"One hundred thousand." I frowned.
"No—the sentence before that."
I thought for a moment, then repeated evenly. "I ruined you once. I can ruin you a second time."
For the first time that evening, Kianna laughed—truly laughed.
"You know, I actually prefer you when you drop the act."
I yanked my hand free, but she deliberately leaned closer, her cheek brushing against my palm.
"If this slap lands," she whispered, "I'll make sure your mother loses what little movement she has left."
I hadn't intended to hit her. But the moment those words left her mouth, my hand came down hard across her face.
"Are you insane?!" Natalia shrieked, lunging at me. She clawed at my neck; I yanked her hair in return.
The transparent glass stool beside us shattered against her, blood streaking down her forehead.
I snatched up a shard and slashed at Kianna's arm.
She barely flinched. Two of her bodyguards grabbed me with overwhelming force and shoved me straight into the pool.
She stood above me, elegant even in fury.
"Two years of caring for your crippled mother must have been exhausting. Why not let me arrange a little ‘accident' for you? That way, you'll never have to suffer again."