****************
she walked into the living room, a bright smile plastered on her face. Her father and Belle looked up from their conversation.
"Welcome home, honey," her dad greeted.
"Hey, Dad."
"Hey, sweetie! How was your day?" Belle asked, her voice dripping with sweetness.
Scarlet flopped down onto the couch beside them. "It was great! I met up with Crystal at the spa and we had a fantastic time. We even went shopping together and I helped her pick out a stunning dress for the party."
Ethan's eyes lit up with interest. "That's wonderful, Scarlet. I'm glad to hear you're making an effort to befriend Crystal. She's a valuable ally to have."
Scarlet nodded, leaving out the part about her and Crystal's verbal sparring match. "Yeah, I know. I'm just trying to be friendly and build a connection with her. I think it could be beneficial for both of us."
