Uncrowned Princess

38

Isabella descended the stairs towards the expansive garden, weaving through the crowd with purpose. Her friends were already lounging on the plush sofas, their animated chatter dying down as they noticed her approach.

With a dramatic flair, Isabella threw herself onto one of the sofas, her pink dress pooling around her. All eyes were instantly on her, sensing the tension radiating from her posture.

Stephanie, ever observant, raised an eyebrow. "Where's your mask, Isabella?"

Isabella's lips curled into a sardonic smirk. "Oh, I wore it this morning. The hypocrite mask didn't suit me too much." Her gaze swept across the group, lingering pointedly on Claudia. The air crackled with unspoken tension.

Suddenly, Isabella's tone shifted, becoming razor-sharp and direct. She locked eyes with Claudia, her voice low but intense. "I'll be direct, and you'd better engage that brain of yours." She jerked her head towards Ethan, who was approaching their group. "Ethan is my boyfriend. You'll keep your fucking mouth shut if you don't want to see yourself destroyed. No messing with Ethan. Are we clear?"

The group fell into a stunned silence, the weight of Isabella's words hanging heavy in the air. Claudia, however, seemed unfazed. She simply smirked and pressed herself closer to Jack, who instinctively wrapped an arm around her thin frame. Claudia's short black dress left little to the imagination, her cleavage on prominent display.

As Ethan neared, accompanied by Lio and Alen, the tension in the group reached a fever pitch. Isabella's eyes never left Claudia, a silent battle of wills playing out between them.

Ethan, sensing the charged atmosphere, smoothly inserted himself into the group. He placed a gentle hand on Isabella's shoulder, a gesture both comforting and possessive. "Everything alright here?" he asked, his voice casual but his eyes sharp, taking in the scene before him.

Isabella leaned into his touch, a subtle show of unity. "Everything's perfect," she replied, her voice honey-sweet but her eyes still challenging anyone to say otherwise.

The group shifted, making room for the newcomers. Lio and Alen exchanged glances, clearly aware they'd walked into a powder keg. But as they settled in, the dynamics began to shift.

Isabella, with Ethan by her side, radiated a newfound confidence. She'd laid down the law, drawn her lines in the sand. The message was clear: she was no longer playing by the old rules. This was Isabella unleashed, fierce and unapologetic, ready to protect what was hers and carve out her own path.

Laura clapped her hands together, setting her glass down with a decisive clink. "Okay gang, time to play!" Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she nodded to a nearby maid, who swiftly approached with a bottle of wine. "Make your glasses ready, we're playing 'Never Have I Ever.'"

As the maid filled their glasses, Laura looked around the group. "Everyone knows the rules, right?"

Claudia interjected, her voice dripping with disdain, "Yeah, even the newbie, Iz's boyfriend."

Isabella's eyes closed briefly, her jaw clenching as she fought to maintain her composure. Ethan's hand found her thigh, his touch grounding and calming. He leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "It's not worth it."

Isabella's tension eased slightly. She placed her hand over his, intertwining their fingers. "You're right, love. Let's not ruin our night."

The game began, and Claudia wasted no time in taking aim. "I've never ever been in a relationship with a poor guy," she said, her eyes gleaming with malice.

Isabella's anger flared, but she defiantly raised her glass and drank. To everyone's surprise, Bea also took a sip. Curious glances were exchanged, but Bea simply turned away, clearly unwilling to elaborate.