Then, suddenly, a scooter rushed toward me from the right, its horn blaring in a frantic warning. My legs turned to stone, frozen in place as I watched the headlights grow larger, the sound of the horn cutting through the air like a knife. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.
Just then, a strong hand gripped mine, yanking me backward with force. I stumbled, my feet tripping over each other, but I was pulled out of harm’s way just as the scooter whizzed past, grazing me.
Breathing heavily, my heart racing, I turned to see the last person I expected to find, Dorothea, standing there with a smug smile playing on her lips.
“Well, well, sister-in-law…” she began, her voice dripping with sweet malice. “Oh, wait, you just broke up with my brother, didn’t you?” Her head tilted slightly, her expression one of feigned innocence.
Gone was the fragile, frightened girl I had seen earlier. Now, all that remained was a mask of smug satisfaction.
"Sister Isabella, you seem quite uncomfortable with my presence," she said, her voice laced with mockery. "Why is that?"