Olivia had been carefully explaining the situation to Curie and Tara in the quiet dining room. As the details unfolded, both women appeared visibly shocked by the news.

Curie and Tara frequently glanced over at Melvin, their expressions a mixture of confusion and complaint. However, Melvin remained silent throughout, her gaze downcast as she tolerated the uncomfortable looks directed her way.

Melvin felt a growing sense of shame and guilt wash over her. She couldn't help but feel increasingly angry with Kalvin as the tense situation became more and more awkward. Olivia spoke with a measured tone, trying to navigate the sensitive subject matter as diplomatically as possible. Curie and Tara listened intently, occasionally exchanging a troubled glance. The gravity of the information Olivia was sharing seemed to settle heavily upon them, leaving them unsure of how to respond. Melvin, meanwhile, remained silent, her shoulders hunched as she avoided eye contact with the other girls. She could feel their judgment radiating towards her, and it only fueled her growing resentment towards Kalvin. Olivia paused, allowing the information to sink in, before looking expectantly at Curie and Tara, waiting for their reactions. Melvin braced herself, preparing for the questions, accusations, or even outright rejection that she feared was about to come. Curie shook her head in astonishment.

"This is crazy. I mean, I never thought Kalvin was someone like that. He's Bell's son, after all."Melvin let out a heavy breath, bracing herself for the inevitable judgments.

Tara spoke up, her brow furrowed in thought. "Bell must be very upset. He cared for Kalvin a lot. I've seen Bell taking Kalvin to the emergency room when he was injured. I remember how worried Bell was. Imagine being the chancellor and your son becoming a criminal."

Unable to tolerate the continued criticism of her brother, Melvin finally spoke up. "He did what he had to do."

The room fell silent as Melvin's words hung in the air. She knew, better than anyone, the anguish Kalvin had endured, the difficult choices he had been forced to make.

"Whatever happened, I know Kalvin was always trying to do better," Melvin continued. "He grieved so much over that accident. I remember how he cried alone in his bed the day he told me about it. He was just sixteen"Melvin paused, her expression softening as she recalled the painful memory.

"Luckily, Maxwell wasn't there that day. Kalvin was only sixteen at the time."

Melvin's gaze dropped, her voice laced with a hint of regret. "When I first heard about this, I stormed off and said horrible things to him like you are doing now. I was just a thirteen-year-old girl back then. There wasn't anything I could do to make it better for him, except to leave him alone to cry himself to sleep."

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The room fell silent once more, the weight of Melvin's words settling heavily upon Curie and Tara. They could hear the genuine empathy and understanding in Melvin's voice, a stark contrast to the judgment they had previously shown.

Olivia watched Tara and Curie exchanging looks. She could sense the depth of Melvin's loyalty to her brother, and she realized that there was more to this story than she had initially understood.

Melvin's voice grew louder as she continued to defend her brother. "If you want to, you can make judgments. What he did was wrong, it was a crime. But the council pushed him to that moment, to kill another person. He did that to protect me more than himself."

Melvin paused, her eyes glistening with emotion. "Was Bell upset? You're darn right he was!"

Melvin then covered her face, seemingly overwhelmed by the weight of her own words. After a moment, she uncovered herself, looking at the others uncomfortably.

"We were born to the wrong dad. That was the only crime we did. So we had to do everything to cover up the fact that we were his kids." Melvin's expression hardened. "I can never forgive Kalvin for what he did, but I tolerate it. So if you're kind enough, just tolerate us."

With that, Melvin stood up, preparing to walk away. The emotions had become too much for her to bear.

But before she could leave, Olivia swiftly stood up and reached out, grasping Melvin's hand.

"I can do that," Olivia said, her voice soft and resolute. The room fell silent. Curie and Tara exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and growing understanding. Melvin looked at Olivia, her eyes widening slightly at the unexpected gesture of empathy. The two girls stood there, a fragile connection forming between them amidst the turmoil. Melvin eventually nodded causing a way to small light of hope for the friendship between her and Elsa's daughter. Tara gave out a sigh. Tara looked thoughtfully at Olivia and Melvin, her expression softening.

"Okay, I've known Kalvin since he was fifteen. I've treated him a couple of times, and he's always been more gentle and respectful to the girls in the medical unit than most of the cadets and soldiers I've met. I think he deserves a second chance."Olivia's eyes lit up with hope as she turned to Curie, raising an eyebrow in silent appeal. Curie let out a heavy sigh, her brow furrowed in contemplation.

"Okay, I can tolerate it," she said eventually, her words sounding more like a resigned concession than an outright acceptance. But for Olivia and Melvin, it was a green light – a willingness to at least consider the possibility of understanding and forgiveness, even if it wasn't a full-fledged embrace. The tension in the room eased slightly, replaced by a cautious sense of openness. Melvin's shoulders visibly relaxed, her expression softening as she realized that Curie and Tara were willing to at least hear her out, to try and see things from her perspective. It was a small but significant step forward, and Melvin felt a glimmer of hope ignite within her. Olivia, too, seemed relieved, her gaze shifting between the girls with a newfound sense of cautious optimism.