Desmond's Limit

As the captain lavished praise upon Diana, he remained oblivious to the peculiar look Desmond gave him, while Laura shot a cold, piercing stare at Diana.

"Thank you, captain," Desmond spoke, his smile faint as he took a deliberate step forward, with Laura trailing behind, her countenance gloomy. 

As they entered Vesta's luxurious horse carriage, Desmond promptly lowered his head and offered a respectful salute. "Greetings, Sir Vesta," he murmured, his eyes fixed upon the polished floor. In that moment, something flickered in Desmond's gaze, a fleeting spark that calmed his mind yet left him seemingly devoid of emotion.

Unbeknownst to Laura, her disdainful demeanor did not go unnoticed by Vesta, who reclined on his plush sofa, his frown deepening as he shifted his gaze from Laura to his innocent-looking daughter.