Maxie slammed her hands down on the desk, pushing her chair back with a sharp squeak. Her frustration was bubbling up—she’d been trying to concentrate on her work, but the noise from Clara’s room was unbearable. A mix of shouting voices and blaring TV shows filtered through the walls, making it impossible to focus. She groaned; the irritation evident in her every step as she walked toward Clara’s room.
“Really, Clara, I—!” Maxie began, ready to unleash her annoyance, but she stopped herself as soon as she stepped into the doorway.
Clara was sitting on the couch, her wide eyes glued to the television screen, a mix of disbelief and excitement dancing across her face. Maxie’s words caught in her throat as she caught sight of what Clara was watching. The scene was far different from the usual mindless shows that Clara had on loop. "Can you believe it? Viktor Daniele rated the damn place 5 stars!" Clara exclaimed, clearly astonished.
Maxie raised an eyebrow and stepped further into the room, crossing her arms in disbelief. “Viktor Daniele, huh? That does seem like something he wouldn’t do…” Her voice trailed off with suspicion. Viktor was known for his harsh critiques, his standards impossibly high. A five-star review from him was almost unheard of. Clara turned to her, eyes bright with excitement. “We should go there sometime! Check it out for ourselves.”
Maxie chuckled dryly, leaning against the doorframe. “Ah, I’m afraid we’re going to have to save up a bit more dough before we can make that happen, my friend.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm, but there was a hint of real curiosity behind her words. After all, if Viktor was impressed, the place had to be something special. Still, the thought of spending money on something so lavish made Maxie uneasy.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Clara flipped through a few more channels absentmindedly, the remote clicking in her hand as she skimmed over the options. Finally, she stopped. The television screen flashed with the familiar face of a news anchor, and the tone immediately shifted from light-hearted to serious.
“These days, taking care of your health isn’t a right, it’s a privilege,” the anchor said, their voice sombre as the camera zoomed in on a headline about rising health concerns.
Clara shook her head slightly, the gravity of the statement sinking in. “Oof, there are more cases now,” she muttered, her face twisting with disapproval. Maxie felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The weight of Clara’s words lingered in the air, but Clara didn’t wait for a response. She stood up from the couch, stretched, and walked out of the room, leaving Maxie standing there alone with her thoughts.
As Clara disappeared down the hallway, Maxie stared at the television, the anchor’s words echoing in her mind. Something about the news segment felt off. Her curiosity piqued, she decided to do what she always did when she felt unsettled—she’d research.
What exactly were these new “cases”? What was going on with people’s health? Maxie had no intention of letting this go without understanding more. The thought of it gnawed at her as she sat back down at her desk, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Whatever the situation was, it felt like something important, and she wasn’t one to ignore things that could potentially change everything.
