Isabella’s expression didn’t change, but there was a faint tightening around her jaw. She didn’t flinch or respond to Carmen’s insults, though there was a coldness in her eyes that seemed to deepen. She stood there, silent and unmoved, as Carmen hurled her venomous words, allowing them to wash over her like a storm she had no intention of acknowledging.
The guards reached the front door, and Carmen’s screams became more erratic, her voice rising to a fever pitch. “You’ll see, Isabella! You’ll see what happens when you try to play the queen! You’re not his type, and you never will be!” she yelled as they dragged her out of the mansion. Her final words echoed through the grand foyer, carrying a sharp edge that cut through the air even as the heavy front door swung shut behind her.
Isabella
