BuzzNovel“Hey everyone, | want to apologize for what happened yesterday.” lleana’s voice was soft and sweet, her smile
so gentle it was hard to turn her down. “My dad brought these liqueur chocolates all the way from Europe, just
for you guys. If you'll accept them, Ill take it as a sign you've forgivenfor my rudeness.”
She held out the box, her posture impeccable, but after Lucy took one piece, no one else moved. An awkward
silence settled over the group.
lleana’s smile faltered, just for a second, before she turned her gaze to Alessia. “Lessie, | said the wrong thing
yesterday. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?”
Alessia looked at her with an ambiguous, almost amused smile, neither agreeing nor refusing. lleana kept
holding up the box, her arm steady, but as the seconds ticked by, her lips grew tight with strain.
“If you'll take one, I'll know you've forgiven me. Please?” Her tone was so syrupy it made Stella bristle; the look
of open distaste on Stella’s face couldn't have been clearer.
Alessia smirked and reached out, but before her fingers could close around a chocolate, Stella's expression
changed. “Wait, you-"
Alessia’s other hand landed lightly on Stella’s leg, stilling her, and with the first hand, she picked up a chocolate.
She held it up to Illeana, that shalf-smile on her lips.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtlleana’s jaw clenched as she gripped the edge of the box. She forced a breath, then turned to the rest of the
group, her composure restored.
“See? Lessie took one. It’s safe, | promise.” With that reassurance, the others couldn’t very well keep refusing
and making things more uncomfortable. They each took a chocolate, murmured a few polite words, and drifted
away. Pierce took one too, though he immediately handed it off to someone else. Only Stella refused altogether.
Alessia toyed with the chocolate in her palm, lost in thought, until Stella snatched it away with a huff. Alessia just
laughed, no trace of annoyance-if anything, her eyes held a note of fond exasperation.
“What's her deal?” Stella muttered, tossing the chocolate onto her desk and leaning in close to Alessia, rubbing
her arms as if she’d caught a chill. Her disgust was as obvious as her words. “She acts like a completely different
person. Is she
possessed or something?”
1/2
14:42
Alessia chuckled. “Who knows?”
Stella arched an eyebrow, deciding to drop the topic.
“My dad wantsat the Tate family’s dinner tonight. | heard the two black sheep are finally coming home.”
Alessia’s smile turned sly. “You should go. Tonight's bound to be interesting.”
“Really?” Stella's face lit up, her earlier boredom forgotten.
“Those two? One's crazy, the other's crazier.”
“But Scott Tate’s famous for his dignity. He's really going to let them run wild at an event like this?”
Alessia just raised an eyebrow, lips
curling. She didn’t, sgy@y1bifg hore,
byt her diéace Said plenty. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
Stella grinned back. “Guess I'll make sure I'm front row tonight.”
The day dragged on until school
finally let out. Stella hadn't brought
her scooter, so her family's deiygm
was algae waiting'at the curb.
and had been picked up earlier by
the Tate family’s chauffeur—no doubt
to get ready for tonight's big event.
“I'm off! I'll give you a live update,”
Stella called over her shoulder. The
content is on novelenglish.net! Read
the latest chapter there!
Alessia waved, laughing, and
watched her Go hg preeret
SFaplion fe chool gates and
ked over. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“Ready to head home?”
“I've got something to do first. I'll be hlater, so go on without me.”
Zachary paused. “Is this because of the dinner tonight?”
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