This woman is just so easy to read.
Petty games like this weren't anything new. Back in her previous life, one of Verena's exes had a habit of pulling stunts like this—getting clingy with someone else right in front of her just for the thrill of being validated. She loathed it. Love wasn't supposed to be a spectacle or a bargaining chip.
Love, in her opinion, was never meant to be a transaction.
"Isolde..." Verena reached out and gently grabbed the woman's wrist, her tone calm but firm. "Please... don't do that again."
The entire table froze.
Isolde was startled. Verena, usually so bold and cheeky, rarely pulled out the 'serious voice.' It threw everyone off.
"My apologies," Isolde murmured, withdrawing her hand with uncharacteristic restraint. She had expected to tease her way into Verena's space like usual—after all, it had always worked before. But something about her felt different now.
She used to be easier to toy with. Foolish, albeit polite.
