Arya blinked, the words hitting her hard, but she didn’t let it show. She set the tray down slowly on a table near the door and stepped back.
“I’ll be in my room,” she said softly. “If anyone needs me.”
Then she turned and walked inside without another word.
Juan stood still for a second, watching her disappear through the doorway. Then he turned to Belle, his face tight with anger.
“What the hell was that?” he asked.
Belle crossed her arms. “I’m sorry. Am I not allowed to have feelings about the woman playing house in your mansion?”
Juan stepped closer. “She’s not playing anything. She lives here. And unlike you, she doesn’t treat people like they’re beneath her.”
“She’s not your equal,” Belle said, her voice sharp. “She’s a stray. One you felt sorry for.”
Juan’s eyes narrowed. “S
