The words landed like daggers. Lucy's face paled, then flushed a furious red, her mouth opening — but no words came.
Mara tilted her head, voice soft as silk and twice as dangerous.
"That's the difference between you and me, Lucy. I was loved. And you? You're just used."
"How dare you!" Lucy shrieked, raising her hand to strike — but Mara caught it midair, her grip like iron. Without hesitation, Mara's other hand cracked across Lucy's face.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Each slap was harder than the last, the sharp sound slicing through the room like a whip.
Before Lucy could even register the sting, Mara's fingers tangled in her hair, yanking her head back so hard Lucy let out a gasp of pain.
"You crazy bitch!" Lucy spat, squirming, clawing at Mara's wrists. "Get off me—"
But Mara wasn't hearing her. Not tonight. Not after everything.
"You dared," Mara seethed, eyes wild, her voice shaking with a year's worth of fury. "You dared to take my son away from me!"
