"A piece of trash nobody wanted, no mother to raise you. Divorce Noel now, or one of these days you'll lose a hand or a foot, and wouldn't that be a pity..."
A ringing filled my skull. All I could see was the woman's vicious face, her mouth opening and closing, opening and closing.
Rage boiled over into a sharp, incredulous laugh. But Florence didn't give me a chance to fight back. She let out a piercing shriek, ripped open the front of her gown, and threw herself backward.
"Brooklyn!"
Noel came charging from the center of the ballroom and caught Florence, pulling her into his arms.
She sobbed so hard she could barely stand, tears materializing on command.
"Noel, I know what I am. I'm the other woman. I ruined your marriage to Ms. Simmons. I know I was wrong. I never should have come into your life. I'm the villain here. I'm the disgusting one."
Then she did what she always did. She slapped herself across the face, hard, twice.
Noel grabbed her wrists. His jaw was locked tight.
"Who said those things to you?"
Florence bit her lip, fingers twisting the fabric of her dress until her knuckles went white. "Please. Don't ask."
But when her gaze swept over me, her body trembled slightly.