There was thick, drawn silence for a few seconds before I heard it.

The unmistakable sound of Atlas Volkan... laughing.

My fists tightened at my sides as I raised an eyebrow.

"Are you giving me orders now, Julia?" he scoffed, eyeing me down. "You? Leave? As if!"

"Julia, you don't have to leave." Lovie butted in, stepping forward. "If you would just apologize—"

Lovie froze as my palm collided with her face. Silence rippled through the guests and Atlas stiffened.

...