Chapter 60: Endless Struggles, Mary Sue Ultimately Chooses to Compromise (2)

“Teacher, I’ve done everything for him,” Lilith lamented over the phone, her voice trembling. “I only wanted the best for him, for 'us'. But now, he’s turned away from me.”

She continued, “I understand… he’s young and impressionable. He’s the academy’s top student now, and so many women are vying for his attention. But I’ve been with him since the beginning… does that mean nothing?”

Lilith’s impassioned speech would have swayed anyone who didn’t know her true nature. But the silence on the other end of the call was telling.

“Teacher? Are you listening?” she asked, her tone sharper now.

“Yes… I’m listening,” came Ella’s voice, though it sounded faint and distracted.

Lilith’s brow furrowed. “Teacher, please. You’re the one person he might still respect. Can’t you talk to him and help resolve this misunderstanding?”

The line went quiet again, and Lilith’s irritation grew. She could hear faint, shallow breaths on the other end.

“Teacher, are you even paying attention?!” she snapped, her frustration spilling over.

What Lilith couldn’t see was Ella, slumped against her desk, her violet hair clinging to her flushed, sweat-dampened skin. Her ample chest heaved as she struggled to suppress her ragged breathing. The tension in her voice hinted at something far removed from Lilith’s plight.

Ella bit her lip, her voice faint as she finally muttered, “I… I’ll think about it.”

According to Shia, Ella’s current state was due to accumulated stress and overwork. While it didn’t show outwardly, her body suffered from various minor issues that needed careful, gradual recovery.

Thanks to Shia’s consistent and unyielding actions in the past, Ella had begun to take his advice and arrangements seriously. She hadn’t even realized that she was subtly growing accustomed to following his lead.

At this moment, Ella lay on her back near the bed, her pale, flawless arms raised to cover her face. The delicate skin of her fingers trembled slightly as she gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. Her other hand held the phone to her ear, while her body writhed with frustration.

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Her posture exuded an alluring vulnerability as she muttered inwardly, 'Why does Lilith’s call always have to come at such inconvenient moments?!'

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Afterwards.

Ella sat upright in front of Shia, her long, shapely legs crossed elegantly beneath her. She wore a fitted white dress with a plunging V-neckline that hugged her curves in all the right places. Despite her stern expression, her flushed cheeks and the pink hue of her skin betrayed the lingering warmth from the earlier massage.

“Explain yourself! What have you done now?” she demanded sharply, her voice laced with authority. Though her words carried an edge, her tone softened unintentionally, adding a faint, sultry undertone that clashed with her intended severity.

Shia merely looked at her with his deep, penetrating gaze, his silence more commanding than any response. The weight of his stare made Ella’s heart skip a beat, filling her with a sudden self-doubt she didn’t want to acknowledge.

“What?” she snapped, trying to sound unaffected. “Don’t you trust me?”

His response was cool, with a faint hint of mockery. “If you don’t believe me, then don’t force yourself to.”

Ella bit her lip, a twinge of guilt gnawing at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Shia’s attitude was meant to test her loyalty. She threw him a resentful glance, her voice growing softer. “Can’t you explain yourself, just once?”

Shia leaned back against the sofa, his posture relaxed, yet commanding. “Why should I? If my actions aren’t enough to convince you, no amount of words will.”

Ella’s frustration simmered as she felt his control over the situation. Her heart ached as she thought, 'Does he really see me as someone so easily swayed?'

Meanwhile.

Lilith sent Shia a message inviting him to meet her again in the evening.

[Shia, we’ve known each other since childhood. I don’t want something so trivial to destroy our bond. Let’s have a proper talk, okay?]

However, Lilith had ulterior motives. She also invited Ella to act as a mediator, hoping that her mentor would side with her against Shia. Of course, Lilith conveniently left this detail out of her message to Shia.

But Shia, who was still with Ella, saw through Lilith’s little scheme. He glanced at the slightly annoyed and faintly flustered Ella sitting nearby and decided to accept Lilith’s invitation.

When Lilith received his affirmative response, a smug smile spread across her face.

'Teacher has been my mentor for so long. Her connection to Shia is nothing compared to ours. After my heartfelt phone call, she’ll surely take my side. My mentor will reprimand him, and with a bit of sweet-talking, I’ll have him right where I want him,' she thought confidently.

Lilith arrived at the agreed meeting place in high spirits, her self-assured demeanor evident in every step. She wore a silk red slip dress, the soft fabric clinging to her curves. Her golden hair cascaded down her back, with a single strand teasingly resting against her cleavage, drawing attention to her ample chest. Her delicate face carried an air of sorrow, but if one looked closely, there was a glint of triumph in her eyes.

She turned toward Ella, her face full of hopeful expectation. “Teacher,” she began, her voice tinged with both trust and urgency. 'Surely you’ll stand up for me,' she thought smugly.

Ella, dressed in a simple yet elegant white sleeveless dress, exuded an air of refined grace. Her slender arms were bare, and her violet hair shimmered like silk under the soft lighting. Despite the simplicity of her attire, it only accentuated her mature, womanly charm. Her sharp gaze and composed demeanor gave her an air of authority.

Lilith felt a surge of satisfaction as she envisioned Ella reprimanding Shia. She could almost hear the stern words her mentor would use to put him in his place. But as Ella began to speak, Lilith’s confidence wavered.

“You are both my students, and as your instructor and mentor, I feel it’s my responsibility to address this,” Ella said, her gaze drifting toward Shia. Lilith’s fists clenched under the table in anticipation.

But Ella’s next words were not what Lilith expected.

“Lilith,” Ella turned her sharp gaze toward her, her voice calm but resolute. “As your teacher, there are things I’ve refrained from saying because they pertain to your personal matters.”

Lilith’s smile faltered slightly . 'Why does this feel… off?'