Chiara
The sound of the slap echoed in my ears, and then everything went silent.
All three of us stood frozen in place.
Emilia stared at me as if I had grown horns, then took a slow step back.
I gulped. All my life, I had never raised my voice at her, never talked back, never even disobeyed her—let alone hit her. But now, I had slapped her… not once, but twice!
I could still feel the sting of the slaps.
Williams looked between us, stunned, his eyes wide, like he couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it either. My anger had exploded before I could stop it. I had acted on impulse.
“I—” My voice trembled. “I didn’t mean—”
Emilia’s shock dissolved into rage.
“You ungrateful animal!” she shrieked.
I flinched.
“After everything we did for you? You dare raise your hand at me?”
“I di
