CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT - ON UNCHARTED WATERS

  .But as the party continued, Nia found herself drifting to a quiet corner. Her mind kept replaying Leon's intervention, the way he looked at her with respect and something more. She realized her feelings for him had grown beyond simple gratitude or attraction. "Hey, you okay?" Helia appeared at her side, offering a cup of punch. "You look like you're a million miles away." Nia accepted the drink with a small smile. "Just... processing, I guess. It doesn't feel real yet." Helia nodded, lowering her voice. "Leon really came through, huh? I wonder how he knew all that stuff about us." "Yeah," Nia murmured, her guilt intensifying. "I wonder..." Before she could dwell on it further, Rosa's voice rang out over the chatter. "Hey, everyone! Let's hear it for our hero! Nia, get over here!" Nia plastered on a smile and made her way to the center of the room. Rosa thrust a cup of punch into her hand and raised her own. "To Nia," Rosa declared. "Who proved that even us little guys can ma