Chapter 3

I heard from Victor that Julian's father had offered half the family's territory to get him to agree to this match between Julian and me. If he knew his son had ruined this contract, the consequences would be absolutely spectacular.

Thinking of this, I felt much relieved and couldn't be bothered to pay attention to the idiots around me. I turned to leave, but Bella was relentless.

Relying on Julian's unconditional bias, she grabbed my arm firmly and roared, "Don't think you can escape, you thief! You stole my necklace and pushed me. I'm not done with you!"

I turned back, my eyes calm as a stagnant well. "So what do you want?"

She thought I felt threatened and seized the opportunity to claw at my face. "I'm going to ruin your face, bitch! Let's see if any man is willing to look at you again!"

I easily caught her wrist and then punched her heavily in the chest, knocking her back a step. She was bewildered, screaming through gritted teeth, "Bitch, how dare you—"

Before she could finish, I grabbed her wrist and shoved her hard again, asking coldly, "Satisfied now?"

Bella stumbled back a few steps, tearfully hiding behind Julian, putting on a pitiful act. "Prince Julian, you must get justice for me!"

Julian wrapped a possessive arm around her. His voice was icy as he issued a warning to me: "Anyone who dares touch what is mine won't live past tonight."

He signaled the family guards behind him to seize me. I struck first, kicking one of them down, but regrettably, I was outnumbered. Soon, they subdued me, pinning me firmly to the ground, kneeling beneath his leather boots.

He smiled at Bella. "Do whatever you want, Bella. No matter what happens, I'm on your side."

That sentence instantly gave her immense confidence. She came up to me and slapped me hard, twice. A burning pain immediately spread across my cheeks.

"Bitch, weren't you arrogant just a moment ago?" she sneered. "Where did that courage go?"

Seeming to feel this wasn't enough, she stomped her sharp heel ruthlessly onto the back of my hand. Enduring the agonizing pain, I looked up, glaring at the despicable couple. "Remember this—I will never let you get away with this!"

Bella's laughter became even more cruel and triumphant. "This is Prince Julian's territory, and you are just a drifter from out of town. What can you do to me? I'll show you the consequences of offending me."

She grabbed a letter opener from the counter, toying with it in front of me, the blade reflecting a cold light. Then, she violently grabbed my long hair, yanking it backward with such force I could almost feel my scalp tearing.

"You liked that necklace, didn't you?" she hissed. "Then let's see what you look like wearing that necklace when you have no hair left, you bald freak!"

The crowd gasped. For female vampires, long hair was often a symbol of power and charm.

Bella tightened her grip on the knife. Soon, several locks of hair drifted to the floor.

Panic surged in my chest like venom; I knew I had to beg. "I was wrong. Take the necklace—I shouldn't have fought you for it. Please, don't do this!"

To save my hair, swallowing my pride was worth it; at that moment, it was the most important thing.

However, she ignored my pleas. She swung the blade again, hacking off a large chunk of my hair. She crowed triumphantly, "Now you know you were wrong? Too late! I won't rest until I've shaved you bald!"

Humiliation and fear made me scream aloud. Julian stood beside her, arms crossed, watching it all with indifference.

I gritted my teeth and warned him, "You don't know who I am, Julian! You will regret letting her do this to me!"

He merely shrugged, replying casually, "Who could you possibly be? You're just a tool sacrificed by your family for a marriage contract."

The thrill of abuse flickered in Bella's eyes. "Then I have even more reason to cut off all your hair. Let's see if you still dare to dream of being a princess consort!"

"No—"

Just then, my phone rang. I scrambled frantically to reach it, but Bella snatched it away and answered it.

Victor's voice came from the receiver. "Hey, Elena. Did you pick out a gift?"

I hurriedly screamed for help, "Victor, help me! I'm being attacked! She's destroying my hair!"

His voice instantly tightened, exuding a chill from the depths of hell. "What... Who is laying a hand on you?"

Bella, carried away by her triumph, spoke into the phone, "Your sister is a barbarian. No need to thank me; I'm just teaching her a lesson for you."

Victor's voice was filled with suppressed, explosive rage. "I don't care who you think you are—release my sister immediately! If I have to come there personally, I will make you pay!"

"Come and try if you have the guts," she mocked. "Who knows—maybe I can give you a free haircut too!"

Laughing wildly, she threw the phone on the ground and continued to kick and beat me.

Every breath was accompanied by sharp pain. I curled into a ball, trying to mitigate the agony. This time, time seemed to stretch on for a century.

Ten minutes later, a convoy of ten black armored sedans blocked the street, and nearly a hundred soldiers of the Royal Guard lined up in formation.

Victor stepped out of the lead limousine. The Progenitor pressure radiating from him was so powerful that everyone present began to tremble.

"Alright, which idiot touched my sister?"