For once, her usual poise cracked into open laughter. Her shoulders shook slightly as she brushed a stray curl behind her ear. "I have never been bullied before," she admitted, a hint of dry humor in her tone.
"Everyone always knew which family I came from," Adanna said with a small, amused shrug. "So no one ever dared to try. But watching you today..." She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "I think I finally understand the satisfaction of putting someone like that in their place."
Olaedo let out a soft laugh, her shoulders relaxing as she sank deeper into the couch. Her grin faded into something more reflective. "You have no idea, Adanna. Lydia made my life a nightmare for years. But today, standing up to her like that, I felt like I took back a piece of myself." She smiled faintly, the kind that came from somewhere deep inside. "It's strange… I didn't realize how much power I'd given her until I finally stopped caring."
