At that moment, a genuine smile tugged at the corner of Malisa's lips, the kind of smile that came from knowing she had already made up her mind. She didn't even flinch when she looked at Cora, her eyes gleaming with an air of calm determination.
"You're right, Cora," Malisa said softly, her voice steady yet full of quiet confidence. "I've already accepted the stress long before it even began."
She took a deep breath, the weight of everything still there but somehow lighter. The pressure of the situation, of what was to come, no longer seemed as daunting as it had when she first heard about it.
Cora watched her, her expression unreadable, and for a moment, Malisa thought she might have said too much. But no, this was who she was. This was Malisa: someone who faced challenges head-on without hesitation.
