"Got shocked?"
Mila stopped in her tracks. When she turned, she saw Valentina smirking meaningfully.
She realized it wasn't a coincidence. It was planned.
"You did this on purpose," she grunted.
Valentina only smiled. In truth, it had been Serene's idea.
Watching Mila's pale face and the way she had fled, Valentina knew it had worked perfectly.
"Yes. I did," she admitted, "to show you your place."
She took a step toward her. "The queen has returned to claim what's hers. And a concubine like you should know to step back."
Those humiliating words stung her heart.
Mila gritted her teeth. She wasn't a concubine. She would never be that.
"For your information," Mila said, "I'm not interested in standing between anyone. Since they are reconciling, I bless them."
Dropping those words, she hurried away.
Valentina's smile disappeared. That wasn't the reaction she wanted.
She had expected tears, a breakdown, not this calm indifference.
