[Day 3, Dec. 22 – The Ophelia Cruise Ship]
~Octavia~
The silence after my words was suffocating, the kind of heavy, weighted pause that presses down on everyone in the room. My heart raced so fast I could feel it thudding against my ribs, but for once, I didn’t feel small.
I didn’t feel like the Octavia who used to avoid confrontation or look for the nearest exit.
I felt victorious.
Ava’s cheeks were flushed bright red, the confidence she wore like an accessory slipping from her face. The once-cocky smirk that infuriated me was gone, replaced by a tense, forced expression as she glanced around the room.
The small crowd that had gathered to witness the showdown was dead silent. Their wide eyes darted between Ava and me, murmuring softly, unsure of whether they should jump in or preten
