Odette was already charging at me, hand raised to slap me across the face. I caught her wrist and held it tight. But in that same instant, Justin's palm had already connected with my cheek. He froze, staring at his own hand in disbelief, while Odette burst out laughing.
"Slut!"
"You see that?!"
"You see that?!"
"Justin loves ME, not you!"
"That slap was a lesson for you!"
"If you ever lay eyes on my man again..."
"I'll kill you!"
Odette grabbed Justin, who was still standing there in a daze, and her eyes turned red.
"I hadn't seen you come out for so long. I was worried. I was afraid she'd pull some dirty trick on you again."
Tears spilled down Odette's cheeks, her voice cracking.
"Thank God."
"You love me."
"Thank God."
"My husband loves me. He hasn't changed."
Odette broke into a tearful smile, and Justin seemed to finally snap out of it. He rushed to wipe her tears, cooing at her softly.
"Of course I love you."
"I only love you." He turned to look at me, something complicated shifting behind his eyes. His gaze settled on my cheek, swollen and red from the slap. "Louisa, what happened today was wrong of me."
"But when it comes down to it, you brought this on yourself by being so stubborn."