Several armed guards emerged from behind her. Celeste pointed at me. "Bind her. I want to see whether the heir, once he learns his own wife tried to murder his child, will divorce her or not."
I jabbed a finger at my own nose. "Divorce me? Does the heir have the nerve? Tell him to try."
The lead guard approached with a stony face. "My lady, why must you bully a helpless woman?"
"The heir gave orders. No one, not even his wife, is to mistreat his concubine. Forgive the offense."
He moved to seize me.
Rosalind threw herself in front of me. "You wouldn't dare! Do you have any idea who my lady is?"
The guard shoved Rosalind aside. "Doesn't matter who she is. She's wronged the concubine, and she'll kneel and apologize for it."
Nana Burke clutched her swollen, reddened cheek and screeched, "Guard! This vicious woman can't bear children yet still clings to the position of principal wife, tormenting our mistress!"
"Once the mistress delivers the heir's firstborn son, she'll surely be elevated to honored concubine or equal wife. Then it's the mistress who'll be the true lady of the house!"
"A barren hen like her should be thrown out of the estate. Go on, hit her! The mistress will answer for it."