The room erupted. Sylvia's eyes stabbed at me. "You've been so good to me, Adrian, but I'm just a common she-wolf. What if the lady bullies me?"
"I'll protect you," he said.
"Not enough," she replied, glancing at me. "Unless… I set a rule for her. I'll pierce her with nine hundred ninety-nine needles to ensure she'll never look down on me."
Gasps filled the air. I shot up, pale. "No way!"
Adrian approached, his voice low. "Just this once, Isabella. I love Sylvia more, but I'll treat you both fairly."
"Fairly?" I laughed, tears streaming. "You're humiliating me for her!"
"Just do it," he said softly, then signaled. "Hold her."
Burly women pinned me to a chair. Sylvia's needle gleamed as she stabbed my arm. I screamed, shaking, as the count began.
"One hundred thirty-five…"
"Three h
