Control

"I think you need some special treatment," Matteo muttered darkly, pulling out his phone as he tried to mask the tremble in his voice.

Lina tilted her head, her tone mockingly sweet. "If I were you, I wouldn't think about that."

Matteo's thumb hovered above the dial. He looked up. "What do you mean? She's my personal assistant."

Lina slowly walked toward him, her bare feet silent on the cold floor. Her gaze locked onto his. "It really doesn't matter, does it? What are you going to tell her? 'My friend pushed me and kissed me and I couldn't do anything about it. Mama help'…...."

The silence after her words was deafening. Matteo stiffened.

"What….... That's not..."

He swallowed.

Across the room, Eliane watched quietly, her arms wrapped around her knees . She couldn't look away from Lina.

Eliane's inner monologue: I don't know how she does it. That girl... that reckless, sharp-tongued brat. I thought she was just chaos. Unrefined and impulsive. But now, watching her, I see it clearly. She plays with emotion like a violinist playing notes. Matteo isn't weak.....he's just never dealt with a girl who doesn't see him as a threat. And Lina's not afraid of him.... she pities him. Pity is crueler than hate.

She took the kiss, stole his power, and now she's spinning it into a noose. Matteo thinks he's the one holding the strings. But he's already tangled in hers.

Back on her feet, Lina brushed imaginary dust from her arms. "You always act like you're in control. But when someone pokes that ego, you crumble like sand."

"I think you're in a delusion that I can't treat you like bitches," Matteo growled, voice rising.

But Lina cut in before he could finish. "You can't."

The silence snapped.

Matteo's glare turned sharp. "You don't know what I'm capable of."

"I know exactly what you are," Lina said, stepping close. She tapped his chest with her finger. "You slept with the professor, but didn't take advantage of her."

Eliane's cheeks flushed. She turned her face, but Seraina saw it. Annelise opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again.

"You saved Annelise from being killed like livestock. You helped Noemie. Right now, Seraina's parents are in a mental hospital, and my mom's barely clinging on. If you wanted to, you could have broken each of us. Instead.... you didn't."

"So what? That doesn't mean anything."

"It means everything," Lina said, stepping closer, her voice softer now. "Because you can't go beyond that line. You can't become a monster like us. And that's why you're stuck. Stuck in the middle, Matteo. Wanting revenge. But too human to get it."

His mouth opened. No words came.

"Let me help you," she whispered. "Let me guide you."

The room felt like it shrunk.

Seraina looked away. Annelise bit her thumb. Noemie stared, unreadable.

"I don't need your help," Matteo muttered, though even he wasn't sure who he was trying to convince.

"I know you're a virgin," Lina said casually.

Every girl in the room froze.

"So is everyone here," she added with a smirk. "Isn't that right, girls?"

There was a collective silence.

Matteo turned to leave, grabbing the door handle with more force than needed.

"Everyone likes you," Lina said behind him, her voice now tinged with satisfaction. "When I kissed you, they were jealous. They may not admit it now, but slowly... we'll all be fighting for the same prize."

He stiffened.

"So let's just get to it."

Lina pulled off her clothes, standing in her undergarments with an eerie calm.

"Lina!" Noemie shouted, stepping forward.

Matteo turned, face pale, eyes locked on her.

And Lina? She stood tall, bare shoulders proud, eyes burning with chaos and control.