Chapter 22 “Welcome to the real world”

Nicholas Andrieux A loud smack echoed through the hall. The sharp sting on my cheek was unexpected, but what surprised me more was the fact that Alicia was the one who delivered it. I had never been slapped by a woman before. People didn't dare lay a hand on me—until her. I chuckled, the sound low and sarcastic as I tilted my head slightly, letting my eyes meet hers. My gaze was sharp, daring her to back down, but to my amusement, she didn't flinch. She didn't shrink away, nor did she show any sign of fear. Instead, Alicia met my glare head-on, her fiery eyes blazing with anger. This woman was truly something else. And that's exactly why she was the perfect candidate to be my contracted wife. "You bastard!" she snapped, her voice dripping with frustration. "Why the hell did you push Daniel like that?" I shrugged, slipping my hands into my pockets nonchalantly. "I didn’t push him that hard. He was just being dramatic." Her lips pressed into a thin line, her face contorted in irr