The Villianess's Redemption (HYUNJIN ff) ✓

20.The Whispers of Resentment

Chapter 20: The Whispers of Resentment
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Third person's POV

The afternoon sun streamed through the grand windows of the elegant drawing room, casting a warm glow over the gathering of noblewomen seated around a beautifully adorned table. The table was set with the finest china, delicate porcelain cups, and an array of pastries and finger sandwiches that looked almost too exquisite to eat. The women’s laughter and light conversation filled the room, the sound mingling with the gentle tinkling of silver spoons against teacups.

Rosallia sat at the head of the table, her posture impeccable, her expression serene. But beneath her composed exterior, a storm was brewing. As she listened to the idle chatter of her newly made friends, the words around her seemed to blur, her mind fixated on the news that had been spreading like wildfire throughout the noble circles.The incident at the yacht.The other women were all too eager to discuss the dramatic turn of events, their voices filled with excitement as they recounted what they had heard.

“Did you hear? Isabella nearly drowned!” one of the ladies exclaimed, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and morbid curiosity. “And Hyunjin… Hyunjin jumped into the water without a second thought to save her!”

“He must care about her a great deal,” another woman mused, her tone laced with admiration. “It was such a heroic act. Imagine the danger he put himself in.”Rosalia felt her hand tighten around the delicate porcelain teacup she was holding. The pressure was so intense that she worried it might shatter in her grasp. But she didn’t care. All she could think about was Hyunjin—Hyunjin risking his life for Isabella, Hyunjin choosing to save her without hesitation.Jealousy flared up inside her like a raging inferno, threatening to consume her entirely. She had always seen herself as the one destined to be by Hyunjin’s side. For years, she had nurtured her feelings for him, imagining the life they would build together. And yet, here he was, throwing himself into danger for another woman.It was unbearable.

“Rosalia, dear,” one of the ladies said, her voice cutting through Rosalia’s turbulent thoughts. “You’ve been awfully quiet. Are you feeling alright?”Rosalia blinked, pulling herself back to the present. She forced a bright, practiced smile, the kind she had perfected over years of navigating high society. “Oh, I’m fine,” she replied smoothly, waving off the concern. “Just a bit tired, that’s all. This whole ordeal with Isabella has been… unsettling.”Her friends nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with sympathy and understanding.

They leaned in closer, eager to hear more.“It must be difficult for you,” one of the women said gently, her eyes filled with faux pity. “Seeing Hyunjin so… involved with someone else.First was Eliza.....and now Isabella.”

Rosalia’s smile faltered for the briefest of moments, but she quickly regained her composure. She couldn’t afford to show weakness, not here, not now. “Yes, well… I’m sure it was just the heat of the moment,” she said, her voice carefully controlled. “Hyunjin is kind and brave—he would have done the same for anyone.”

There was a pause as the other women exchanged knowing glances, their expressions sympathetic but tinged with something else—curiosity, perhaps, or even judgment. Rosalia could sense it, the unspoken questions hovering in the air, but none of them dared to voice their doubts.The conversation soon drifted to other topics, the women returning to their light-hearted gossip and chatter. But Rosalia’s mind remained fixated on the incident, her thoughts spiraling into darker and darker places. The jealousy gnawed at her, insidious and relentless, filling her with a sense of helplessness that she despised.

No, she would not let Isabella take Hyunjin from her. She had waited too long, sacrificed too much to see her dreams come to fruition. She had to do something—anything—to ensure that Hyunjin remained hers.As the tea party continued, Rosalia forced herself to engage with her guests, maintaining the facade of a gracious hostess. But her mind was elsewhere, plotting and scheming, searching for a way to turn the tide in her favor.