CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN: A Marriage Falling Apart

Marius, looking groggy and disoriented, peers at the bottle. But before he can make sense of what’s in front of him, Betty reacts first, her voice filled with anger and a hint of mockery.

"So you're accusing my son of attempting to kill your daddy?"

I pay her no attention at all. But when she clutches my shoulder and shoves me away from Marius, I'm provoked.

"Don’t you dare touch me!" I growl.

Betty lunges at me. Her hand swings, then… Slap!

The sting of her strike is immediate, and I don’t hesitate to slap her back.

The cellar explodes into chaos as we start grappling with each other.

Pierce and the bodyguard scramble to separate us, their voices a blur of shouts and demands. But for a moment, Marius just keeps drinking, as if oblivious to the chaos unfolding around him.

Then, suddenly, he stands up. He uses his arm to separate me from his mother. But his push is too strong, sending me stumbling backward. Luckily, the bodyguard is able to catch me just in time.

Marius and I loc