The sweet venom Chapter 20: 19

Read chapter 20 of The sweet venom by aspa201 on NovelPedia.

The next day, Helia returned to the laboratory. Despite the lingering fatigue that weighed heavily on her, she felt ready to face the day without faltering. However, as soon as she stepped through the door, a feeling of unease washed over her. The gazes of the other scientists converged on her, but these were far from compassionate; they were cold, distant, and at times even tinged with a sickly curiosity. She was already accustomed to a certain distance from her colleagues, but this time, she felt as though she were a circus exhibit. She knew that some whispers were circulating, but she had hoped, in vain, that in this place dedicated to science, her colleagues would rise above the scandals spread by the newspapers. Determined to ignore this unwanted attention, she walked straight to her workbench and calmly put on her lab coat, trying to reassure herself: this commotion would eventually die down, and society would move on to a new distraction. This thought provided her with a brief comfort... until she saw Cédric Belmont, a smirk playing on his lips, approaching her. She immediately understood that peace would be a luxury she could not afford today. "Well, well, what do we have here! Could it be our esteemed queen of broken hearts?" he said in a mocking tone. Helia clenched her jaw and focused on preparing her workspace, making a conscious effort to ignore his presence. However, Cédric drew closer and casually leaned on her table, clearly determined to provoke her. "What, are you ignoring me now? Come, don't tell me this public humiliation has left you speechless?" he whispered with a sly smile. She continued her work, refusing to react in any way. Her dignity had already been so undermined that she had no intention of giving this man the pleasure of seeing her falter. But Cédric persisted, growing even more insolent. "Honestly, Lady Sterallis, is this truly all it takes to shake you? I had assumed someone so brilliant would have thicker skin. Perhaps I overestimated you." At his words, she felt her patience wear thin. She slightly lifted her chin. "You know nothing of my life, Lord Belmont. So, I ask you to keep your thoughts to yourself." She murmured, in a low but cutting voice. The reply, though quiet, unsettled Cédric, who stood momentarily stunned, surprised by this unusual firmness from the usually peaceful Helia. She was always polite and courteous, and this was the first time she dared to respond with such coldness. However, he quickly regained his arrogance and retorted with a chuckle. "Well, Lady Sterallis, has the breakup sparked a bit of courage in you? Who knows, maybe it's done you some good. It was high time you..." "Lord Belmont." Helia's voice cut him off abruptly. She placed her notebook forcefully on the workbench, almost making him jump. Her gaze pierced him. "We are here in a laboratory with the mission of saving the Empire from the crisis that threatens it. I suggest you focus your efforts on your work, rather than wasting your time on the gossip of scandalous newspapers. You, who spend your time trying to measure yourself against me, perhaps this will give you the chance to surpass me." Cédric was left speechless, unable to formulate an immediate response. A heavy silence settled, and Helia, having spoken with a cold mastery, turned away without sparing him a final glance. She headed for the cold room to retrieve her samples. Once alone in the freezing space, she leaned against a shelf, closed her eyes, and let out a sigh, feeling the tension dissipate all at once. She herself was surprised by the boldness of her words. She, who hated conflict and preferred calm and diplomacy, had responded with a firmness she hadn't known in public. She felt a brief pang of remorse thinking about Cédric's bewildered expression, but she shook her head. After retrieving her samples and regaining some semblance of calm, she returned to her workbench. Cédric had disappeared, and she didn't even need to look up to verify.