NOVPUBVillain Ch 1029. Not A Fairy Tale
Vivian quickly understood, a small knowing smile crossing her lips. She sat back down, nodding. "Right. Got it," she murmured, glancing at Azura, who seemed lost in thought.
The girlsuld see thenflict in Azura’s eyes, the way she watched Allen disappear into the kitchen, her emotions an open book. They wanted to help ease her mood, maybe even lessen the jealousy they knew she must be feeling, but they also didn’t want tome across as too obvious. They decided to take a more lighthearted approach.
Shea leaned forward, a playful grin on her face. "You know, Azura," she began, her tone teasing, "you’re lucky. Allen doesn’tok for just anyone."
Azura blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly as she was pulled out of her thoughts. "Oh, really?" she said, trying to play along, though her voice was a bit shaky. "Heoked for you guys yesterday."
Vivian chuckled, giving a mock gasp. "Oh, but we’re special," she said, winking. "We have to practically beg him, bat our eyelashes, maybe throw in a few kisses for good measure."
Azura’s blush deepened, but sheuldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "Is that how it works?" she replied, a touch of amusement in her tone.
Jane nodded, a dramatic expression on her face. "Oh, absolutely," she said, her voice full of mock seriousness. "Allen is a tough one. Takes a lot ofnvincing to get him into his soft side."
Azura rolled her eyes, but she was smiling now, the tension in her shoulders easing a little. "You guys are ridiculous," she said, shaking her head.
Alice grinned, leaning closer. "Maybe a little," she agreed, "but we’re also right. You should have seen the way he was looking at you when he offered took. Totally smitten."
Azura’s smile faltered slightly, and she looked down at her hands, her fingers nervously twisting a napkin. "It’s not like that," she said quietly, her voice barely audible.
The girls exchanged glances, a silentnversation passing between them. They knew Azura was struggling with her feelings for Allen, and they wanted to help ease her mind. They also wanted to tease her a bit, to break through that guarded exterior and maybe get her to open up.
Shea leaned in, her voice dropping to anspiratorial whisper. "You know, Azura," she said with a grin, "if you like him, you should just go for it. I mean,I bet Allen knows about it."
Azura’s eyes widened slightly, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. "I don’t— It’s not like that," she stammered, but the way her gaze flickered toward the kitchen betrayed her words.
Vivian laughed softly, her expression warm and teasing. "Oh,me on. We all saw the way you were looking at him just now. You can’t hide it from us."
Zoe nodded, her smile gentle. "Yeah, and there’s nothing wrong with that, you know? Allen’s a great guy. We all love him."
Jane chimed in, her voice light and euraging. "And who knows? Maybe he feels the same way about you. You just have to be brave enough to find out."
Azura’s eyes darted between them, a mixture of embarrassment andnfusion on her face. "But… he’s myusin," she protested weakly, though even sheuld hear the lack ofnviction in her own voice. "It’s…mplicated."
Alice leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a playful smirk. "Complicated, sure," she agreed, "but not impossible. I mean, you two aren’t related by blood, right?"
Shea nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Exactly. You’re from Emma’s mom’s side, and Allen was born from a different mom. So technically, you’re not even related by blood. Completely unrelated."
Azura bit her lip, her mind racing. It was true, what they were saying. She and Allen weren’t blood relatives. They wereusins in name only, bound by family ties but not by biology. Still, the idea of crossing that line felt… forbidden. She wasn’t sure if sheuld—or should—allow herself to think that way. n𝚘𝚟𝚙u𝚋.co𝚖
"But what would people think?" she asked quietly, almost more to herself than to the others. "What would his dad say? Or my parents?"
Vivian reached over, gently placing a hand on Azura’s arm. "You can’t live your life worrying about what other people think," she said softly. "Sometimes, you have to follow your heart, even if it’s a bitmplicated."
Azura glanced at Vivian, her expression a mix of uncertainty and longing. "But what if… what if following my heart just makes things more difficult?" she whispered. "What if it’s better to just… let it go?"
Shea shook her head, her expression earnest. "I don’t think feelings work like that, Azura. You can’t just decide to turn them off. Trust me, I’ve tried." She gave a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
Zoe leaned forward, her gaze sympathetic. "And besides, sometimes the best things in lifeme from a bit of difficulty. It makes everything more… meaningful."
Azura sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "You guys make it sound so simple," she said. "But it’s not. Not for me."
Janeuldn’t resist jumping in. "Maybe it’s not simple," she agreed, "but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. Love ismplicated, messy, and sometimes downrightnfusing, but it’s also the most incredible thing in the world. And you deserve that, Azura. You deserve to find out what makes your heart race."
Emma cleared her throat, cutting through the growing tide of euragement. "You guys sure love to mess around with her," she said, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. "You’re making it sound like this is some kind of fairy tale."
Jane turned to Emma, a smirk on her face. "And what’s wrong with that?" she challenged playfully. "Fairy tales have happy endings. Maybe that’s exactly what Azura needs."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Look, I’m just saying—Allen and Azura areusins. Also, we are not frommmon families. We have to keep our reputation clean. You’re all forgetting that little detail."
