The silence that followed Luca's shaky outburst was suffocating. The air in the hall, once light with laughter, now clung thick and heavy. Aurelia lounged back against the armrest, her crimson hair spilling over one shoulder, watching him with a sly curve of her lips. Lilliane glanced between them all, fidgeting with her skirt hem as though the fabric itself might give her the right answer. Selena sat stiff, arms folded, her gaze sharp yet evasive, as if weighing whether to play along or not.
Selene's poised eyes, calm yet probing, rested on Luca like a hawk circling prey. Her silence pressed harder than any accusation.
Damn it… say something, please, someone!
Finally, Aurelia tilted her head, her smirk softening as though she'd decided to be merciful. With a casual wave of her hand, she said, "Of course. We're here just to… hang out with him. Relax. Nothing more."
Her tone was light, deliberately unbothered, but her eyes glittered with amusement at Luca's visible relief.
