A Thousand Scars: Ava's Awakening

Ava Chen stood beside Julian Vance, tech billionaire, her fiancé.

Tonight was their engagement announcement at a dazzling Silicon Valley gala.

Everything seemed picture-perfect.

Then, the ballroom doors opened, and in walked Seraphina Reed, Julian' s ex, the "White Redwood."

Julian froze, dropping Ava' s hand, and sprinted towards Seraphina, leaving Ava abandoned on the dais.

The engagement was "indefinitely postponed," as Ava watched Julian devour Seraphina with his eyes.

Ava realized she was merely a substitute, a colder version of the woman Julian truly wanted.