Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Ariana raised her hands in anger. "You pretentious whore!" Her voice was a venomous hiss as she took a step closer to Althea.

Althea's eyes flashed with a mix of fear and defiance as she pushed Ariana's arms away. The room was charged with tension, and the other brides, Cassandra and Fiona, stood there in shock, their eyes darting between the feuding brides.

"What the hell is going on here?" Althea demanded, her voice trembling with anger and anxiety.

Ariana's nostrils flared, and her eyes blazed with fury. "How dare you," she seethed, her voice quivering. "I thought I was going to tell the king, but you did!"

Althea, her own frustration boiling over, retorted, "He won't do anything to them. I had to find a way to protect Olivia and Heather."

Ariana scoffed, her anger undeterred. "Oh, really? And just how did you manage that? By seducing him?" She emphasized the word "seducing" with biting sarcasm.