The words hung in the air like poison. Beside me, I felt rather than saw Isabelle's body tense.
"How dare you," Isabelle said, her voice deadly quiet. The temperature in our corner of the ballroom seemed to drop several degrees.
Before I could even process what was happening, Isabelle's hand flashed through the air. The sharp crack of her palm connecting with Seraphina's cheek echoed through the suddenly silent room.
Seraphina stumbled backward, her hand flying to her reddening cheek, her eyes wide with shock. "You—you struck me!"
"And I'll do it again if you speak about Liam that way," Isabelle said, her voice trembling with fury. "You worthless, shallow creature. You had a man of exceptional talent and character in your home for three years, and you treated him like dirt beneath your feet."
I stood frozen, watching this unfold. Never in my life had anyone defended me this way.
