Delite gracefully handed Melody a small, intricately wrapped box. It wasn't the usual hospital fare; it was clear this came from somewhere far more exclusive.
"Here," Delite said, her voice soft and genuinely concerned despite her usual playful demeanor.
"Your family sent this over from the shop. It's their special lavender honey cake. Supposed to be good for healing."
The aroma that wafted from the box was intoxicating a delicate blend of floral sweetness and warm, comforting spices. It was a signature creation from Delite's family's renowned patisserie, a testament to their culinary expertise and a subtle display of their wealth and influence.
Melody took the box, her fingers brushing against Delite's as she did so. A genuine smile touched her lips as she recognized the thoughtfulness behind the gesture.
Dilettia's hand shot out, intercepting Rosemary's attempted slap with a swift, decisive smack of her own. The sound echoed sharply in the room, silencing Rosemary's tirade.
"Who the fuck are you?" Delite demanded, her voice icy and laced with disdain as she crossed her arms, her expression hardening into a mask of cold displeasure. Her grayishblue eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Rosemary from head to toe. "Tsk tsk, you're the illegitimate daughter? So ugly and disgusting."
The words were delivered with a casual cruelty that sent a visible shudder through Rosemary. She stood frozen for a moment, utterly bewildered by the sudden intervention and the scathing insults directed at her. She hadn't expected anyone to defend Melody, let alone two such formidablelooking women.
Rosemary, momentarily stunned by Dilettia's swift retaliation, quickly recovered her composure. Her inherent arrogance and sense of entitlement flared to life, fueled by a desperate need to regain control of the situation. She scoffed, dismissing Delite and Dilettia with a wave of her hand.
"And who are you two to interfere?" Rosemary sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Some commoners? You dare insult me? Do you have any idea who I am?"
She paused, reveling in the uncomfortable silence that followed. Then, emboldened by their apparent lack of recognition, she turned her attention back to Melody.
"As for her," Rosemary continued, gesturing dismissively towards Melody with a sneer.
"A spoiled brat who thinks she can get away with anything just because her parents shower her with money."
Delite let out a melodic laugh, leaning against her hand with an air of effortless grace. She playfully hooked her arm around Melody's shoulders, pulling her close.
"Baby, can you be my sugar momma?" Delite teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Me too!" Dilettia chimed in, joining the playful banter.
Rosemary's jealousy intensified as she watched the three girls laughing together. She let out a harsh, brittle laugh and pointed at them with exaggerated disdain.
"Look at your broke friends, Melody," Rosemary sneered, hoping to provoke a reaction.
{God damn, she is annoying! Forget it, forget it. I wish my friends could just kick her out.} Melody thought irritably, trying to ignore Rosemary's taunts.
Delite's smile softened, a subtle shift in her demeanor that signaled a change in the playful atmosphere. She gracefully slid off the bed and moved towards Rosemary, her movements fluid and deliberate. With a surprising gentleness, she reached out and lightly grasped Rosemary's chin, tilting her head to face Delite's intense gaze.
"Rosemary," Delite said, her voice dropping to a low, almost hypnotic tone.
"People in our wealthy social cycle call me, Melody, and Dilettia… Ice Snow Storm Heiress Princesses. I am Ice, Dilettia is Storm, and Melody is Snow. Want to guess why?"
Rosemary blinked, momentarily disoriented by Delite's sudden shift in tone and the unexpected physical contact. She stammered slightly, completely thrown off balance.
"What?"
"Go, my darling, is tired," Delite said, casually tucking a strand of her black hair behind her ear.
Rosemary, fueled by frustration and a desperate need to assert dominance, stormed over to Delite. In a fit of childish rage, she splashed a handful of water at her.
But Delite remained utterly unfazed. She barely reacted to the wetness on her face, her expression remaining perfectly indifferent. It was as if the act was beneath her consideration.
"You two are nothing but dirt poor!" Rosemary spat out before turning on her heel and stomping out of the room, leaving a trail of indignant fury in her wake.
"Sorry you two," Melody said softly, genuinely apologetic for the disruption.
"I want your cookies that you bake," Delite said, her tone shifting back to playful as she sat back down on the edge of Melody's bed.
"So angry," Dilettia muttered, pulling out her phone. In their wealthy social circle, they had a private group chat called "Little Riches."
Dilettia typed furiously, then posted a message:
Dilettia: We are having a party in a month, and Rosemary the girl who lived with Melody will be there. Let's be kind to her 😒
She added a string of eyerolling emojis for emphasis. A beat of silence followed as she waited for responses.
Almost immediately, the "Little Riches" group chat exploded with a flurry of responses from the elite young socialites who populated their world. The notifications pinged incessantly on Dilettia's phone, illuminating her face with the glow of their digital pronouncements.
SeraphinaV: Kind? To Rosemary? Seriously? She's a viper! 🐍
JulianR: Yeah, she's always been a bit... intense. Don't expect me to be offering her canapés. 🥂
IsabelleM: Let's just make sure she doesn't start any drama. The last party was chaos enough. 😬
LiamC: I'm in. Let's see how long it takes her to trip over her own feet. 😂
AnyaS: Honestly, I'm more concerned about the dress code. Is it black tie or cocktail? 👗
MarcusB: Black tie, obviously. It's a celebration of our privilege, not a casual gettogether. 🎩
ChloeL: Ugh, black tie is so boring. Can't we at least have a theme? Like, "Enchanted Forest" or something? 🍄
Dilettia: Guys, focus! The point is to be civil. Audrey specifically requested it. 🙄 Besides, it'll be entertaining to watch her squirm. 😉
Melody: (typing…) Let's just make sure she doesn't ruin the champagne tower. 🍾
Delite: (typing…) Agreed. And absolutely no touching the vintage caviar.
Rohan's message appeared in the chat, instantly shifting the tone from playful banter to a palpable tension.
Rohan: Did she bully our darling?
The seemingly simple question sent a ripple of shock through the group. Rohan wasn't someone to be trifled with. He was a figure shrouded in mystery, a young master of immense wealth and power, and his infrequent appearances in their social circle were always marked by an aura of quiet authority.
A flurry of rapidfire messages followed, fueled by curiosity and a touch of apprehension.
SeraphinaV: Whoa, Rohan's here! 😮
JulianR: Seriously? He rarely even acknowledges us.
IsabelleM: This just got interesting… 👀
LiamC: Someone should probably tread carefully. 😬
Melody quickly typed a response, eager to diffuse the situation before it escalated.
Melody: No, not bullied.
The brief reply seemed to satisfy Rohan for the moment. A beat of silence hung in the air as everyone waited to see his next move. Then, his message appeared, concise and commanding, solidifying his presence within the group.
Rohan: Good 😌 my sister and I will throw the party.
The announcement was met with a collective gasp of awe and excitement. A party hosted by Rohan and Delite? It was an unprecedented event, a guarantee of extravagance and exclusivity that would be the talk of their entire social circle for weeks to come. The "Little Riches" group chat erupted once more, this time with a frenzy of enthusiastic speculation and anticipation.