I stood in the courtyard, my heart hammering against my ribs as Ricardo family security guards formed a menacing circle around me. Their faces were impassive, but their stance left no room for misinterpretation—I wasn't leaving this place without a fight.
Liam stood to the side, his expression a mixture of rage and something that looked suspiciously like hurt pride. Beside him, Imogen's lips curled into a victorious smile.
"You've really done it now, Juliana," she said, her voice dripping with false concern. "All this trouble could have been avoided if you'd just accepted your place."
I laughed, the sound sharp and bitter in the tense air. "My place? And where exactly would that be, Imogen? Beneath your feet?"
"Precisely," she replied, not even bothering to hide her contempt anymore. "That's where you've always belonged."
