A murmur swept through the crowd. The meaning behind his words was impossible to miss.
Isabella did not retreat. She smirked and said, "From your perspective, Aurora must be so innocent she might as well be a Mary Sue."
Behind Alex, Aurora heard the remark and waited for him to respond. She knew he would not let such a jab pass. Sure enough, his voice came a moment later, calm but firm.
"Even if she is not a Mary Sue," he said, "I would never wish my sister to become one like you."
The jab landed cleanly. Isabella's lips twitched slightly, but she kept her composure. She spoke again, her voice smooth, almost amused.
"Alex," she said calmly, "you are becoming far too arrogant. You should watch yourself. In the next second, you might lose your backer."
At those words, Alex's face lost a touch of its color. He understood exactly what she was implying.
