I was still catching my breath, still reeling from the force of her shove, when the murmurs spread like wildfire.
“Intimate? Wait… does that mean Nadine just slept with Raphael?”
“No wonder she was missing all night.”
“But isn’t that a bit much? Flaunting it in front of Colette? Poor girl.”
“Colette and Raphael are basically destined for each other. Their families have known each other forever.”
“Did Nadine do it on purpose? To challenge Colette?”
“I mean, I’ve had fun with my boyfriend, but I wouldn’t go around announcing it to the world.”
“Maybe Parisians think differently.”
At that moment, the cold sensation of wine also clinging to my skin sent a sharp shiver through me.
The deep red liquid seeped into my white blouse, darkening the fabric and making it translucent, exposing the lace outline of my black bra beneath.
Gasps and hushed whispers rippled through the crowd as people drew closer, their amusement turning into fascination, their mockery shifting into something more sinister.
"What a scene," someone murmured.
"Does she have no shame?"
"I bet she did it on purpose to seduce Raphael."
I gritted my teeth, the humiliation clawing at me like a beast, but I refused to let it consume me.
I slowly tried to push myself up, ignoring the way my legs trembled, the sharp ache in my back from the impact against the wall.
And then, a sharp, ugly expression flickered across Colette’s face.
For someone who had just staged a spectacle, she did not seem pleased by how it had turned out.
Still, she played her part flawlessly. Large, crocodile tears welled in her eyes as she let her voice break in feigned betrayal.
"Nadine, you know my feelings for Raphael, but why...?"
She sniffled, her delicate hands clenching over her chest as though she were the true victim in this scene.
The murmurs grew louder.
"Poor Colette… how could Nadine do this to her?"
"She was already humiliated, and yet she still flaunts that she had Raphael?"
"Disgusting. So shameless."
Just as I forced myself onto my feet, ready to end this ridiculous performance, a voice cut through the noise like a whip.
“What the hell are you all looking at? Focus on your own damn business!”
The authority in his tone silenced the crowd instantly.
I turned my head just in time to see Raphael, his sharp jaw clenched in fury, his piercing gaze sweeping over the gathered audience like a predator assessing its prey.