Extra's Ascent

Chapter 54 54: Suspicious Coincidence

"Sigh... Why am I here?!"

Despite his reluctance to be anywhere near this place, Aldrich had no choice but to change his mind for one reason alone: Trevor Noah.

Knowing Trevor's personality, Aldrich understood that events like this one were his forte.

And if Trevor, in his usual fashion, happened to fall for the allure of the night, he would, without a doubt, become ensnared by the trap hidden beneath the sweetness of it all.

Trevor was an A-rank student.

While he had potential, particularly in combat, Aldrich was here to ensure that potential wasn't delayed by a long-term injury, something that could be disastrous if he wasn't careful.

Or to end up a slave to the second year because of an unfounded mishap from his side.

"Just as I thought!"

Aldrich didn't need to

And while she had considerable power, resources, manpower, and the authority to make his life miserable, none of it bothered him.

He knew how to deal with people like her.

The first rule when facing someone who tries to break you mentally is to stand your ground, to show no fear.

The moment you reveal even a hint of fear, that's when they gain leverage over you.

Aldrich had long since learned that.

He had since expected a form of retaliation from her but never one this soon.

Begging is also out of the equation. You beg her and you might as well have sold yourself to her.

If he wants things to go his way, he needs to take the bull by the reign... Or was it the horse by the reign?...

The point is, he needed to be sharp and conniving.

It doesn't matter if he doesn't have that side to himself, he would have to force it out or better still, act it out.

He looked at her, his gaze unwavering. "I've always found your kind fascinating. So young, yet so callous and devious. You're like Cinderella's stepmother—except, instead of just making sure the prince doesn't marry anyone else aside from your daughters, you would have burned his castle down and torched the kingdom just to get your way."

Selina smiled at his words.

It wasn't a look of offence. Rather it was something else, something almost amused.

She didn't take such comments as an insult; they didn't faze her.

"Should I take that as a compliment?" she asked, her tone teasing but indifferent.

Aldrich shrugged slightly. "Yeah, sure, whatever you want. Just answer me one thing."

He took a step closer, lowering his voice so it was barely above a whisper.

"Why is it that for someone as devious and supposedly smart as you, you let yourself be pushed around by a man who obviously doesn't love you?"

The words hung in the air for a moment, and Aldrich could see the flicker of a reaction in Selina's eyes.

She was no longer smiling, her gaze sharpening.

"You!" she spat, her face reddening with anger.

Aldrich smirked, enjoying the discomfort he'd caused. "Now, now, Selina, keep calm. You wouldn't want to lose that composure of yours, would you? Not in front of all these people, and especially not to a lowlife nobody like me."

His words were biting, a clear challenge to her facade of control.

He knew she hated being exposed, hated when someone dared to defy her.

But he wasn't afraid to do just that.

Selina's eyes narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing more.

It was clear that Aldrich had struck a nerve, and though she wasn't willing to show it openly, he knew he had made his point.