Chapter 50
Alessia could only laugh in exasperation. Why did everyone around her think the answer to any problem was g
gifting someone a house?]
“I didn’t even accept Cole’s help–now you want me to take yours? Are you sure you can handle the fallout?” She shot Pierce a raised eyebrow, half amused, half warning
Pierce hesitated, suddenly realizing the danger he’d put himself in. Forget about Cole–the other people orbiting Alessia were notoriously jealous. If word got out that she’d accepted his help, he’d probably need to consult a priest before leaving his house, just to make sure it was a safe day.
He swallowed hard and inched backwards. “Thank you, Alessia, for sparing my life.”
She couldn’t help but let out a laugh, shaking her head, and decided to ignore him.
The classroom was even noisier than she’d imagined. Everyone was showing off their designs–some impressive, others just plain bizare, drawing plenty of laughter.
But the moment Alessia walked in, the room fell abruptly silent. People stared at her with oddly complicated expressions.
“What’s
? Did I get a new face or swap genders overnight? Why do you all look like you’ve seen a ghost?”
up?
Her joke broke the tension, and laughter bubbled up around the room.
Hey, if you did, which doctor had the guts to mess with that face?!!
“Seriously, who’d dare?”
“If you ever do think about switching teams, give me a call, a girl said, flashing Alessia a flirtatious wink
Before Alessia could reply, a hand landed possessively on her shoulder!
“Back off, everyone. I’m the main event here.” With that, Stella planted a dramatic kiss on Alessia’s cheek, loud and unmissable ? Alessia snatched a tissue from the podium and wiped her face with exaggerated annoyance, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement.
“Stelle, could you be any more shameless? Alessia shot back. The whole class erupted in laughter.
Of course, no class was without its share of sour notes.
“Oh please, some people really have no shame. Steal someone else’s life of luxury, then waltz back to school like nothing happened. If it were me. I’d have transferred out overnight,” one girl said, voice dripping with contempt.
“Yeah, but I heard her real parents are drowning in debt Guess there’s no money for a new school, huh?
“Isn’t tuition free for the top student here? My God, is she only hanging around because she can’t afford to pay?”
The two of them laughed to themselves, oblivious to the dirty looks from the rest of the class.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang, followed by two piercing screams that made everyone wince. Several people frowned in disgust.
“Stella, what do you think you’re doing?” one of the girls demanded, her eyes wide with panic.
Stella smiled sweetly, but her gaze was icy. “Oh, just wishing I could sew your mouths shut chake those empty heads of yours, then dig out your hearts to see just how black they must be to say such things.”}
She was smiling, but the look in her eyes sent chills down everyone’s spine. For a moment, it seemed like she really might do it.
The two girls instinctively grabbed each other’s hands, but still wouldn’t back down.
“We never said any names. Why are you getting so defensive?“!
“Oh, but what a shame, Alessia said with a light laugh, patting Stella’s shoulder and turning her gaze on the girls. “Because if the situation were reversed, I doubt either of you could even stay in school. After all, you’re nowhere near the top of the class, are you?“)
Her eyes sparkled, lips curled in an easy smile–completely unbothered and showing not a hint of the anger her challengers hoped to provoke
