Chapter 5 Husband's piercing gaze

Sintia, whom Adel called "Sitong," immediately shook her head. She wanted to defend herself, but Maya's sharp gaze made her lower her head again.

Maya was the one who had intentionally used her foot to trip Sintia as she passed by Fiona's desk, causing her to spill the drink on Fiona's uniform.

"Adel, did I hear you call her Sitong? Oh my gosh, what kind of name is that? Haha..." Fiona mocked, laughing.

Maya joined in, laughing smugly at Fiona's remark, showing no hint of remorse.

"You didn't hear wrong, Fiona," Adel replied.

The three laughed together while Sintia decided to leave their presence. Before she could get far, Fiona grabbed her hand.

"Where are you going, Sitong? You think you can just walk away without taking responsibility? Look at this! My uniform is dirty now, and this uniform was custom-made in Italy!" Fiona said proudly, her voice dripping with arrogance.

"I'm sorry! I'll clean your uniform. Do you have a spare?" Sintia asked.

"Why would I bring a spare uniform? It's my first day at this new school, and you've already ruined it!" Fiona snapped, yanking her hand away from Sintia's grip roughly.

Sintia felt cornered, unsure of what to do. Maya and Adel's disdainful stares made her even more nervous.

"Come on, Sitong. You're so clumsy. You need to take responsibility for this!" Maya said firmly.

"I'll clean it right away," Sintia offered, trying to take responsibility.

"And how exactly will you do that? We're at school; there's no washing machine here," Fiona said sharply.

"I can try to clean it in the restroom. I have some wet wipes in my bag," Sintia replied softly, though she wasn't entirely confident.

Fiona rolled her eyes but finally agreed. "Fine, but if you can't get it clean, you'll have to replace it! Understand?"

Sintia nodded quickly. The four of them made their way to the restroom.

Inside, Fiona removed her uniform, handing it to Sintia. Underneath, she wore a fitted black top.

Sintia diligently tried to clean Fiona's uniform, tears welling up in her eyes without her realizing it. She scrubbed the stain repeatedly, hoping it would disappear.

After several agonizing minutes, Sintia realized the stain couldn't be completely removed. Her hands trembled as she emerged from the restroom to face Fiona, Maya, and Adel, who were standing there with their arms crossed.

"I... I couldn't clean it completely," Sintia admitted softly, her voice barely audible over her fear and embarrassment.

Fiona clicked her tongue in annoyance. "In that case, we'll switch. You wear this dirty uniform, and I'll take yours."

Sintia froze. "But... but that's not fair. I'll be dirty all day."

"That's not my problem!" Fiona sneered. "If you don't agree, I'll make sure you face even bigger trouble."

Realizing she had no choice, Sintia reluctantly started unbuttoning her uniform and handed it to Fiona with trembling hands.

"Sitong, does your armpit stink?" Fiona teased.

Maya and Adel burst into loud laughter, delighted by Fiona's comment.

Sintia remained silent, her head bowed in humiliation, trying to hold back the tears pooling in her eyes.

With a heavy heart, Sintia walked away, feeling the sting of their mocking laughter behind her.

Fiona quickly put on Sintia's clean uniform.

After Sintia left, defeated and dejected, Maya and Adel exchanged meaningful glances. Maya gave Adel a knowing look, signaling that Fiona was indeed a perfect fit for their group, "Trio FAM Alliance."

"She's perfect, isn't she?" Maya whispered to Adel with a sly smile.

Adel nodded in agreement. "She's the ideal replacement for Fianka. It's been a while since we found someone with her boldness and attitude."

Fiona, still adjusting the borrowed uniform, looked up and smiled confidently. "What are you two talking about?"

Adel stepped closer. "We think you have everything it takes to join us, the Trio FAM Alliance. Are you interested?"

Fiona raised an eyebrow, pondering for a moment. "So, you have a gang and want me to join? What's in it for me?"

Maya grinned. "What's in it for you? Popularity, loyal friends, and power. No one will dare mess with you. Plus, we'll have fun together, ruling this school."

Fiona smirked, clearly pleased with the offer. "Alright, I'm interested. What do I need to do to officially join?"

Adel and Maya exchanged glances, then Adel replied, "You've already shown the boldness and attitude we're looking for. From now on, you're part of the Trio FAM Alliance."

"I'm excited to join you, but what does FAM stand for?" Fiona asked, curious about the name.

"Originally, this gang's name included Fianka, but her family went bankrupt, so she left the school! FAM stands for our names-Fianka, Adel, and Maya. But now, Fianka is replaced by Fiona, who's far better than that girl," Maya explained smugly.

"Does that bother you, Fiona?" Adel asked.

"Not at all!" Fiona said, linking arms with her two new friends as they walked out of the restroom.

Adel and Maya smiled triumphantly. With Fiona's presence, they felt their gang would become even stronger and more influential in the school.

****

After school, Fiona enthusiastically invited Maya and Adel to a large mall in the city center. The three of them headed confidently toward the main entrance, enjoying the envious glances from the people around them.

"You two can choose anything you want. I'll treat you as a celebration of me joining the Trio FAM Alliance," Fiona said with a bright smile.

"Ahh... Thank you, Fiona," Adel and Maya said in unison, their voices playfully sweet.

"Let's go!" Fiona grabbed Adel and Maya's hands, leading them into the mall with excitement.

They visited luxury boutiques, trying on various clothes, shoes, and accessories. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and happiness. After shopping quite a bit, they went upstairs for lunch at a fancy restaurant.

While Fiona was engrossed in chatting with Maya and Adel, she accidentally bumped into a young man walking from the opposite direction. Her shopping bags scattered across the floor.

"Oh, sorry!" Fiona exclaimed, slightly annoyed but trying to stay calm.

The young man helped pick up her things. "It's okay," he said, handing Fiona her shopping bags.

When Fiona looked at his face, she froze for a moment. He was incredibly handsome, with sharp eyes. He was wearing the same school uniform as them. Without saying another word, he walked away.

Fiona turned to Maya and Adel curiously. "Who is he?" she whispered.

Adel smirked slightly and replied, "That's Alvaro Kristian. He's the student council president at our school and Fianka's ex-boyfriend. Ever since Fianka left, Alvaro has been cold to everyone."

Fiona stared at his retreating figure, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Interesting," she murmured softly, a deep curiosity growing within her.

*****

At seven in the evening, Fiona finally returned to Stefanus Thene's residence with several shopping bags in hand. A sharp glare greeted her arrival.

"Where have you been, Fiona!" William's tone resembled that of a father scolding his daughter, ready to reprimand her.

"Obviously, spending your money," Fiona replied, flaunting her shopping bags.

She glanced to her right, noticing several maids standing not far from her, seemingly frozen in place.

"Why are you all just standing there? Take these to my room. I need to pamper my husband first," Fiona said confidently as she strode toward William.