EMIRATES ACADEMY
Andre stepped down from the podium.
The moment he turned the corner
They were there.
Marco. Hugo. Misheal. Anastasia. Sonia.
His friends.
All of them.
Waiting.
Concern written all over their faces like it had been carved there.
Marco was the first to move before they completely surrounded him.
Marco grabbed his arm first.
"Okay, what happened in that office?!"
Hugo stepped closer. "…Did she suspend you?"
Misheal's voice was sharper.
"…Or expel you?"
Mario leaned in.
"…Or worse… call your guardian?"
Andre blinked once.
Then
He smiled.
"…Relax."
That alone
Made them pause.
Marco narrowed his eyes.
"…Why are you smiling?"
Andre shrugged slightly.
"She didn't expel us." A pause. "She warned us."
Hugo frowned.
"Warned how?"
Andre's tone stayed light.
"…No more fights."
Another pause.
"…And we're supposed to get along."
Silence.
Then
Marco exploded.
"GET ALONG??!"
He pointed wildly.
"YOU AND CARLOS??" "IN THE SAME SENTENCE??"
Sonia leaned against the wall, watching.
"…Vampire boy and crazy boy will never get along."
Misheal shook her head slowly.
"…That one is for sure."
Anastasia laughed nervously. "…This is going to end badly."
But none of that mattered.
Because
Andre was still smiling.
Hugo noticed first.
"…You're in a good mood."
Misheal's eyes narrowed.
"…Too good."
Andre narrowed his eyes
"You all say it like I'm always grumpy."
Marco gasped dramatically.
"WAIT"
He pointed at Andre like he just solved a crime.
"…It's her."
"…Esmeralda."
Andre frowned slightly.
"…No."
Sonia scoffed.
"Oh please." "She's obviously the reason."
Andre turned slowly.
Looked at her.
Blank.
"…Who the hell are you?"
Silence.
Then
Marco dropped to his knees laughing.
"i asked the same question earlier"
Sonia's face went flat.
"…Excuse me?"
Hugo sighed.
"…My sister."
Andre blinked.
"…You have a sister?"
Marco clutched his head.
"A very, very, nosy one."
Sonia stepped forward.
"Watch you tongue noise maker."
She turned to Andre
"I'm Sonia."
A pause.
"…And It's nice to finially meet you ."
Andre looked at her for a moment.
Then smiled.
"…same here."
Before she could further the conversation.
Marco suddenly froze.
Eyes shifting behind Andre.
"…Uh…"
A pause.
"…Did she forget something?"
They all turned.
Esmeralda.
Walking toward them again.
The group instinctively stepped back.
But Andre didn't move.
She stopped in front of him.
Close.
"…I forgot something."
A pause.
Her eyes softened—just a little.
"…I didn't finish what I wanted to say."
Andre said nothing.
Just watched her.
"…Come to my house this weekend."
Silence.
The air shifted.
Marco blinked rapidly.
"…Wait, HER house??" "As in the Dimitri's mansion??" "Can I tag along??"
Esmeralda turned slowly.
Her gaze
Cold.
Sharp.
Cutting.
"…And who the hell was referring to you?"
Marco froze.
"…Im sorry"
"Don't apologize."
"I don't expect more from a nuisance like you."
Silence.
The group felt it.
That sting.
That subtle humiliation.
Misheal looked away.
Hugo's jaw tightened.
Even Sonia didn't speak.
But Esmeralda?
She turned back to Andre like nothing happened.
"…I'll be expecting you."
Andre didn't respond immediately.
Didn't smile.
Didn't move.
Then
He spoke.
Quiet.
But it landed harder than anything she said.
"…I thought you changed."
Silence.
Esmeralda's expression flickered.
Just for a second.
Andre's gaze stayed steady.
"…But you didn't."
A pause.
"…I was wrong to have considered you my friend."
That hit.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
But deep.
He stepped back.
Not toward her
But toward them.
His people.
Then turned.
And walked away.
Without hesitation
They followed him.
Leaving Esmeralda standing there.
"I'm sorry."
But they were already gone.
She was alone once again.
"Please come back I didn't mean it."
For the first time
She didn't look powerful.
She looked…
hurt.
Dimitri Real Estate
The office was silent as usual.
Bially stood before the desk.
Tired.
But composed.
Mrs. Elena didn't look up at first.
"…You're late again."
Bially swallowed.
"…I had something to take care of."
A pause.
Then
Mrs. Elena looked up.
Eyes sharp.
"…Your life always seems to need fixing."
Bially said nothing.
Then
Mrs. Elena stood.
Slowly.
Circling her.
Like she was studying an object.
"…Tell me, Bially…"
A pause.
"…Do you enjoy suffering?"
Bially frowned slightly.
"…I don't understand."
Mrs. Elena stopped in front of her.
Close.
Too close.
"I have an opportunity."
A pause.
"A real one."
Her voice lowered.
"…One night."
Silence.
"…With the right man."
The meaning settled.
Heavy.
Ugly.
Bially stepped back.
"…No."
Mrs. Elena blinked.
"…No?"
Bially's voice didn't shake.
"…I'm married."
A pause.
Then
Mrs. Elena laughed.
Soft.
Cruel.
"…To who?"
A step closer.
"…That street rat you chose over sense?"
Bially's fingers tightened slightly.
But her voice stayed calm.
"…He's my husband."
Mrs. Elena's tone sharpened.
"He's nothing."
A pause.
"He can't provide."
"He can't protect."
"He drags you down."
Bially's eyes lowered briefly.
Pain flickered.
But she looked back up.
"…He loves me."
Silence.
Mrs. Elena's expression hardened.
"…Love doesn't feed you."
Bially smiled.
Soft.
Warm.
But there was something stronger behind it now.
"…It keeps me warm, a feeling I am not sure you can relate to."
That answer
Stung.
Mrs. Elena's voice dropped.
Dangerous.
"…You cry every day."
"…You struggle."
"…You endure insults."
A pause.
"…And you still choose him?"
Bially nodded.
"…Yes."
A longer pause.
"…Because I'd rather suffer with someone who loves me…"
Her voice softened.
"…than live comfortably with someone who sees me as nothing."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Real.
Mrs. Elena turned away.
"…You're a fool."
Bially nodded gently.
"…Maybe."
A small smile.
"…But I'm not empty with a void mind and soul."
She turned.
Walked toward the door.
Then paused.
Without looking back
"…And one day…"
A pause.
"…you'll understand that money can't fix loneliness."
She left.
Behind her
Mrs. Elena stood still.
Expression unreadable.
But her fingers
Tightened slowly.
That…
Wasn't over.