“Hey everyone, I want to apologize for what happened yesterday.” Ileana’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, I’ll take it as a sign you’ve forgiven me for 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.

Ileana’s smile faltered, just for a second, before she turned her gaze to Alessia. “Lessie, I 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. Ileana 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 Ileana, that same half–smile on her lips.

Ileana’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.

took one. It’s safe, I 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.

in her palm, lost in thought, until Stella snatched it away with a huff. Alessia just laughed, no trace of annoyance–if anything, her

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

possessed or something?”

1/2

14:42

Alessia chuckled. “Who knows?”

arched an eyebrow, deciding to drop the

at the Tate family’s dinner tonight. I heard the two

turned sly. “You should go. Tonight’s bound to

Stella’s face lit up,

two? One’s crazy,

He’s really going to

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