As Selene and Lili left the confrontation with Amara behind them, Selene didn't slow her steps or allow herself to dwell on it. She adjusted the papers in her arms, eyes already shifting back to what actually mattered. The hall. The preparations. The ball.
"Let's not waste energy on her," Selene said firmly, her voice controlled but slightly tense. "We have more important things to do."
Lili let out a short breath. "Good, because I was this close to saying something I'd regret."
Selene gave a small, tired smile. "That's why I don't stay."
They walked through the corridors together until the grand hall came into view. The doors were wide open, and inside, the transformation was already well underway.
Golden light reflected softly across polished floors. White fabric cascaded from the ceiling in elegant waves, and floral arrangements were being placed carefully across long tables. Students moved in different directions, checking lists, adjusting decorations, testing equipment, and coordinating final details.
For a brief moment, Selene stopped at the entrance.
It was finally becoming real.
Not a plan. Not a thought. Something tangible.
Lili leaned slightly toward her. "You're staring again."
"I'm checking if everything is aligned properly," Selene replied automatically.
Lili smirked. "Sure. That's definitely what that look was."
Selene ignored her and stepped inside.
But the calm atmosphere didn't last.
The sound of heels echoed sharply across the hall—confident, deliberate, and attention-seeking.
Lysandra entered with Adam beside her, holding onto his arm like she belonged at the center of everything. Her gaze immediately swept across the hall with open disapproval.
"This lighting is still wrong," she declared loudly.
Several students hesitated and looked at each other awkwardly.
Selene closed her eyes for a brief second before opening them again, steadying herself.
Of course.
Lili muttered under her breath, "She really can't help herself."
Selene stepped forward calmly. "Lysandra, the layout has already been approved. If you have concerns, you can bring them to me directly instead of changing things yourself."
Lysandra turned slowly, as if amused by the idea of being corrected. "You're really serious about this role, aren't you?"
"I take responsibility seriously," Selene replied evenly.
Lysandra scoffed. "Responsibility and authority are two very different things."
Selene didn't react emotionally. "Then respect the structure in place."
Adam shifted uncomfortably beside Lysandra. "Lysandra, maybe we should just—"
"Stay out of it," she cut him off instantly without even looking at him.
Silence fell over the nearby students.
Selene didn't argue further. She simply turned back to her checklist. "We're done here."
That was it. No escalation. No reaction.
Lysandra watched her for a moment longer, clearly irritated that she wasn't getting the reaction she wanted, then turned away with Adam and walked off.
Lili exhaled. "You're too calm. It's unsettling."
"It's efficient," Selene replied simply.
Lili tilted her head. "Where's the other twin anyway? The silent one."
Selene didn't even pause her writing. "Alex? I've seen him around."
"And?" Lili pressed.
Selene shrugged. "That's all."
No curiosity. No interest. No lingering thought.
Just another student in the background of her responsibilities.
Lili studied her for a second. "You really don't care about him at all, do you?"
Selene looked up briefly. "Why would I?"
Lili leaned back slightly. "People say he's strange."
"He doesn't interfere with my work," Selene replied, already returning to her notes. "So it doesn't matter."
And just like that, the conversation ended.
The rest of the day passed in structured focus. Selene moved between stations in the hall, confirming seating arrangements, adjusting lighting angles, coordinating with catering staff, and ensuring timelines were followed. Slowly, the hall began to reflect her vision more clearly—organized, elegant, and controlled. For the first time in a long while, everything felt like it was falling into place under her direction.
But at home, the atmosphere was completely different.
That evening, Selene stepped through the front door and immediately felt the shift. The air was heavy, waiting, already prepared. Her stepmother Elara was standing in the living room with Amara and Lysandra beside her, both of them looking satisfied in a way that immediately put Selene on alert.
"You're late," Elara said calmly.
"I was working on the school event," Selene replied.
Amara crossed her arms. "She's getting worse, Mother. She keeps getting too comfortable around Alex."
Lysandra nodded quickly. "She's always near him at school."
Selene frowned slightly. "That's not true. I'm organizing the ball. I interact with everyone involved in planning."
Elara raised a hand slightly, silencing her daughters—not because she disagreed, but because she wanted control over the conversation.
"She has been seen too often near your sister's circle," Elara said smoothly, her tone deceptively calm.
Selene's expression remained steady. "I'm working on a school project. That's all."
Elara's gaze lingered on her for a moment. "Selene, you must understand your place in this home."
The words were soft, almost gentle.
But they carried weight.
"You are not to take anything that belongs to your sisters," Elara continued. "Not attention. Not opportunities. Not influence."
Selene didn't respond immediately.
She simply stood there, listening.
Amara smiled faintly behind her mother. Lysandra looked satisfied.
Elara tilted her head slightly. "Do you understand?"
Selene's voice was calm. "I understand what you're saying."
Elara nodded once, as if that was enough, and turned away.
But before Selene could move, the front door opened again.
Her father stepped in.
His expression was already set, as if he had been briefed and had no interest in hearing anything else.
"Elara told me," he said immediately.
Selene's stomach tightened slightly, but her face didn't change.
He walked closer without hesitation. "You are being warned again."
"I haven't done anything wrong," Selene said evenly.
He ignored her completely. "You will not take anything from your sisters. Do you understand? No attention. No privileges. Nothing."
His voice sharpened. "You don't deserve what they have."
The words landed heavily in the room.
Selene didn't react outwardly, but something inside her went still.
He continued, voice firm. "And don't think you are equal to them in any way."
Silence followed.
Not from shock.
From repetition.
From familiarity.
Then he turned and left, as if the conversation had no further value.
---
Later that night, Selene sat alone in her room. The house outside was quiet again, distant, as if she didn't exist within it at all. No one called her for dinner. No one checked on her. It was simply assumed she would accept it.
She didn't complain.
She didn't ask.
She didn't react.
Instead, she opened her notebook under the soft light of her desk lamp and continued working on the ball preparations. Lists. Adjustments. Final confirmations. Everything had to be precise.
Her hand moved steadily across the page.
Her expression didn't change.
The words from downstairs still existed in the background of her mind, but they didn't control her movements.
She had learned that already.
Outside, the house remained cold and divided.
Inside her room, Selene kept building something they had no control over.
And she didn't stop.