My ears rang as her words echoed. Engagement? My heart stopped for a second, then picked up with a painful thud. I searched Jace's face for answers, but he didn't look at me—he was staring straight at her, his jaw hard as stone.
Caterina's smirk widened, sensing the chaos she had planted inside me. "I know you're trying to spite me, Jace. Have your fun with her. But we both know where home is. And you'll come back to me."
Her voice carried loud enough for the whispers to spread through the room like wildfire. People weren't even pretending to hide their curiosity now. My cheeks burned. I felt stripped bare in front of strangers, reduced to nothing but gossip.
Jace's hand tightened on my waist. Possessive. Protective. Maybe even warning me not to react.
"If by 'this' you mean my wife," he said, voice low and edged with steel, "then yes, Caterina. I married her. And you'll address her as Mrs. Romano."
