Tavia looked up, trembling. There was a disgusted sneer on Lucius’s face.
“That female is nothing but garbage. I picked her off the street, adorned her. Everything she has on is mine. She belongs to me, and I will treat her as I see fit.”
Lucius stepped forward, reaching down to grab Tavia, and Tavia scampered back, tears in her eyes.
Was this how he truly felt about her?
Because somehow, there was a truth to those words. Tears she wasn’t faking were streaming down her face. There was no concern in Lucius’s gaze.
“If those tears are for me, keep them. There’s only one thing that I’ll take from you,” he said.
As Lucius moved to grab her again, the guard stepped in front of her and pushed him aside.
“You need to leave now.” The other guards at the table stopped drinking but made no move to intervene.
“Now,” the guard ordered.
Lucius looked at Tavia.
“Fine. Have her. She’s not worth much anyway,” he said.
Lucius turned and stormed off.
Tavia couldn’t believe how cruel he had been. He was an awfully good actor, if that was what it was.
She trembled, everything she worewasbought by him.
“Are you all right?” the guard leaned over, holding out his hand, and she took it. Tears she didn’t need to hold back streamed down her face.
“I . . . I need a moment,” she said.
He nodded. “Okay, come with me.”
He held her hand gently and placed another hand on her back, guiding her through the ballroom and down the south hall.
“Here, this room is empty,” the guard said, allowing her in. “I’ll make sure nobody enters. Wait here.”
Tavia nodded.
Someone had left a tray of champagne flutes on one of the tables.
“Please just stay with me for a moment until I’m calm,” she said.
“All right.” The guard entered and closed the door behind him.
Tavia went over to the drinks. The guard went and sat down.
“Take as long as you need,” he said.
Tavia turned her back, her body shaking with real tears.
This was where everything could go wrong. She was so frazzled by Lucius’s behavior that she couldn’t think.
It’s an act. He told you this was all part of the plan.
Calming herself, she prepared for the crucial part of the plan.
But if she made a mistake, everything would be ruined.
