Chapter 5: Public Humiliation
The car ride back was silent.
Too silent.
Lorenzo kept glancing at the rearview mirror, clearly sensing the tension.
"Uh… are we going to talk about the fact that we just left and now we're going back?" he asked carefully.
"No," Isabella said flatly.
Romeo leaned slightly forward. "Just drive."
Lorenzo raised his hands. "Alright, alright… not my business."
But even he could tell—
Something big was about to happen.
---
When they arrived, the party was still in full swing.
Music blasting.
People laughing.
Like nothing had changed.
Isabella stepped out of the car, her face calm, almost… too calm.
Romeo noticed immediately.
"Don't do anything stupid," he said quietly.
She smiled sweetly.
"Oh, I won't."
That smile?
Yeah… it was definitely dangerous.
---
The moment she walked in, all eyes turned to her again.
Queen bee energy.
Perfect posture.
Perfect face.
Like nothing was wrong.
"Isabella!" someone called.
She waved lightly, acting normal.
Acting fake.
Romeo stayed right behind her, watching everything carefully.
---
Then she saw them.
Daniel.
And Chloe.
Standing close.
Laughing.
Like they didn't have a care in the world.
For a split second, Isabella's expression almost cracked.
But then—
She smiled wider.
"Showtime," she whispered.
---
She walked straight toward them.
"Babe!" Daniel said, pulling her into a hug. "You came back."
Isabella hugged him back tightly.
Too tightly.
"I missed you," she said sweetly.
Romeo watched, slightly confused.
What is she doing…?
Then she pulled away and turned to Chloe.
"Bestie!" she said excitedly, hugging her too.
Chloe laughed nervously. "I thought you left—"
"I did," Isabella said. "But I forgot something."
Daniel frowned. "What?"
Isabella slowly pulled out her phone.
Her smile didn't drop.
"This."
---
She pressed play.
The video.
Right there.
In front of them.
---
At first, Daniel didn't react.
Then his face went pale.
Chloe froze completely.
"Oh my God…" someone nearby whispered.
The music didn't stop.
But the energy?
Shifted instantly.
People started turning.
Watching.
Whispering.
---
"Isabella…" Daniel started. "I can explain—"
"Explain what?" she asked, still smiling. "How you accidentally fell on top of my best friend?"
A few people laughed.
Chloe stepped forward. "It's not what it looks like—"
"Really?" Isabella tilted her head. "Because it looks like betrayal."
Her voice wasn't loud.
But it carried.
Everyone was listening now.
---
Daniel reached for her arm. "Let's talk somewhere private—"
She slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me."
The sweetness in her voice was gone now.
Replaced by something cold.
Sharp.
Deadly.
---
"You think I wouldn't find out?" she continued. "You think I'm stupid?"
"No—" Daniel shook his head. "It just happened—"
"Oh please," she scoffed. "Cheating doesn't just happen."
Chloe tried to speak again. "Bella, I—"
"Don't call me that," Isabella snapped.
The room went completely quiet.
---
For a second, it looked like she might break.
Like she might cry.
But instead—
She laughed.
A soft, scary laugh.
"You know what?" she said. "Thank you."
Daniel blinked. "What?"
"For showing me exactly who you are."
She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto his.
"You're nothing."
---
The tension snapped.
Daniel's expression hardened. "You're overreacting."
That was the wrong thing to say.
Very wrong.
---
Before he could react—
Isabella grabbed a drink from a nearby table and threw it straight at him.
The liquid splashed across his face.
Gasps filled the room.
---
"Now I'm overreacting," she said calmly.
Chloe stepped back. "You're crazy—"
Isabella turned to her slowly.
"Crazy?" she repeated. "No."
She smiled.
"I'm just getting started."
---
Romeo stepped forward slightly.
"Okay, that's enough," he said quietly.
Isabella didn't look at him. "Stay out of it."
"It's already out of control."
"Good."
---
Daniel wiped his face angrily. "You're embarrassing yourself."
Isabella's expression went blank.
Then—
She slapped him.
Hard.
---
The entire room froze.
No music.
No talking.
Nothing.
---
"Don't ever," she said quietly, "disrespect me again."
---
She turned and walked away like nothing happened.
Like she didn't just destroy two people publicly.
Like she was still in control.
---
Romeo followed her out.
Once they were outside, he grabbed her arm gently.
"Hey."
She stopped.
But didn't turn.
---
"You okay?" he asked.
Silence.
Then—
"…I hate them," she said softly.
Her voice wasn't angry this time.
Just… hurt.
---
Romeo didn't know what to say.
So he didn't say anything.
He just stood there.
With her.
---
And for the first time…
Isabella Ferrari didn't look like a queen.
She looked broken