Every head snapped toward the source of the outburst, only to see Dave, Leo, Luke, Rafael, and Zhane descending from the second floor. Their expressions were thunderous, their scowls so dark and ominous they carried the weight of cast iron.
Hera's words had been harsh, but they paled in comparison to Dave's biting remarks. His insults were razor-sharp, striking without hesitation or concern for anyone's feelings. Alice's eyes instantly turned red—Dave never held back, and he certainly wasn't about to start now.
No one even noticed when Dave and the others arrived or how long they had been listening. After all, no one had stood up for Hera—except Hera herself. But in hindsight, that was a far better outcome than them joining Alice's bandwagon to humiliate her.
Now, a chilling realization settled over everyone.
They had narrowly escaped disaster. Had they followed Alice's lead, tossing out casual, biting remarks at Hera, they might not have even realized how they sealed their fate.
