For ten years, Thea had been the object of ridicule. Every time she went outside, her face was hidden beneath a veil. She thought she was used to it, but today, the crowd's words cut her like knives. Keeping her head down, she dared not meet their gazes. Self-hatred welled up inside her.

"This is it? I wouldn't want her even if you paid me."

"The most beautiful woman in Cansington? The media must have been blind!"

Though Thea stared at the ground, she vividly imagined the sneering faces. It was unbearable. A lump formed in her throat, and a tear fell.

Belinda was pleased with Thea's reaction. She lifted Thea's chin, gazing at the healing cuts on her face.

"Such a beautiful face," Belinda laughed. "What a pity! Haha!"

"W-what are you doing?!"

Thea panicked, jerking free and lowering her head. Then, a loud slap echoed.

Head still down, Thea felt strong arms enfold her. Looking up at James, the pent-up grievances overwhelmed her. She threw herself into his arms, sobbing.

"You… you hit me?"

Belinda pointed a finger at James, her other hand clutching her stinging cheek.

"You worthless garbage! Do you know who I am?! I'm Belinda Frasier…"

James released Thea, reaching out to grab Belinda's finger.

"Ow!" Belinda's face contorted in pain.

"Kneel and apologize," James said coldly.

The crowd grew, some pulling out their phones to record. Belinda's finger throbbed, silencing her. James tightened his grip slightly, forcing her to kneel. There was a thud as her knee hit the floor. The pain was excruciating; she wailed.

Thea grew flustered. "Jamie, she's one of the Frasiers! They're one of the Great Four! We can't afford to cross them!"

Ignoring the fallen Belinda, James turned to Thea, his cold expression softening. "Sorry."

Smack! Gladys slapped James. She hadn't intended to intervene, but James had struck a Frasier. The last time Thea had crossed the Xaviers, it nearly destroyed their family; now James had crossed the Frasiers.

"Who told you you could do that?!" Gladys snapped. "Go help Miss Frasier up and apologize!"

David and Alyssa helped Belinda, revealing blood staining her flesh-toned stockings where her knees were injured. They seated her. Her face contorted in pain, she pointed at the Callahans.

"Do… do you know who I am?! I'm Belinda Frasier! I swear, your family is done for!"

Smack! Gladys slapped James again. "Kneel and apologize!" she snapped.

Fear gripped Thea. The Xaviers' ordeal was still fresh in her mind. She never wanted to cross one of the Great Four again. She knelt.

The final sentence is grammatically correct but abruptly ends. The story needs a conclusion. The "Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh" line is irrelevant and should be removed. I've also removed unnecessary ellipses and improved word choice for clarity and flow.