His steps were swift and controlled. Without hesitation, he reached for me, his hands firm yet gentle as he gripped my arms.
“Let me help you.”
Before I could protest, he had already pulled me up, his touch grounding me against the spinning dizziness of my emotions.
Then, in a move that stunned everyone, Raphael peeled off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, shielding my soaked blouse from prying eyes.
The warmth of his body still clung to the fabric, a stark contrast to the icy humiliation I had just endured.
For a brief second, I looked past him—at Colette.
She was not jealous.
No, her expression was something far worse. Satisfaction.
She stepped closer, her voice laced with innocent regret. "Raph, sorry... I only wanted to hold Nadine’s hand and talk to her, but she rejected me, and the wine—accidentally spilled."
Raphael turned to her, his expression darkening like a brewing storm.
"Then can you explain why she fell?" His voice was lethal.
Colette’s lips parted, but nothing came out.
For the first time, she looked small and weak, like a child caught in a lie.
But before she could scramble for another excuse, someone spoke up—one of her loyal supporters, stepping in to defend her.
"From what I heard, Nadine was the one who started it. She boasted about her night with you to Colette. She was shocked, that’s all."
"Yeah, I would have been shocked too."
"She’s so shameless."
The word stung like a slap, whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear.
I felt Raphael’s grip on me tighten.
Then, his voice, sharp and cold, echoed through the room.
“Who just said that?”
Silence.
“Who dares to call Nadine shameless? Come forward if you have the guts.”
No one moved.
Not a single person met his gaze.
The weight of his fury pressed down on the entire room like a force of nature, making even Colette’s once-adoring followers shrink into the background.
Raphael scoffed, pulling me closer, his arm wrapping protectively around my waist like I was something precious.
“Whatever it is, it’s up to Nadine. I don’t mind either. Why are you all making such a fuss?”
Colette’s lips trembled, but she did not dare speak. She did the only thing she could—crying.
Her silent tears only fueled the sympathy of her supporters, who rushed to console her.
Raphael ignored them entirely. His attention was solely on me, his voice softer, almost coaxing.
“Come to my room. Let’s get you changed.”