Jessica's body trembled as she watched her daughter—her pride, her perfect Stella—reduced to begging at Bella's feet. Humiliation burned her like fire. Her lips curled in rage as her nails dug into her palms. That disgusting little thing… that ugly girl… how dare she stand there with everyone's pity and admiration while my daughter kneels?
Sam's face was no better. His jaw tightened until the veins stood out on his neck, his complexion ashen. He wanted to shout, to curse, to defend his wife and daughter. But the weight of Leonorado's presence pressed down on him like a mountain. One wrong word, and their entire family would crumble—tossed onto the streets, stripped of every shred of power, easy prey for enemies who would tear them apart. His fists clenched at his sides, nails biting into his own skin. He had never felt so powerless.
