Robbie's words engulfed me in a sea of dread. The world seemed to grind to a halt around me as his cruel words reverberated endlessly. Allistair...with another woman? Surely he wouldn't have the audacity to betray me like that. Robbie's malicious grin only fueled the panic raging inside me.

"You're lying," I spat through gritted teeth, fighting to maintain my outward composure. It felt as if my chest was being crushed.

He merely shrugged those Armani-clad shoulders nonchalantly, his expression infuriatingly smug. "Why would I lie about where your man's been getting his kicks, darling?"

Teresa gripped my arm tightly, offering support and solidarity, but even her reassuring presence did little to soothe the fury and dawning panic consuming me.

"My brother would never do that to you," she stated firmly, that fiercely defensive edge to her tone making me feel less alone.

"Perhaps you both need to open your eyes wider," Robbie countered smugly, watching me with the sick delight of a jackal circling a wounded gazelle. "Your so-called prince charming fucked off with my date."

"I trust Allistair," Tamara's voice cut through sharply. "He's a man of impeccable integrity. Someone as vile as you has no right to make such disgusting allegations!"

Robbie's face soured. "Are you deaf? I'm telling you, he took off with my girl. That's a fact," he insisted, searching for a reaction from me. But I would voluntarily wear thrift store clothes than give him that satisfaction.

"That remains to be seen," I replied coolly, my glare burning into his eyes with the intensity of a red star.

"Tally, let's go find him," Teresa urged, taking my hand gently. "We'll get to the bottom of this."

As we turned on our heels, Tamara suddenly lashed out, punching Robbie squarely in the gut. He flinched but quickly straightened himself.

"And Robert," Teresa's voice rang with a bone-chilling promise, "I'm not done with you yet."

Pushing aside the anxiety gnawing at me, I let my friends guide me through the throngs of guests toward the balcony doors. As we approached, my heart pounded in my chest with the force of a hammer. Two silhouettes stood illuminated by the moonlight, and my stomach churned with something akin to fear.

"I'll go first," I whispered, summoning my courage with every fiber of my being. I stepped onto the balcony, feeling the cool night air against my skin.

Relief washed over me in a fleeting moment of happiness as I spotted Allistair standing at the railing, seemingly lost in thought. His distant demeanor suggested he was blissfully unaware of the agony that had devoured my soul for the past hour.

Yet, that brief relief turned to anger as I noticed the "mouse-rella" hovering too close for comfort, gazing at Allistair with star-struck adoration. My Allistair. Fury surged through me with a torrid force. A queen like me didn't tolerate insurrection, especially when it came to someone eyeing what belonged to me.

Steeling myself, I cleared my throat loudly. They both turned, surprise written on their faces.

"Allistair, darling, there you are!" I exclaimed brightly. I embraced him and kissed his lips while pinning her with a lethal glare. She shrank back instinctively.

"Tahlia! I was wondering where you were," Allistair said, returning my embrace somewhat distractedly.

I turned my megawatt smile to the girl while extending my hand out. "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Tahlia. And you are...?"

I let the question hang in the air menacingly, still smiling.

She looked in all directions like she was evaluating escape routes and finally mustered the courage to speak. "I am Rosemary."

Rosemary. Of course she had some sweet, cloying name. I swallowed back the bile rising in my throat.

"Rosemary," I purred, my voice laced with pure venom. "How delightful to put a name to your face." I took a deliberate step closer, my smile never wavering.

"Let me guess your preferred hobbies include...murdering haute couture and shamelessly climbing onto rich men's beds?" I said, not able to hold back anymore. This little rat had it coming for a long time.

"Tahlia, please don't!" Allistair's face was turning a funny shade of red, but I was just getting started.

"No, I insist!" The words tumbled forth in a rush. "Less than two hours ago, you were draped all over Robbie Haysmith like a cheap accessory, and now you've set your sights on my Allistair? The audacity!" My fury emanated from every pore of my body.

"No! I'm not!" She said, shaking her head vehemently. "You're mistaken!" The mouse's voice squeaked—a curious sight indeed.

Despite my amusement, I couldn't ignore the subtle signs: the smudged makeup, a tear in her new dress sleeve, and the absence of the cascade braid that had not long ago adorned her hair. Something seemed off, but I failed to stop myself.

"I...I can explain," said the little wench, shaking like a leaf in the wind. Part of me enjoyed seeing her trembling, yet a small voice urged patience, nagging at me, saying that perhaps there was a perfectly reasonable explanation. But the fury coursing through my veins whispered that I could crush her in an instant—and I liked that option better.

I laughed derisively. "Explain? What could you possibly—"

"Enough," Allistair's firm tone cut through my tirade. "I merely helped Rosemary get out of a bad situation. You're allowing your imagination to run wild."

"I swear, it's true. He s—" her eyes swelled with tears.

"Nobody is talking to you," Tessa interjected icily from the doorway.

Allistair's handsome features hardened. "That's quite enough from both of you," he said menacingly, and the implication hit me like a blow. Was he suggesting I was in the wrong?

My wounded pride protested vehemently; my usual controlled self had checked out, leaving me vulnerable to the depths of my raw emotions.

"Us? Really?" I echoed bitterly. "So you insist on defending her?" The words caught in my throat, accompanied by a pang of jealousy I couldn't suppress—jealousy over Allistair standing up for the insipid creature with red hair.

He rubbed his forehead in frustration. He looked at me sternly. "You insist on attacking her without cause!" His eyes flashed with rare anger. "And quite frankly, I find your doubting my faithfulness insulting." His words pierced through me, extinguishing the fire of my rage.

Seeing the hurt in his eyes stung more than I could bear. The little voice whispered again that Rosemary's disheveled appearance hinted at something unpleasant, but apologies felt impossible to voice aloud. I was too stubborn. A queen like me would sooner continue down this path than admit defeat.

I turned my back to them, hoping to salvage some dignity. My voice was firm but devoid of emotion. "There's something of utmost importance I need to discuss with you," I declared. "Find me when you're done 'playing hero.'"

With that, I walked away, Tessa and Tamara flanking me silently as we marched, leaving Rosemary's quiet sobs drifting across the balcony.

I fled the ballroom, angry tears blurring my vision. How dare Allistair take that girl's side! His sharp words echoed in my mind—doubting his faithfulness, attacking without cause. As if I didn't have the right to protect what was mine after finding them in such a compromising position, with her hungrily devouring him with her eyes.

Teresa and Tamara hurried after me as I burst into the cool night air of the courtyard, my heels striking the cobblestones with purpose.

"Tahlia, wait up!" Teresa called out, slightly winded.

I whirled to face them, chest heaving with ragged breaths. "Did you see how he defended her?" I seethed, fury contorting my features. "That little hazel-eyed mouse!"

Tamara gently took my arm. "He did seem upset, but try to stay calm. There has to be a reasonable explanation." Hah! Upset will be my shoe when I kick his perfectly round ass!

"Reasonable?" I scoffed, wrenching my arm away. "He made me look like an unhinged, jealous psychopath in front of everyone!"

Teresa exchanged a concerned look with Tamara. "Even so, this isn't like you. The composed, rational Tahlia I know wouldn't jump to conclusions without hearing Allistair out first."

Her words struck a chord, but my wounded ego refused to let me back down so easily. "I'm not apologizing first," I stated firmly. "If Allistair expects that from me, he's sorely mistaken."

Tamara sighed. "We're not saying you have to apologize. Just...talk to him. Calmly. Once you've both had a chance to explain your sides, you can decide how to proceed."

Before I could respond, my phone vibrated with Allistair's text.

'Where are you?'

'Courtyard'

'I'll meet you in 10 mins'

I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over the keypad as a torrent of scathing replies formed in my mind. But I couldn't bring myself to send any of them. With a frustrated groan, I shoved the phone back into my clutch and began pacing the courtyard like a caged lioness.

Tamara and Teresa watched me warily, knowing better than to comment further. The silence was suffocating, punctuated only by the click of my heels against the stones.

After what felt like an eternity, the courtyard doors opened, and Allistair stepped through. His expression was unreadable as he approached, but there was a weariness in his eyes that gave me pause.

Teresa cleared her throat. "Allistair, what in God's name just happened back there?" Her tone held no room for argument. "You can't stand here and deny that the situation looked...highly questionable."

He sighed, raking a hand through his tousled hair. "You're right, it did look bad," he admitted. "Tahlia..." His gaze finally met mine, and I saw a flicker of the hurt I'd inflicted. "Please, just hear me out."

The plaintive waver in his voice knocked me momentarily off-balance. Allistair was always the picture of strength and confidence—to hear such raw emotion from him was utterly disarming.

"I never meant to hurt you," he continued, the words seeming to pain him. "But I assure you, I was merely trying to help Rosemary after that creep Robbie tried to take advantage of her against her will. He very nearly succeeded."

Disgust flickered across his features, and it dawned on me why Rosemary had appeared so disheveled. Shame burned through me, scorching the remnants of my anger to ashes.

Allistair's gaze was full of hurt and regret as it found mine once more. "Arguing with you is the last thing I want, but your immediate hostility toward Rosemary was completely uncalled for."

My cheeks flushed as I recalled the vicious insinuations I'd flung at the poor girl. As much as I still wanted to cling to my indignation, Allistair's sincere remorse was chipping away at my defenses.

He stepped closer, slowly closing the distance between us. "She was in real danger tonight. I had to intervene, but I swear to you, nothing improper happened between us."

With a feather-light touch, he brushed a loose tendril of hair from my face—a familiar gesture, but one that held deeper significance in that loaded moment. "You know I could never betray your trust like that. Please, Tahlia..."

His eyes implored me for understanding, and I saw genuine anguish flickering in their depths. In that moment, I realized how badly I'd misjudged him, allowing my own insecurities to spiral into irrational jealousy.

The fight drained out of me, and I melted into his embrace as silent tears streaked my cheeks. "I...overreacted," I whispered shakily. "The thought of losing you just..."

"You could never lose me," he murmured, holding me close. "In my eyes, no one else even exists."

As his arms enveloped me, the last embers of anger faded, replaced by a wave of relief and something deeper—a renewed sense of how precious he was to me. How easily I could have lost it all tonight over one reckless outburst.

Tamara cleared her throat again, more insistently this time. "As heartwarming as this is...don't you have more pressing matters to discuss? Like the news your father dropped earlier?"

The moment fractured as Allistair's brow furrowed in confusion. "News? What news?"

A fresh wave of unease swept over me as the dreaded question resurfaced: How would Allistair react upon discovering my father's intentions regarding our relationship? Could this revelation be the detonator that shatters our love beyond repair? I gulped.