“Oh, Arwen,” he sneered, lifting the phone high as though it were a prized trophy. “Isn’t this beautiful? Look at that—caught red-handed. The proof is staring us all in the face. So tell me… what excuse are you planning to crawl out with now?”
“I already told you the truth—that man is my brother!” I shouted, twisting violently as the guards tightened their grip on my arms. “Give me back my phone! This is theft. You’re slandering me—and violating my privacy!”
I didn’t even finish the sentence.
Sebastian’s hand lashed out.
The crack echoed sharply through the hall as pain exploded across my cheek. My vision flashed white, the sting blinding and immediate. Before I could even process the impact, he lifted my phone and hurled it down with brutal force.
The device smashed against the marble floor.
The screen shattered instantly, fragments scattering across the tiles like splintered glass, skidding toward my feet in sharp, useless pieces.
My face burned as I clutched my cheek, fury roaring through my veins. I surged forward on instinct, ready to strike back, ready to tear into him—but the family’s enforcers seized me again, locking my arms behind my back with crushing force.