandatory.]

Aurora let out a breathless chuckle, almost amused. So that was Eleanor’s mission tonight.

But wasn’t it incorrect to steal someone’s fiancé?

[Penalty: Losing one of the business skills.]

"Eh? System, why such a harsh penalty?" Eleanor groaned in frustration.

[The gains are even more if you succeed. Just to let you know. Once you win over Adam Price and become his white moonlight, he will support and admire you from the side.]

[Reward: Five extra beauty points and Aurora’s business skill.]

Aurora paused, stunned by the reward.

Didn’t the system can’t replicate her skills till she had favorability toward Eleanor? So, how come he could copy her business skills?

And why was she special about her business skills?

"How desperate must you be to steal a teenager’s mind?" Aurora whispered to herself, lips twitching in mild disbelief.

Eleanor, unaware of her unintended broadcast, rolled her eyes at the system’s words. "Ugh, why would I need some 17-year-old’s business talent? Isn’t that overkill?"

The system’s voice was steady, robotic.

[Aurora’s business intelligence will allow her to enter the top ten richest lists before the age of twenty. Projected growth suggests exponential increase with every new enterprise. Her skills will be invaluable when you enter the entertainment industry and begin handling endorsement contracts, investments, and media rights.]

Aurora tilted her head slightly, amused. So even the system admitted she was that good. How flattering.

Eleanor adjusted her gown and patted her cheeks for a blush-like glow, preparing for the first part of her "performance."

Meanwhile, Adam Price—tall, polished, and currently talking to a group of executives—seemed oblivious to the orchestrated plot heading his way.

Aurora leaned back in her chair, swirling the tea in her cup.

She couldn’t see Eleanor’s thoughts, but the system’s instructions were all she needed. She’d already mapped out the upcoming moves.

1. Eleanor would draw attention with a musical performance—perhaps sing or play the piano.

2. She’d make sure Adam noticed her beauty and poise.

3. Finally, some chandelier—likely loosened or tampered with—would fall, and she’d shove him out of harm’s way like a heroine in a drama.

She just needs to disrupt them to make Eleanor lose one of her skill sets.

Aurora sat quietly in her corner, the rim of her teacup brushing her lips as she watched Eleanor rise from her seat.

Sure enough, the blonde was making her way to the grand piano stationed in the center of the hall.

Aurora smirked.

"Task One: Perform in front of Adam Price," the system had said.

Eleanor sat at the piano, adjusted her posture, and gave a sweet, humble smile to the gathering crowd. Adam Price turned to look. Her fingers hovered above the keys.

Then, suddenly—

THUNK!

The lid of the piano slammed shut.

Everyone jumped.

Eleanor let out a yelp and snatched her fingers back just in time.

The pianist who had been scheduled to play earlier rushed forward, scolding her politely but firmly for touching the reserved instrument.

Aurora quietly tucked a hairpin back into her bun, smiling into her tea. That hairpin, minutes ago, had jammed the piano’s hinge, making it snap closed when opened too far.

Strike one.

Eleanor, flustered but not defeated, quickly turned to the crowd. "I guess I’ll sing instead!" she chirped, forcing a giggle.

Aurora’s eyes sparkled.

As Eleanor began to sing, a soft melody filled the air—but just as she reached the chorus, a piercing squeak echoed.

Then again. Squeeeeeak.

The mic she held buzzed loudly, then emitted a sharp whine that made guests wince.

Eleanor froze.

Aurora took another sip of tea, glancing at the soundboard at the back.

A waiter she’d spoken to earlier discreetly adjusted a knob—one that Aurora had asked him to mess with in exchange for a generous tip.

Strike two.

Eleanor gave up the song halfway, faking a bashful laugh and returning to her seat, cheeks flushed.

"Showcasing beauty" was next.

Eleanor decided to take a break for 30 minutes to let the previous embarrassment pass before she made her next move, and it gave Aurora enough time to make her next move.

Aurora watched as Eleanor subtly got up again, walking with exaggerated grace.

She passed by Adam Price, who was just getting a drink at the refreshment table.

Eleanor deliberately dropped her clutch.

Adam, polite as always, bent to help.

That’s when the sachet Aurora had slipped into Eleanor’s bag earlier was activated.

A pffffft noise followed.

And then—a faint but undeniable stench.

Eleanor’s eyes widened in horror.

Gas leak? No.

Rotten eggs?

Even worse.

Adam’s nose crinkled. The people near them instinctively took a step back. Whispers spread.

"Did she—?"

"It wasn’t me!" Eleanor snapped, turning pink.

Aurora didn’t even try to hide her grin this time. Strike three.

Finally, it was time for the pièce de résistance: the chandelier.

Aurora stood and adjusted her dress, then casually made her way toward the central staircase.

Eleanor, still determined, was eyeing the chandelier above the seating area.

The system will likely help Elenaor by dropping the chandelier once Adam is in place.

As Aurora ascended the central staircase with practiced elegance, she could already see

Eleanor positioned herself near Adam, batting her lashes and laughing at something that clearly wasn’t funny.

Her eyes kept flicking upward, to the chandelier that dangled like an expensive trap above the plush velvet seating.

[Target in position. Chandelier drop in 3... 2...]

Aurora plucked a small remote from her clutch. It wasn’t fancy, just a basic wireless controller she borrowed from the lighting technician earlier.

One polite conversation and a fake smile had earned her full access to the ballroom’s "special effects."

[1...]

Click.

The chandelier above Eleanor... didn’t move. It was instead withdrawn into the ceiling while Eleanor, unaware of the changes, rushed to Adam Price and pushed him away, shouting.

"Watch out."

Thud.

Eleanor looked at the ceiling in shock and showed a surprised expression as if she was about to die, but what she saw genuinely surprised her.

The ceiling had no chandelier at all.

Silence. The entire hall fell silent when they saw Eleanor’s crazy action.

Some even threw sympathetic glances in Eleanor’s direction, thinking she was a crazy woman.