When she saw me, her eyes swept over me with undisguised contempt.
"Julian was right. You are utterly unremarkable. A plain, forgettable girl who could never belong in our world. No wonder he only ever saw you as a plaything."
I frowned, my voice sharp with displeasure. "Then I suppose you’re the next plaything in line."
Her face darkened. Her hand cracked across my cheek.
"You're nothing but his cast-off whore, while I am the woman he is going to marry. You will learn your place and disappear."
My cheek stung, but my eyes went cold. Without a flicker of hesitation, I slapped her back.
She froze, her hand flying to her cheek, and then she shrieked with fury. "How dare you hit me!"
Seraphina raised her hand to strike me again, but I shoved her hard. She stumbled back, lost her footing, and collapsed onto the grimy asphalt.
She pointed a trembling finger at me, roaring at her men, "Hit her! Beat her senseless!"
As the two Soldatos advanced, their expressions menacing, I snapped, "I'm still with Julian. You touch me, and he'll kill you."
They hesitated.
Just then, Julian came running over, his face etched with concern as he rushed to help Seraphina from the ground.
"Seraphina, are you hurt?"
She bit her lip, a picture of wounded innocence, and showed him her palms, scraped raw by the gravel. His face instantly hardened, and his furious gaze snapped to me.
I opened my mouth to explain, but before a single word could escape, his hand swung through the air and struck me hard across the face.
"His men might not dare to touch you," he snarled, "but I do!"