As soon as Selena crossed the threshold of her home, the frustration bubbled over like a boiling pot.
"Mother!" she exclaimed, storming through the doorway, irritation etched on her features. "You wouldn't believe what Leo did to me today! He's so despicable!"
Her words dripped with disdain, as if she were casting away the very mention of his name.
"Selena," her mother cautioned, her voice low and controlled, "you must not speak of him in that manner—"
"No! I will not bow down to him or allow him to manipulate me! He thinks he's above everyone just because of his family status!"
She stormed back to her room, slamming the door behind her, her heart racing wildly.
Once isolated, she fell into contemplation, thoughts of Alex flooding her mind.
Will he be all right?
The question gnawed at her as she settled into bed, drifting off into a fitful sleep despite the turmoil raging inside her.
The next day at the academy brought with it a thick air of tension that hung over Selena like a storm cloud ready to burst.
Whispers cascaded through the hallways like rippling water, but it wasn't until someone caught her arm that she learned the truth.
"Did you hear about Alex?" a classmate asked urgently, their eyes wide. "They say Leo struck him so hard he broke several bones and he's hospitalized!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Selena felt a rush of adrenaline as panic coursed through her.
Alex!
She had to see him.
Rushing through the academy grounds, she barely noticed the students parting ways and watching her with sympathetic gazes.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the sterile smell danced in her nostrils, mingling with the anxiety clawing at her heart.
She entered the room where Alex lay, swathed in white bandages, a shadow of the vibrant person she had grown fond of.
"Alex!" she cried, her voice a mixture of concern and affection.
But as their eyes locked, her heart sank at the sight of his pitiful expression.
He looked up at her, his blue eyes watery and vulnerable.
"See?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "This is all Leo's doing. He wants to keep us apart."
The sight of Alex like this, crumpled and teary-eyed, ignited a protective instinct within her.
She rushed to him, taking his hands in hers.
"I will never abandon you, Alex! I promise! Nothing he does will tear us apart!"
Tears pricked at her eyes as she found herself emotionally drawn into his plight, his crocodile-like tears spilling as he continued to channel every ounce of his distress.
"Oh, Selena! I can't bear the thought of you being hurt because of me!" Alex cried, his voice cracking as they shared the wave of sorrow washing over them.
Moved by his fervent emotion, she couldn't help but cry along with him, the vulnerability of the moment bonding them in a way that felt both urgent and vital.
"We'll get through this together!" she vowed, but a flicker of uncertainty intertwined with hope hovered ominously in her mind.
Suddenly, she felt the need to confront Leo, to demand answers for Alex's suffering.
As she glimpsed the manicured garden outside, she spotted Leo leaning casually against a tree, exuding an aura of composed arrogance.
"Leo!" she called out, the fire within her reigniting. "You need to explain why you attacked Alex! How could you do this?"
Her voice trembled with indignation.
But Leo's demeanor remained unfazed, an impervious mask of tranquility.
"You'll get a phone call now," he replied coolly, nodding toward her phone in her pocket. "Answer it."
Selena's heart raced as she retrieved her phone, and when the call connected, her father's agitated voice erupted from the other end, piercing through her.
"Selena! You ungrateful daughter! What have you done? Because of you, our business is in shambles! We've lost major partnerships, and even torn agreements!"
Her breath caught in her throat; the severity of his condemnation washed over her like ice water.
What did he mean?
She turned, her gaze shifting back to Leo, who wore a satisfied grin as if he were savoring her chaos.
"Get it now?" he remarked, the smugness of his demeanor almost infuriating in its casualness.
"What you thought was just a simple rebellion is but a trailer for the drama unfolding in your life."
Tears spilled over as Selena absorbed her father's rage, every word cutting deep into her heart.
Her father had never scolded her before; losing her father's respect felt like losing her very identity.
"I'll come home to clear all this up!" she promised, her voice strained with urgency as she rushed out of the hospital and back to her house, the weight of impending consequences dragging her down.
Upon entering her home, the atmosphere was thick with discontent.
Her family members, usually so welcoming, now glared at her with disdain.
"It's your fault, Selena!" her father's voice boomed, frustration evident in every line etched upon his face.
"Because of your foolishness, our family's legacy is at stake! Do you realize how this has affected us? Other families are questioning our integrity."
Selena shrank back, unable to respond as accusations flew through the air like fueled arrows, each one striking true.
The elders of her family turned their scorn upon her father, scolding him for not properly educating her to respect the likes of Leo.
The chorus of anger reverberated, drowning out her voice.
Feeling overwhelmed and cornered, Selena felt tears streaming down her cheeks as she realized the heavy burden resting squarely upon her shoulders.
All along, she had wanted to protect Alex, and now, in trying to stand by him, she had inadvertently endangered her entire legacy.
Meanwhile, as she faced the storm of judgment within the confines of her home, Leo lounged comfortably in his own abode, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.
The serene chaos he had orchestrated was nothing short of remarkable.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he summoned Butler Wang to his side.
"Prepare the final gift for the Luxveil family," he instructed, satisfaction radiating from his every word.
The implications of his machinations danced around him, a heady mix of triumph and dominance.
Selena's turmoil was just the beginning.
As he settled back onto the sofa, he allowed himself to relax, slipping into a comfortable position on Anne's lap, his maid, who had stood quietly by his side, attending to his needs.
The peacefulness of the moment was in sharp contrast to the tempest brewing in Selena's life.
"Are you alright, Master Leo?" Anne whispered, her voice gentle yet inquiring.
He chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"It's all part of the plan, Anne. Watch as everything unfolds perfectly."
As Selena sat at her family's table, the raucous arguments pierced through her thoughts like a relentless storm.
Her father's reproaches echoed loudly in her ears, transforming her once-comfortable home into a prison of accusation.
The air felt stifling, laden with her family's disappointment and despair.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen!" she finally managed to interject, her voice shaky under the weight of their scrutiny.
"I only wanted to help Alex! He was in trouble—but look at what has become of us!"
"Help him? You've doomed us all!" came a sharp retort from one of her uncles, his face twisted in anger.
"Do you not understand this isn't some trivial game you're playing? Your foolishness has cost us our reputation!"
Selena bit her lip, stifling a sob, her heart heavy with pain.
The very house that had once been filled with love and warmth now felt cold, distant, as if it were rebuking her existence.
With her father shouting angrily, she felt as though she were trapped within a storm, torn asunder by forces beyond her control.
Amidst the cacophony of blame and despair, the image of Leo's smugness bore down on her, a constant reminder of the power he wielded.
He had orchestrated this chaos, and now I am paying the price.
As her father continued to spew words of outrage, Selena grabbed her phone again, her thoughts swirling wildly.
What can I do to change this?
Anguish pierced through every fiber of her being as she considered the rift growing larger not just with her family, but within herself.
Desperate for clarity amidst the chaos, she slipped away from the table, her father's voice fading into the background as she retreated into her room.
There, she allowed the tears to flow, each one a small release of pent-up frustration and fear.
What happened to the confidence I had? What has become of my future?
As Selena leaned against her cool bedroom wall, she closed her eyes, trying to calm the storm brewing within her.
She had always perceived herself as strong, independent.
Yet, the turn of recent events had left her teetering on the brink of insecurity.
"I won't let Leo have the last word," she whispered to herself, the determination reigniting a flicker of strength deep within her.
Her mind reeled back to the unwavering support Alex had shown her despite his current plight.
I have to face this head-on.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
"I will find a way to resolve this. I'll make things right, not just for me, but for Alex too."
The resolve felt electric, coursing through her veins, pushing aside the feelings of helplessness that had surged within her moments prior.
I will confront Leo, and I will not back down again.
As she prepared to leave her room, her phone buzzed once more—a notification, perhaps a message from Alex, she hoped.
But instead, it was her father calling again, this time demanding her presence at a family meeting.
She steeled herself, ready to face whatever might come next.
Meanwhile, Leo lounged back at his estate, the shadows dancing on the walls reflecting the tumult of treachery surrounding him.
The thrill of domination tingled at his fingertips, intoxicating in its potency.
"Prepare the gift," he commanded Butler Wang once more, a glint of ambition darkening his eyes.
This was just the beginning of his grand design, and he relished the thought of taking down everything standing in his way.
As the shadows deepened outside the Luxveil mansion, Leo felt a surge of power course through him, bolstering his confidence.
Every storm that raged outside paled in comparison to the storm he had set in motion, the consequences rippling through the very fabric of their society.
With the stage set and the players in motion, Leo let out a soft, sinister chuckle.
Let the games begin.
The world outside continued its chaotic dance, but within these walls, he stood as the king waiting to see if his enemies would rise or fall, all while he played the role of a benevolent manipulator.
The night was still young, and the final act of his devilish play awaited its cue.