Another heavy pause. My stomach drops. It’s clear that Sarah Morelli won’t step in to save us from whatever wrath this woman holds against the Constantines. Maybe my mother-in-law wants me to face Victoria Lowell’s insults. She must feel like her tongue is tied since Leo insists she acts decent to me. Perhaps this is her revenge.

“Nice to see you again, dear,” Victoria murmurs to Daphne. Then she turns back to Sarah without acknowledging me. Or Cash. “You are beautiful as ever, Sarah. As is your home, but you might want to call a plumber. There’s a terrible smell in this ballroom.”

Daphne gasps. Cold washes over my body, as harsh as a bucket of ice water dumped on my head. This isn’t a small slight or a minor insult. This is a direct assault in the warfare of society. I never fit in at the Constantine parties. We were too poor, too weird, too bookish. I’m used to snide comments and innuendos, but this is on another level.

My body flushes first cold and then hot. I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole. Cash shifts uncomfortably beside me. He always defended me at Constantine parties, but here, surrounded by Morellis?

“That was rude,” Daphne says, more of a whisper than words.

She’s trying to stand up for me, and it breaks my heart. She shouldn’t have to do that. If Leo knew what happened he’d probably rampage around the gala like the beast they think he is. He can protect me from fists and bullets, but not from this.

Sarah watches me steadily.

This has become a test. To see whether I can survive in the deep waters of the Morelli empire.

The weight of the ring on my left hand reminds me that I do belong here. I glance down at the black diamond flashing there. I am one of them now, or I will be in a matter of weeks. Leo chose me. He’s going to marry me, and that will make me a Morelli whether this woman likes it or not.

I lift my chin, determined to establish my place. “I noticed the smell, too, but I wasn’t going to say anything. It only started when Victoria arrived.”

The older woman gasps. Her mouth drops open. No words come out.

Leo glides his hand along the small of my back, the heat of him announcing his presence. “Is there a problem? Mother?”

She gives him a cool smile. “Victoria and I were just leaving. Enjoy the gala.”

“What happened?” His dark eyes are on me now.

I laugh, and he arches an eyebrow like I’m deranged. I laugh louder. Someone in the crowd looks over at me, concerned. Well, maybe I am slightly deranged.