(Michelle POV — The Left Wing)
We retreated to the east drawing room, an absurdly elegant space with velvet sofas, tall frosted windows, and a crystal chandelier that probably had its own maintenance staff.
Vince called it the "girls' wing" as if we were about to conduct military strategy instead of figuring out how to sing in front of wealthy neighbours without emotional collapse.
Kate dropped onto the sofa like a general resigned to her fate.
"Well," she sighed. "We're officially a girl group now."
Jasmine perched gracefully on the arm of a chair. "I don't recall signing up for humiliation."
"You signed up the moment you befriended Vince," Kate replied dryly.
Lara lingered a little further from the centre — hands in pockets, gaze thoughtful. Not closed off. Just… cautious.
And me?
I looked around and realized something strange.
I wasn't tense.
I wasn't bracing.
I was… oddly okay.
--
(The Silence That Needed Light)
