Instead of calming Emma Hart, Damien Sterling's sudden move only made her more resistant to waking up.
"Ah!" Emma's scream echoed through the second and third floors, startling guests and servants alike. Ryan Garcia rushed upstairs to see what was happening.
Ryan arrived just in time to see Damien strike Emma across the face, instantly quieting her.
"What happened?" the guests inquired anxiously as Ryan descended the stairs.
"It's nothing, Mrs. Sterling accidentally broke a teacup," Ryan lied smoothly to keep everyone at bay. He quickly reached the room where Damien and Emma were, ordered everyone to keep silent and disperse, and then hurried downstairs to find Ella Moore.
Inside the room, Damien stood breathing heavily, staring at his hand, overwhelmed with guilt. Emma sat on the floor, cradling her reddened, swollen cheek, staring blankly into space.
