Chapter 80

Chloe’s POV

Drake reached us.

“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly, his gaze flicking between us.

Margaret spoke first, her voice trembling despite her effort to steady it. “Ask her.”

I turned to her slowly. “Don’t.”

Drake’s eyes narrowed. “Margaret?”

She laughed sharply. “She assaulted me.”

I smiled faintly. “You slapped me.”

The space between us went tight.

Drake’s gaze dropped briefly to my cheek. The red mark was already faint but visible if you knew where to look. His jaw clenched.

“You put your hands on her?” he asked.

Margaret bristled. “She provoked me.”

“I told you not to touch me,” I said calmly. “You did anyway.”

People nearby were starting to notice the tension now. Conversations slowed. Eyes lingered. Jack appeared a few feet away, watching with open interest, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Drake took a breath, clearly choosing restraint. “This is not the place.”

Margaret scoff