**Clarissa’s POV**
My scream erupts as Cornelius punches Matthias in the face, sending him crashing to the floor. Panic grips me as he turns toward me and lunges.
"You shameless woman!" The prince snarls, yanking my hair with painful force. "You allowed him to touch and kiss you, didn't you?"
"No!" I cry out, unable to stem the tears streaming down my face, my scalp aching from his grip. "Release my hair! You're hurting me, and you don't even know what happened! You're jumping to conclusions!"
"What more evidence do I need?" He grinds his teeth as he twists my arm behind my back. "I understand why you were so eager to protect this lowlife scum. It's because you've been secretly having an affair with him, knowing that our bond is too weak for me to feel your cheating. Now tell me why I
