I was done talking.
I pulled out my phone and called the security desk. “Get over here. I have intruders at my place.”
Reyna’s eyes widened. She gave a vicious flick of her wrist, letting go of the leash. “You bitch. That’s what you get for going against me!”
The massive dog lunged at me before I had a chance to react. It tackled me to the floor and sank its teeth into my arm. The pain was blinding. Blood soaked my sleeve as I struggled beneath it, trying to break free. My screams echoed through the hall.
Reyna clapped her hands in delight. She was laughing.
I finally managed to push the dog off and stagger to my feet, arm dripping blood, my body trembling from pain. But before I could even catch my breath, the security team burst in.
Only—they grabbed me.
“What the hell are you doing?! I live here!” I shouted, struggling against their grip. “You should be arresting her! She broke into this place and let her dog attack me!”
One of the guards didn’t even flinch. He just gave me a flat look as he dragged me toward the door.
“We received a report from Miss Hawke about a trespasser disturbing the peace. She instructed us to escort you out.”
By then, the commotion had drawn out a small crowd. Neighbors leaned against doorframes, murmuring like this was the hottest gossip of the year.
“Is that girl crazy? She tried to pick a fight with Reyna Hawke?” an older woman whispered loudly. “Does she not know that Miss Hawke is Mr. Rhodes’ childhood sweetheart? The most important woman in his life?”
“Did she say she lives here?” a man chimed in. “This apartment was clearly a gift from Mr. Rhodes for her to use until the wedding. Bold of her to say that.”
“So what if Miss Hawke decorate the place to look like a funeral hall?” a young woman scoffed. “Can’t that other woman just be mature about it? I mean, why risk throwing away a marriage to the Rhodes Family over a decorations?” A girl chimed in.
Reyna folded her arms across her chest and smirked like the queen of the castle.
“You hear that? I’ll give you one more chance. Get on your knees, apologize and admit you were wrong. Maybe then I’ll forgive you.”
“If not,” she sneered, “you can kiss your wedding goodbye.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “You're the one in the wrong here. Not me. I’ll say it once more—get out. Take your workers and your dog and get out of—”
Before I could even finish, she slapped me across the face.
“Still running that mouth?” she hissed, slapping me again. You really don’t know your place."
I flinched but didn’t strike back. Not because I was afraid—but because the agency had drilled it into me: no physical altercations with civilians. Period.
This was personal. I wasn’t about to throw my entire career away over some rich girl’s temper tantrum.
I twisted out of the security guard’s grip and raised a hand to block her next slap. But before I could grab her, something slammed into my back. Hard.
I went flying, crashing into the corner of the cabinet. Stars burst in my vision. My shoulder screamed in pain.
Then I heard the voice.
“Touch her again and I swear you’ll regret it. “
I looked up, clutching my arm. A group of black-suited bodyguards had stormed in. And in the center of them stood a man.
Tall. Imposing. Impeccably dressed in a designer suit. His expression was unreadable as he marched straight toward Reyna.
“Are you okay?” he asked Reyna, his voice low and commanding. “I heard someone was giving you trouble. Who’s the idiot who thought that was a good idea?”
Reyna spun around and pointed at me with a fake pout.
He followed her gaze. Our eyes locked. His were cold, detached. Then I realized he was Marshall Rhodes.
I took a shaky breath and tried to reason.
“You must be Marshall,” I said, my voice unsteady. “I’m Liora Bennett. The fiancée your grandfather arranged for you. I was the one who called earlier. Reyna was just—”
“Shut up.”
His voice sliced through the room like a whip. His brows were drawn in a hard line of irritation. “I don’t care what happened. I don’t care who you are.”
He stepped forward.
“Kneel. Apologize to Reyna. Right now.”
