A pang of hurt and betrayal swept through Amber, even though she knew they were only in a contract marriage. She was furious, but she decided not to confront Stefan. As she turned away from Stefan and the woman, her heart was a turbulent storm of conflicting emotions. Anger, hurt, and confusion but she pushed them aside, reminding herself that her marriage to Stefan was nothing more than a contract marriage.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Valentina's sudden appearance caught her off guard. "You whore!" She lifted a hand and slapped Amber as hard as she could.

The force of Valentina's slap sent a sharp sting across Amber's cheek,...