Chapter 103: The Weight of Speculation

Mariana slipped back into the classroom, the echo of Beatrice's laughter and the promise of an online connection with Aurora still lingering in her mind. She immediately felt the weight of Alice's gaze burning into her back, a mixture of resentment and envy radiating from her classmate. Mariana, however, chose to ignore it. There were bigger things to think about. As she settled back into her seat, an unfamiliar voice cut through her reverie. "Mariana, right?" a girl with a warm smile and bright, curious eyes asked, approaching her desk. Mariana glanced up, offering a polite nod. "Yes, that's me," she replied, recognizing the friendly but unfamiliar face. They'd shared a few brief exchanges in class, but Mariana couldn't quite place her name. "I'm Anabelle," the girl chirped, extending a hand in greeting. "So, I overheard a bit of a conversation earlier about the whole Alarcão Pharmaceuticals thing. Crazy, right?" Mariana's heart skipped a beat. Alarcão Pharmaceuticals? The name