“How dare you? Look at her! Stop it!” My dress was torn, champagne spilled everywhere, and their laughter cut through me like ice. I froze, every eye in the room on me, humiliation burning in my chest. Then the door opened. Xavier walked in, calm, deadly, and protective. “Are you okay, my love? What happened?” The women’s smiles disappeared instantly. I realized in that moment—everything was about to change.
“How dare you? Look at her. Stop it.” The words rang in my ears as a cold wave of panic spread through me. The champagne glass shattered at my feet, sending droplets across the polished floor. Three women had surrounded me, their laughter sharp and cruel, their eyes locking on mine as if I were…