"Sophia… Sophia…" he'd whispered, even as he ground the cigarette out on her skin.
By the time it was over, she had felt half dead.
There had been a moment when she had genuinely thought about ending her own life.
If Sophia hadn't called her...
If Sophia hadn't sent her those designer clothes, the handbag and the jewelry—things so expensive that even Virtue wouldn't have known where to begin looking for them herself...
Virtue didn't know what she would have done.
Sophia had been so kind to her.
So perfect.
Like an angel.
It was Ava.
That bitch.
Everything was Ava's fault.
If Ava hadn't existed, none of this would have happened.
And this time...
Virtue wanted her dead.
Her eyes opened.
The champagne bottle in her hand had cracked beneath the pressure of her grip.
She stared at the fractured glass for a moment before setting it down.
Then she turned and walked away.
Across the room, Sophia approached Matthew.
She looked almost unreal beneath the warm hotel lighting.
Her gown was a soft, muted champagne-ivory, the fabric light enough to move gently with every step without looking fragile.
The neckline was elegant and clean, following the shape of her collarbone before falling into a fitted waist.
From there, the skirt loosened into smooth layers that brushed around her legs as she walked, giving the dress an effortless, graceful movement.
Nothing about it screamed for attention.
It didn't need to.
A delicate line of crystal detailing traced the waist and caught the light whenever she moved.
Her jewelry was equally restrained—a pair of slim pearl-and-gold earrings, a fine bracelet around one wrist, and a small matching ring.
Her long dark hair fell in soft, polished waves down her back, with the front swept neatly away from her face.
A few lighter strands rested naturally around her cheeks, softening the otherwise immaculate styling.
Her face had the kind of beauty that looked gentle at first glance.
A softly shaped oval face.
Smooth, luminous skin.
A slender, elegant nose.
Full lips with a natural rosy tint, their shape delicate but defined.
And her eyes were the feature that made people look twice.
Large, slightly almond-shaped eyes framed by long lashes, a deep warm brown that looked almost black beneath the dim lighting.
They had a naturally gentle shape, giving her an innocent appearance without making her seem weak.
There was always something composed behind them.
Something confident.
Sophia didn't look like a fragile princess waiting to be protected.
She looked like an heiress who had grown up knowing exactly where she belonged.
Her posture was relaxed, her shoulders straight, her movements unhurried.
Gentle.
Elegant.
Classy.
But there was a quiet authority in the way she carried herself—a cool confidence that made it obvious she was accustomed to being listened to.
Not too innocent.
Not too intimidating.
Not overly sexy.
Just striking.
A soft, angelic beauty wrapped around the confidence of someone who knew she could walk into any room and belong there.
And with that calm expression on her face, Sophia walked toward Matthew.
"Matthew, the teacher said we should wait for the Orenthal representatives to arrive. Five students will represent their school, and five students will represent Crownside High. Our arrangement is three girls and two boys, so the other three are already with the teachers. We should go meet the others," Sophia said.
She picked up two glasses of fruit wine from a passing waiter and handed one to Matthew.
Matthew glanced at her before taking it with one hand, his other hand slipping casually into his pocket. He twirled the drink slowly, watching the wine move inside the glass.
"Lead the way, then," he said, raising an eyebrow.
Sophia smiled gently and turned to lead him away.
Ava had already walked over to where Jane and Luna were waiting.
"Looks like the teachers want to make your lover boy and your cousin the main representatives receiving the Orenthal students," Jane said lazily, pointing her wine glass in their direction.
"I can kind of see the vision," Luna said, leaning back in her chair with a smile. "Those two do make a good view. The girl has that striking, cool, bold beauty with the aura of a gentle, elegant swan. And the boy has those handsome, sexy yet delicate features, plus that mysterious character. You never know if he's cold or warm, or whether he's being politely distant or actually interested."
Ava stared at her for a second before taking her seat.
"Since when did you become a poet?"
"Since right now. I'm fucking bored. Drop-dead bored."
Ava laughed and crossed her legs.
"What about you? Where's your man?" she asked, resting her chin against the back of her palm as she looked at Jane.
"My dad isn't back from his trip yet. And if I stay another day at my mom's place, I'm going to lose it," Jane said, taking a sip of her wine.
Luna sighed before explaining.
"Her stepsister made a scene. Her mom found out Jane was staying at Jordan's house and started going on about how Jane had no manners and all that other bitchy nonsense. Then she stormed over to Jordan's place."
"Good thing Jordan wasn't there," Jane muttered.
"She slapped Jane and dragged her home, then made her block Jordan," Luna continued. "And Jordan isn't even in the country right now. He went with his father to deal with some projects and help his future father-in-law."
She paused to take another sip.
"Jane told me not to tell Jordan. You know how he is when someone goes against her."
Jane gave Luna a warning look.
Luna ignored it.
"Meanwhile, Jane's stepfather told her mother to send her to a three-day lesson at some female elite training center so she could learn manners. Apparently, talking about Jane's character could make Jordan look down on her, and then Jordan might destroy their family. Blah, blah, blah."
Ava stared at Jane.
"Bro, your stepfamily's death wish is long overdue at this point. They're literally asking for the trash you're about to give them. And you're still calling them family?"
Jane rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, I called Jake for help, but Luna showed up."
"My dad should be coming home tomorrow," Jane continued. "I'll just stay at my grandparents' house until then."
"You called Jake for help because you know he wouldn't do anything to your family since you told him not to," Luna said, pointing her glass at Jane. "That's why he called me instead, because he knew I would put them in their place."
Jane's lips twitched.
Luna leaned back, looking extremely pleased with herself.
"I marched in there with my bodyguard. Sometimes, the way you hit your phone when you're trying to reset it is the same way you hit people to reset their brains."
Ava choked on her wine.
Jane burst out laughing.
"I was nice enough to still treat them like your family," Luna continued, completely serious. "I only let them beat your stepsister and break all the furniture. Didn't I even give them a check that would cover all the damage and her medical bills? Double, too."
She took another sip.
"I'm even nice."
Ava and Jane finally burst into louder laughter.
"I bet Jane's mother and father are going to have a headache after all this," Ava said, shaking her head. "But your mom doing this much for children who aren't even hers is still kind of weird."
"Damn. Hottie alert."
Luna bit her lip, her eyes suddenly fixed somewhere behind Ava.
Jane and Ava both turned around.
The Orenthal representatives had arrived.
Three boys and two girls entered the hall with three teachers following behind them.
Their uniforms were neat but stylish, with subtle differences in color and cut that reflected Orenthal's more academic and prestigious culture.
But the students weren't the only ones who had drawn everyone's attention.
At the front of the group walked three high-ranking representatives.
One was a Grand Marshal General, a tall man with a broad frame and a composed military presence. His dark formal uniform was sharply tailored, the silver insignia across his chest catching the warm lights whenever he moved.
Beside him walked a high-ranking female politician dressed in an elegant deep-blue gown beneath a structured ivory jacket.
Her appearance was polished and authoritative without being overly severe.
The third was a quiet-looking man representing the head of one of Orenthal's extremely old families.
He wore a dark tailored suit with understated gold detailing, his expression calm and unreadable.
The Dean of Affairs immediately stepped forward to greet them.
"Welcome to Crownside High. We're honored to have you with us."
After exchanging greetings, the Dean led the three senior representatives toward the area where the Vice President of Averis was waiting.
It kept the Averis representatives included rather than making it appear as though the Orenthal delegation had been separated from them.
Meanwhile, three Crownside teachers guided the three Orenthal teachers farther inside for a private discussion.
The fourth Crownside teacher remained behind with the two Averis teachers, making conversation and keeping the atmosphere between the schools relaxed.
Matthew and Sophia took charge of the five Averis student representatives, leading them toward the remaining Crownside students who would be participating in the Unity competition.
The ten Averis girls were already gathered nearby, talking among themselves.
Soon, the students from both schools began mingling, laughing and exchanging introductions instead of standing in separate groups.
Ava watched the movement around the hall for a moment.
"Looks like the event is about to start soon," she said.
She took another sip of her drink before turning back to Jane and Luna, immediately returning to their conversation as though the arrival of an entire Orenthal delegation had barely interrupted them.
Not long after, the entertainers arrived.
The lights around the hall softened slightly as a female violinist walked onto the small stage.
She wore a flowing dusty-rose dress with thin straps and a soft, draped neckline. The fabric moved lightly around her ankles whenever she shifted her weight, while her long dark hair was swept over one shoulder.
A pair of delicate pearl earrings caught the light as she lifted the violin beneath her chin.
Behind her stood two backup singers in simple ivory dresses, microphones in hand.
The first notes of the violin drifted through the hall—soft, warm and slow, blending with the singers' gentle harmonies.
Conversation gradually lowered.
A few students swayed to the rhythm.
Some couples moved toward the open dance floor.
Luna glanced toward the Orenthal students, then smiled.
"Excuse me."
She walked over to one of the Orenthal boys.
"Would you like to dance?"
The boy looked momentarily surprised before smiling.
"Sure."
He offered his hand.
Luna accepted it, and the two walked onto the dance floor.
The music shifted naturally into a slow ballroom rhythm.
The boy placed one hand lightly at Luna waist while she rested hers against his shoulder, their other hands joined between them. They began moving in smooth, measured steps, turning gently with the music.
Around them, other students had joined in.
Some couples danced properly, following the rhythm with surprisingly good technique,
The soft violin continued above the quiet laughter and conversation.
Under the warm lights, the dance floor slowly filled, turning the farewell gathering into something much more relaxed and lively than the formal event it had initially seemed like.
Jennie walked over to their table with the unhurried grace of someone who expected to be welcomed everywhere.
She slid into the seat beside Luna, folding her hands neatly on the table.
"Long time no see, guys," she said, sighing softly. "It's been so long since we sat down together to talk."
Jane didn't bother replying.
She just lifted her wine glass and took a slow sip, eyes fixed on the glittering crowd beyond their little circle.
Ava didn't look up either, scrolling lazily through her phone as if Jennie's presence was background noise.
Jennie didn't take it to heart. She rested her chin on her palm, a gentle, graceful smile settling on her face.
"I know you're still mad," she said, voice soft, almost apologetic.
"Especially you, Jane. I mean… your boyfriend nearly got stolen by me. And I did help your family deal with some issues they've been holding in their hearts. At the end of the day, I'm doing it for you, Jane."
Jane set her wine glass down with a quiet click. When she looked at Jennie, her smile was perfect—except it didn't reach her eyes.
"I do have to thank you," Jane said, tone light, almost sweet.
"If not for your help, I wouldn't have seen just how faithful my boyfriend is. Or how… desperate you are."
She traced the rim of her glass with her index finger, slow and deliberate.
"I mean, if I stripped naked and acted seductive, and the guy just looked at me like I was dirt under his shoes, that would affect my self-esteem too. But screaming 'molestation'?"
Jane tilted her head, as if genuinely considering it. "That's a bit much."
Her gaze lifted, warm and pitying, like she was talking to a lost friend.
"Good thing I called a doctor for you. I figured, if he really did force himself on you, he should be punished. That's why I had the doctor strip you down for the examination—so it wouldn't look like I paid him to write a fake report." Jane's smile widened, gentle and cutting all at once.
"But the tests said you weren't assaulted. And the camera footage showed you were the one trying to force yourself on my man."
She paused, letting that hang in the air for a heartbeat.
"But I trust you, my dear friend. You would never do that. Maybe you were just… acting. You do like acting, don't you? So I made your dream come true and spread the video. You were so popular—different porn industry directors were contacting you. Pity you missed the opportunity I gave you to act like a slut. You're very bad."
Jane's voice was filled with pity, each word wrapped in silk.
"And you even had the video taken down. I heard you've moved on to old men now, though."
The tables around them heard nothing but the music and the clink of glasses.
But Jennie's face twisted so badly it looked like she'd just licked a spoiled lemon.
The expression lasted less than ten seconds before she smoothed it away, her mask slipping back into place as if it had never cracked.
Ava almost choked on her drink. She bit her lip hard to stop herself from laughing, eyes bright with barely contained delight.
Jennie's smile returned, soft and innocent as ever.
"You gist so much," she said, voice light, almost admiring. "You're so funny."
She tilted her head, gaze flicking to Jane with faux concern.
"As for old men… are you talking about your father? You are talking about him, right?" Jennie asked, tone sweet, curious.
"But it seems your mother is not as bright as you. She didn't trust your father—or maybe she just didn't want to. Quickly divorcing him and taking her shares, then marrying your stepfather one month after the divorce. It was so obvious. Mummy was already cheating. No wonder you're so in love with Jordan. Mummy doesn't care. Daddy's too busy. And even if he started caring… he's too cold to act well."
Jennie's voice dipped into gentle sympathy. "It seems not everything money can fix, huh? No love."
She let that hang for a beat, watching Jane's face with the attentive look of a best friend offering comfort.
"You think the person who helped me trick your father has been dealt with?" Jennie asked, almost playfully. "Spoiler alert: wrong person."
She leaned forward just slightly, the picture of a concerned friend.
"When you find out the truth, call me. As a dear friend, I would love to be here when you cry… to offer you a shoulder, of course."
Jennie smiled, knowing exactly where she'd poked, and knowing
( Today post)