Lucien’s POV
My grandmother’s voice was like ice, echoing through the grand foyer with enough venom to freeze the blood in my veins. The word "charity case" hung heavily in the air, an intentional insult designed to crush whatever confidence my new bride had managed to scrape together before coming downstairs.
I felt my entire body go rigid, my fists clenching so hard inside my trouser pockets that my nails bit into my palms. This blinding anger kept spreading throughout my chest and I just had to say something, so I took a step forward, opening my mouth to completely shut the old lady down and remind her whose house she was currently standing in.
But before I could even step in and defend Lila, my wife surprised the hell out of me.
Instead of shrinking back, bursting into tears, or h
