Chapter Twelve:
The sting of Briuy's slap still burned on Liza's cheek, her anger bubbling beneath the surface. She clenched her fists, but it wasn't enough to shake rage building inside her. Without a second thought, she grabbed a bottle of wine sitting on a side table, its dark glass thick against her palm, and stormed outside, driven by a surge of fury.
Briuy hadn't gotten far, her back turned as she strutted toward her car, clearly assuming she'd had the last word. Liza's footsteps quickened, her pulse pounding with every step. Before Briuy could even turn, Liza lifted the bottle and brought it down with a fierce crack, shattering it over Briuy's head.
Glass fragments scattered, and Briuy stumbled forward, gasping in shock as she reached up, feeling the shards tangled in her hair. Blood trickled down her temple, her expression shifting from shock to fury as she whirled to face Liza, her eyes wide with disbelief.
The tension was intense as the bodyguards watched, their postures uncertain, waiting for Theo's reaction. Theo merely leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. He raised a hand, signaling his men to stay back. "Let her handle it," he drawled, his tone laced with amusement.
Briuy glared at Liza, her lips curling in disdain. "You… little brat," she hissed, her voice trembling with rage. "You don't know who you're dealing with."
"Oh, I think I know exactly who I'm dealing with," Liza shot back, her own voice cold and steady, though her hands shook slightly from the adrenaline. "And I'm not afraid of you."
Briuy took a step forward, but Theo's presence looming in the background stopped her. She turned to him, her anger mingling with desperation. "Theo, are you really going to let her get away with this?" she demanded, her tone a mix of hurt and fury.
Theo raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "You brought this on yourself, Briuy. Maybe it's time you learn to respect my decisions—and the people I choose to keep close." His voice was calm, but there was a clear edge to it, a warning that Briuy was treading dangerous ground.
Briuy scoffed, shooting Liza a final look of contempt. "You'll regret this," she spat before brushing off the remaining shards of glass and storming toward her car. Without another word, she climbed in, slamming the door behind her and speeding off, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake.
As the car disappeared down the driveway, Theo turned to Liza, his eyes clearly showed his amusement. He took a step toward her, his expression shifting from bemusement to something more intense.
"Well," he murmured, his gaze holding hers. "You certainly have a surprising side to you, Phoenixia."
Liza didn't back down, meeting his gaze with steely resolve. "Don't call me that," she said, her voice firm, though the adrenaline was still pulsing through her veins.
Theo chuckled softly, his eyes not leaving her. "I have to admit," he said, his voice low, "I didn't expect you to fight back like that. But don't get any ideas," he added, a warning in his tone. "There's still a line you won't want to cross with me."
Liza took a step back, her breathing steadying, her defiance still simmering. "I don't care about your lines, Theo," she replied, her voice unwavering. "I won't be intimidated by you or anyone else."