Opal almost giggled at the absurd sight of Aria’s fast retreat, when she was reminded of where she was, and she forced a look of mild confusion and concern, as if she were genuinely perplexed by Aria's reaction. The group of women who had initially dispersed, having watched the scene unfold, now gathered around her again, their curiosity piqued.
“Oh my, what just happened?” one of them asked, her voice laced with a mix of intrigue and sympathy. “It looked like she just ran off.”
Opal sighed, her expression conveying both surprise and a hint of exasperation. “I don’t really understand what set her off. I was just trying to be friendly, to see how she’s been after all this time. Maybe she’s still sensitive about the past.”
The women exchanged knowing glances, their expressions shifting fr
