The grand Moretti dining room, usually a sanctuary of refined conversation and delicious cuisine, became a crucible of simmering tension that night.
The festive cheer, meticulously cultivated by Elena, began to curdle under the weight of subtle malice.
Serena, the vivacious redhead, had spent her days observing Leonardo's unwavering devotion to Emilia, and her frustration had festered into a calculated, desperate move. She knew she couldn't charm Leonardo directly, so she would attack Emilia, his apparent weakness.
During a lull in the dinner conversation, Serena, with a feigned air of casual observation, mentioned,
"Oh, Emilia, speaking of your studies, I recall that our cute lecturer, Professor Giordano, seems quite... invested in your progress. He always seems to have a keen inte
