The fury that ripped through me left no room for thought. My hand connected with his face in a whipcrack slap that rang out across the empty field.
"Maxwell, you bastard! That necklace holds my father’s ashes!"
Colette laughed—a sharp, ugly sound.
"Your father a dwarf? That’s all there is?"
"Clara, you’re pathetic. Lying through your teeth just to cover for Dorian."
Her smirk barely had time to fade before my second slap snapped her head to the side.
"Don’t you dare insult my father."
She stumbled into Maxwell’s arms, playing the victim to perfection.
"Maxwell, I just told the truth and she hit me!"
His face went dark. "Put her on the ground."
Two boys grabbed my arms. A swift kick slammed into my knee, forcing me down hard. The crack of bone against concrete made my vision swim. Cold sweat beaded at my temples.
Maxwell pointed down at me like I was something he’d scraped off his shoe.
"Apologize to Colette—or I won’t be so gentle."
Colette stepped forward, brushing her hair back in a mockery of elegance. She lifted her foot, displaying her diamond-studded sandal.
"Forget the apology. These diamonds are dusty. Lick them clean."
Laughter burst from the crowd—sharp, mean, hungry.