Charles's POV
The warmth and laughter from Stella's room are abruptly silenced by the heavy door, leaving behind only the oppressive silence of the hallway and the sickly sweet scent of Michelle's perfume.
In the corridor, she stands with her meticulously painted face twisted in a venomous blend of anger and frustration. Stella's unexpected fainting had thrown her carefully planned perfect trap into disarray.
"Charles!" she calls out, her voice dripping with a layer of artificial grievance and cloying sweetness. "See, I told you that woman is cursed! She frightened Stella so badly! She..."
"Shut the f**k up, you b***h!" Alex roars, his fury tangible as he waves a fist in her direction.
"Alex, watch your language," I interject, saying as calmly as possible. "Go be with your sister. I n
