She hadn't ant to eavesdrop.
Saldrich had rely fallen behind when Aldrich walked ahead too fast, leaving her unintentionally lingering outside the door while he spoke with Fiona inside.
She could have walked away, should have probably done so even. But sothing in their voices anchored her in place. And that was how she overheard their conversation, picking up words she wished she hadn't.
Especially the last part.
Her fingers curled into fists at her sides. If only she could erase the knowledge from her mind, pretend she hadn't heard a thing.
With a sharp exhale, Saldrich turned away from the door, her face tightening as she tried to push it all aside.
"Ah… Sorry. I didn't— I wasn't—"
A startled voice stopped her.
She looked up to find Edward standing in her path, his expression unreadable. He shifted on his feet, quickly composing himself before speaking.
"I ca here for Fiona," he stated plainly.
Saldrich barely spared him a glance. "She's inside."
Without another word, she moved to brush past him, her steps purposeful.
But Edward's hand shot out, catching her wrist before she could escape.
"What are you doing?" Saldrich voiced, unable to think for herself why she would be grabbed by Edward.
The two were not close enough to warrant him grabbing her by the wrist, and neither did she feel comfortable with it happening.
"I know that look. I've seen it before. Whatever you're thinking, don't do it."
It wasn't a threat. It was a warning.
Saldrich wrenched her arm free from his grasp, her glare cold and unwavering.
"Never touch again. With or without my permission."
Her words sliced through the air like a blade, dismissing him as if he were nothing. Then, without hesitation, she walked away, leaving Edward montarily stunned.
It wasn't as if he had romantic intentions toward Saldrich. Far from it, but the outright rejection, the way she spoke to him as if he didn't matter… That was new. Outside of Fiona, no girl had ever addressed him with such dismissiveness.
And oddly enough, it lingered.
Shaking the thought aside, Edward stepped toward the door, just as Saldrich had before him. The conversation inside was still ongoing. Without thinking, he nudged the door open just enough to see inside.
His eyes widened.
Aldrich and Fiona, close. Intimate.
"?!!!..."
Edward imdiately shut the door, his jaw tightening as he turned away. He didn't linger. He walked off, his thoughts a rumbling ss.
---
Elsewhere, laughter filled the air.
Selina's room was a wild mix of pink glamour and youthful chaos, the perfect setting for mischief. She and her closest friends lounged in a circle, imrsed in conversation that had them all in stitches.
But the energy shifted the mont Saldrich stord in.
The door swung open with force, but the girls barely noticed at first, too caught up in their amusent.
"Sal! Oh, am I glad you're here!" Selina called out, her laughter bubbling over. "You have to hear this!"
She gestured for Saldrich to join them, her tone familiar, inviting. But Saldrich wasn't here for idle chatter.
"Fiona was hurt."
Saldrich's words were firm as she inford, wiping the smiles from the girls' faces.
Selina arched a brow, tilting her head slightly.
"And?"
There was no concern in her voice, only detached curiosity.
"What does that have to do with us?"
Saldrich didn't hesitate. "My brother is facing Kyle Dandada in a Veilbourne. If he loses, he's expelled from Eldora Institute. Forever."
Silence.
The girls exchanged uneasy glances as if questioning whether Saldrich had lost her mind.
Selina, however, didn't react. She rely observed, her expression blank, unreadable. Slowly, she rose to her feet, stepping toward Saldrich until they stood face-to-face.
"And again, Sal… how is any of that our business?"
The tension in the room thickened, suffocating. A storm was brewing between them, unseen yet palpable, the weight of unspoken words pressing against their chests.
Saldrich refused to falter.
"I want you to stay away from my brother. And from Fiona," she stated, her tone leaving no room for argunt. "Whatever is going on between them, it's none of your concern."
A slow smirk tugged at Selina's lips.
It was almost funny... Almost.
She let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. The chuckle grew into a laugh, controlled at first, but soon spilling over into sothing wild and unrestrained. She laughed and laughed, and laughed until her laughter was the only sound in the room.
The other girls, however, weren't laughing.
Then, as suddenly as it started, the laughter stopped.
Selina's expression darkened, her eyes losing all traces of amusent.
Without warning, she raised her hand and? She struck.
The slap echoed like a crack of thunder, sending Saldrich's head snapping to the side.
But she didn't flinch.
Didn't recoil.
She rely turned back, levelling Selina with an unwavering stare, as if the slap had been nothing more than a breeze brushing against her cheek.
"Stay away from my brother and Fiona Helmswoth."
Her voice was steady, unshaken.
Selina's gaze sharpened.
And then, another slap. Harder.
Once more, Saldrich absorbed the impact without reaction, her posture rigid, her resolve unshaken.
"I an it, Selina," she continued. "I am Saldrich Aldaman. Daughter of Eric Aldaman. Sister to Aldrich Aldaman. And I will not stand by while you play your gas with my family. Not you. Not anyone."
The room fell into stunned silence.
The girls barely breathed, their eyes darting between the two as if waiting for the world to explode. Where had Saldrich found the courage to speak to Selina Von Degure like that?
But she didn't linger for a response.
Saldrich turned and walked out, leaving Selina standing in the centre of the room, fists clenched at her sides.
She could feel the weight of the mont, the shift in the air. Sothing had changed.
Saldrich had crossed a line.
A slow smile curled at the edges of Selina's lips.
"It seems I've been going too easy on people lately," she murmured.
She turned back to her friends, amusent gleaming in her eyes.
"Girls… what do you say we start reminding everyone exactly what it ans to hold my position?"
Enough was enough.
Selina Von Degure had been patient, passive long enough for nobodies like Saldrich Aldaman to get the courage to confront her. A queen bee!
Her idle nature had made people forget what authority that title ant.
That ended today.
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