The Billionaire’s Regret -Alessa (by Bukolami) novel Chapter 70

**Shadows Beneath the Silent Moon**
*Rising Echoes by Aiden R. Vale*

“Fight, or I swear I’ll put a bullet in both your heads.”

The words hung heavily in the air, a chilling threat that sent shivers down Alessa’s spine. She glanced over at Aliyah, her heart racing with worry. Neither of them was prepared for the confrontation that loomed before them. In that moment, Alessa found herself fervently wishing for a miracle, but deep down, she feared that fate had already sealed their doom.

She couldn’t possibly fight Aliyah, the thought was unbearable!

“Ma’am,” a voice suddenly broke through her spiraling thoughts, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. It was the same woman who had tried to intimidate Alessa earlier, a smirk playing on her lips.

“Yes, Lily?” Madam Olga inquired, her tone betraying nothing of the tension that filled the atmosphere.

‘Lily? Such a sweet name for someone so cruel,’ Alessa mused silently, her disdain brewing just beneath the surface.

“I would be more than happy to take Aliyah’s place in this fight, if that’s alright with you,” Lily declared, her confidence radiating as Aliyah’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“No, no! I will fight Alessa, I promise!” Aliyah exclaimed, her voice laced with urgency as she turned to Alessa, desperation flickering in her eyes.

“Stop,” Madam Olga commanded, her voice firm and unyielding. With a resigned sigh, she gestured toward Lily. “Get in.”

Aliyah shot Alessa an apologetic glance, but all Alessa could muster in response was a reassuring smile. Deep down, she felt a wave of intimidation wash over her at the thought of facing Lily, yet she buried that feeling beneath layers of practiced composure. Hiding her emotions had become a skill she had honed over time.

With a smug grin, Lily stepped into the ring, clearly relishing the opportunity to clash with Alessa. Just as the tension reached its peak and they prepared to begin, the shrill ring of Madam Olga’s phone shattered the charged silence. She raised a hand, signaling for them to pause.

After a brief conversation, Madam Olga ended the call and turned back to the group. “You are dismissed,” she announced, relief flooding Aliyah’s features. Alessa felt a similar wave of gratitude wash over her.

Lily, however, was less than pleased. She stormed out of the ring, muttering curses under her breath, while Madam Olga quickly exited the hall, her expression serious and focused. Whatever had transpired on that call must have been of great importance.

As Aliyah rushed to Alessa’s side, her shoulders relaxed. “Thank goodness,” she sighed, the tension of the moment finally easing away.

Alessa returned her smile, though she couldn’t shake off the remnants of fear. “I was a little terrified, to be honest,” she chuckled lightly, trying to mask the unease that still clung to her.

“Yeah, me too,” Aliyah admitted, her laughter mingling with Alessa’s, a momentary reprieve from their worries.

As Alessa shared a light moment with Aliyah, she caught sight of Lily glaring at her as she exited the hall. The intensity of Lily’s stare sent a shiver down her spine.

“We need to be careful around her; she’s unhinged,” Aliyah warned, her voice low and serious.

“Yeah,” Alessa replied, her gaze drifting away from Lily, who was now striding away with an air of triumph.

The two girls made their way back to the locker room, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken tension. Once there, Alessa approached her locker, ready to change back into her uniform. She pulled off her shirt, feeling a moment of relief wash over her, but just as she was about to remove her pants, Lily deliberately bumped into her, jostling her hard with her shoulder.

Lily stumbled, her balance thrown off as she collided with the metal. Anger flashed in her eyes, and she raised her hand, ready to retaliate, but Aliyah quickly stepped in between them.

“Listen, there’s a rule against fighting outside the training grounds. If you both throw punches here, you’ll face serious consequences, and you really don’t want to know what Madam Olga’s punishments entail,” Aliyah urged, her words spilling out in a rush.

“She’s right, Lily,” one of Lily’s friends chimed in, trying to diffuse the escalating situation.

“Yeah, just let it go,” another added, their voices blending into a chorus of reason.

Lily exhaled sharply, her hand dropping to her side, but the animosity between her and Alessa remained palpable. They continued to glare at each other, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

“You better watch your back, mother,” Lily spat, her voice low and threatening.

“Same to you,” Alessa shot back defiantly. Lily glared one last time before storming out of the locker room, her friends trailing behind her.

As the other students slowly diverted their gazes and returned to their activities, Alessa turned to Aliyah, a mixture of frustration and determination in her eyes.

“I had to do something. I’m tired of people thinking they can walk all over me just because I look weak,” Alessa declared, her voice firm as she walked away from her friend, needing space to process the whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.

Alessa lay on her bed later that night, her eyes closed yet restless. Thoughts of her children danced in her mind, a constant ache in her heart as she wondered how they were faring without her. The silence of the room felt deafening, amplifying her worries and fears, but she clung to the hope that they were safe, wherever they were.