Chapter 2: We accept
~Lisa’s POV
"You filthy thing," Belinda hissed, her voice dripping with hatred. "Do you even know what this dress costs? Of course not. You wear rags."
Her words sliced through me sharper than the slap had. I didn’t respond. I stayed on my knees, my head bowed, my throat tight like I had swallowed thorns.
The red wine was soaking into the hem of my faded dress, spreading across the cheap fabric like shame. I didn’t dare move. The sting on my cheek still burned. My fingers trembled as I reached again, trying to dab the wine off her dress with the corner of my apron. I knew it wouldn’t help. I was only making it worse.
I could hear them whispering.
Not the crowd. Not the pack.
Them.
The triplets.
I didn’t have to look up to know they were watching. I swallowed hard. My hands kept moving, trying to clean the impossible stain. My heart pounded so loudly I thought everyone could hear it. I just wanted to disappear. Melt into the marble floor and never come back.
Then a voice broke the silence.
Deep. Calm. Familiar.
"What’s going on here?"