Kiara rose, seized her collar with one hand, and struck her hard with the other.
“This one is for your fake act.”
A second slap came immediately. “This slap is for willingly becoming a mistress and breaking up another family!”
She lifted her hand again, but before the slap landed, Hugo swung his arm and knocked her to the floor.
The man’s brow held a hard, cold light. “That hit is for you failing to understand your place.”
“Kiara, I told you Dorothy is pregnant. Laying a hand on her means challenging me.”
Kiara was struck down onto the ground. The crowd nearby kept their distance, treating her like bad luck, afraid of being involved.
Supporting herself with both hands, she rose slowly, refusing to lower her head.
“The slap has already happened. What else do you plan to do?”
Neither side showed any sign of giving in.
Her best friend, Gwynne, already anxious, stepped forward to calm her.
“Kiara, forget about this. Let’s just go.”
Dorothy’s feet were red from the burn. How could she let it pass? Grabbing Hugo’s collar, she wept, “Brother Hugo, it hurts so badly. If I’m injured like this, will the baby be at risk of miscarriage?”