SOPHIA’S POV
The silence in the suite was deafening.
Ava’s hand clutched her cheek, her lips trembling like she couldn’t believe I’d dared to touch her.
My chest heaved and my palm still burned but I refused to look away.
“She hit me,” she said, her voice high and shaking.
“I’ll do it again if you don’t back off,” I snapped, stepping forward.
My heart was racing but I wasn’t going to let her see me hesitate.
Jace stood between us in a second, his jaw tight.
“Enough,” he said, his voice cutting through the air.
“She slapped me,” Ava repeated, her eyes darting between us, waiting for him to defend her.
“You had it coming,” Jace said without hesitation. “And the only reason I didn’t do it myself is because you’re a woman.”
Her mouth dropped.
I tried to step forward but Jace he
