Third Person POV
"Brother." Melissa finally spoke, her voice calm in a way that made the room feel colder. She walked straight to Seraphina and took her hand gently, almost mockingly, as if nothing was wrong. "Why are you getting so angry over something like that?"
Adrian's eyes darkened. "Shouldn't I be?" he shot back sharply.
"No," Melissa replied without even blinking or a flicker of guilt. "Everyone knew about this decision except Grandma. So why are you making a fuss now?"
Adrian was taken aback. Her words hit him like a tight slap on her face.
"What?" Adrian stared at her, disbelief tightening his jaw. Was this really the same soft-spoken Melissa he grew up protecting? The same girl who once cried over hurting a stray puppy… now speaking like this?
Melissa tilted her head slightly, as if he were the unreasonable one. "We did tell you, didn't we? On my eighteenth birthday?" She dragged out the word my like the day had belonged only to her.
