32. Nina
Nina
I step back from the dress form holding Elodie’s post-elopement dress and suck in a breath. It’s fucking gorgeous.
The dress billows out on the form in a dramatic bouffant style while the top is structured and shimmery due to the sheer gossamer fabric I used.
Intricate, hand-sewn floral appliqués adorn the bust, providing her coverage, while the plastic boning and gossamer curve the top into perfect lines.
The sleeves, soft and puffed, are made entirely of the same gossamer fabric, ethereal and fully sheer, yet breathtaking in their elegance.
The skirt will sway every time she walks and the scattered embroidered flowers atop the outermost layer appear to float on it, giving off an air of effortless romance.
I snap a photo and send it to the group chat.
Stella: Holy shit! That’s it. You’re making my wedding dress if I ever get married.
Aria: Same, and in the meantime, can you be my personal designer? Because that’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.
Elodie: brB, crying my eyes out right now.
Me: I’m glad you love it.
Elodie: Love doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about it. I’m honored to wear this amazing dress on such a special day.
Relief pours into my heart and soul at Elodie’s happiness over the dress. Every stitch within this thing is a testament to our friendship, and to have a small piece of my love sewn into her special day is a gift beyond measure.
My phone rings, and it’s Nate.
“Hey,” I say. “What’s up?”
“I have a man and woman here to see you. They aren’t on the approved list, but their names are Ben and Victoria Mercer.”
My heart stumbles over itself at hearing those names.
“Are you sure they’re here to see me?” I ask, shocked to my core. What could they possibly want with me?
“Oh, I’m sure. Mrs. Mercer has made that clear.”
“Okay? I guess you can let them in. ”
I numbly walk down the stairs and into the living room, trying to wipe my paint-speckled hands on my overalls. Meeting them while sweaty and in stained clothes isn’t at all how I wanted this to go. Shit, I wish Evren were here with me.
Victoria breezes into the living room like she owns the place. Her hair, a cascade of rich, glossy brown curls frames her face in soft waves. Her perfectly tailored pantsuit is a masterpiece of design without a single visible label, exuding an air of luxury that only comes from experience.
Ben follows behind her, and I can’t help but compare how we look. We have the same eyes, lips, and coloring, but he has his mother’s face shape.
“You look so much like him,” Victoria says, taking a seat on the couch as if it’s the natural thing to do.
I slowly sit down in the chair across from her while Ben sits next to her.
“How long have you known about me?” I ask.
“Only a couple days,” she says.
“I told her the second I found out,” Ben says.
“And why are you two here?” I ask, uncomfortable with this entire meeting because I don’t know what to expect from it. Is she here to blame me for her husband cheating on her, like Mom has done my whole life? Or maybe she’s going to threaten me to stay silent like Miguel did to Mom? Or maybe?—
“I’m here to apologize,” Victoria says.
I snap my gaze to hers in shock. “For what? ”
“For the things my husband did—things I didn’t know about until it was too late.
” Victoria’s voice wavers and she takes a deep breath.
“I didn’t marry him for love. It was…an escape from my own family, a way to carve out a life that was mine.
I built my success on my own, and for that, I’m grateful.
But Miguel? He’s always resented how far I went.
Even as he reaped the benefits, he couldn’t stand that my achievements overshadowed his. ”
She pauses, her gaze flickering as if sorting through painful memories.
“I knew infidelity was inevitable, so I made him swear he’d be truthful about it.
I thought that, at the very least, it would force him to maintain some shred of integrity.
But I never imagined he’d hide his own child from me and leave you to suffer.
I always knew I married a stupid man, but I never imagined he’d also be cruel. ”
My pulse pounds in my ears, drowning out everything but the rush of thoughts crashing through my mind, one colliding into the next, desperate for clarity. She never knew about me? She didn’t try to keep Miguel away; instead, he did it all on his own?
Her kindness and grace are completely disarming. I don’t understand the kind of life where she can accept infidelity but draw the line at hiding a child. It doesn’t make sense to me, but it’s not my place to judge.
My own mother has never offered me this kind of compassion, and yet the one person who should despise me, who has every right to, is standing firmly on my side.
Victoria’s compassion is like nothing I’ve ever known.
It’s startling, almost foreign, compared to the manipulation and blame I grew up with.
My own mother isn’t capable of being kind without an agenda.
She uses guilt as a weapon and wields it ruthlessly.
For so long, I thought that was normal—that a mom’s love came with conditions, strings attached.
But I’m starting to see that wasn’t love at all.
“I…” I say oh so eloquently. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I’m here to right a wrong that was done to you.” She glances at her watch. “As of ten minutes ago, Miguel’s been served with divorce papers, and he’s fired from all of my companies.”
Oh, okay, wow. Looks like Victoria’s a badass who knows exactly how to hurt Miguel the most if her smile is anything to go by.
“That’s not necessary,” I blurt out, even though part of me knows it is necessary.
Miguel deserves every bit of the fallout, and I relish the thought of him suffering the way I have for all these years.
But Victoria’s here, acknowledging the hurt I’ve carried for so long, showing me more respect than I’ve been given by either of my parents.
She’s choosing me over him, and somehow, I feel like I owe her this small politeness.
“You and I both know that’s not true,” Victoria says. “I want to fully fund the release of your own line, unrelated to an NFL team. You’re massively talented, and it’d be my honor to support this.” At my stunned expression, she smiles. “It’s true. ”
Ben, who’s been so quiet I forgot he was even here, says, “I’d also like to express my apologies.
I had no idea Dad knew who you were and was trying to drive you out of the deal with the Sentinels.
If I’d known, I would’ve put a stop to it sooner.
I’m a huge fan of your designs and what you’re doing with Evren’s team is impressive and a great way to shake up the NFL. ”
“Thanks?”
“I’m going to offer Evren my unlimited sponsorship, but with the condition that you’re kept on the project.”
“Whoa,” I say. “This is all too much.” They’re offering everything I’ve always wanted and a way to save Evren’s team. It feels too easy in a lot of ways, and I can’t help but wait for the catch, a condition that will make this swing in their favor.
“I know it feels that way now,” Victoria says, “but it’s really not enough at all.
Please, let me do this for you—not for Miguel, but for you.
I can’t undo what he did, but I can try to make amends for the pain he caused.
” She pauses, her eyes fill with a mixture of sorrow and determination.
“I feel responsible for your suffering. As a mother… I could never imagine abandoning a child, especially one that was my own.”
She folds her hands in her lap, fingers twisting together as if trying to steady herself.
“Miguel confessed that he kept you a secret because he thought I’d leave him if I knew.
But what he never understood—what he could never see—was that integrity and fairness are everything to me.
His actions were the opposite of everything I stand for.
I’m ashamed of what he did, and I can’t change the past. But Icantry to help now, if you’ll let me. ”
I’m baffled by how she seems to understand the depths of my suffering, especially since we just met. But the knowing look in her eyes and the sincerity etched on her face speak volumes. It’s as if she can see right through me, recognizing the pain I’ve carried without needing to ask.
No matter how many times I turn around their offer in my head, I can’t find the catch.
If Evren were here, he’d demand even more than what they’re offering and negotiate the best deal for me.
But I don’t care about more. Instead, I wonder if by accepting their offer, I might begin to heal this Miguel-sized hole inside me.
That I can finally let go of this resentment I’ve carried around for too long.
For the first time, I don’t feel like a charity case.
Instead, this feels more like a partnership, a genuine investment in my talent.
There’s a sense of possibility here and it makes me believe that maybe, just maybe, I can reclaim my worth unrelated to the fears Mom instilled in me.
“Okay,” I say. “This is all a little shocking, and I wasn’t expecting you to offer anything, let alone for you to be here right now.”
“I know,” Victoria says. “And I’m sorry for barging in on you unannounced. I just couldn’t let this go for another second without talking with you.”
“I understand and I appreciate you coming here and your offer.” I take a large breath and say, “And I accept it.”
Victoria’s smile radiates warmth and relief as she says, “You won’t regret this. I promise.” She rises gracefully and says, “I won’t keep you any longer, but if you’re open to it, I’d love to have dinner with you sometime. It would be wonderful to get to know you better.”
“But…why?” I ask, bewildered by her intentions. It’s one thing to atone for her husband’s actions, but it’s a whole other thing to want to get to know me.
“After Ben…” She pauses and gives him a soft look. “I couldn’t have any more children. I know I’m not your biological mom, but I don’t know…” She shrugs, like it explains it all. “I just have this feeling that we’d get along well.”
“Okay?” I say, not sure if I’m agreeing or just acknowledging that I heard her.
Her smile widens and she gives me a quick hug before leaving just as fast as she arrived.
Ben stops next to me and says, “I never expected to have a sister.”
“You’re telling me.”
“I…” He hesitates, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. “If you’re interested, I’d like to get to know you.”
“I’d be open to it as long as you’re nothing like Miguel.”
“I’m not.” Ben grimaces. “But that’s for you to decide.”
“Fair enough. ”
“I’ll let you know when I’m in town again.”
I nod and he awkwardly leaves after that. Collapsing onto the couch, I stare at the ceiling in stunned disbelief, questioning if what just happened really happened. I’m still staring at the ceiling when Evren comes home.
“Nate called,” he says. “I came as soon as I could. Was it okay? Did they hurt you?”
“All good.” I explain everything that just happened.
“That’s a very generous offer from them,” he says.
“But?”
“No buts, it’s generous. Did you take it?”
“Yeah, and maybe that was stupid of me to do, and maybe they’re out to hurt me, but it felt right.”
“Well, if they do try to fuck you over, they’ll have to go through me first.”
“Knowing that,” I say, “helped give me the confidence to accept. But I also wanted to make sure you’d get your sponsorship money.”
“You didn’t have to do that for me. I would’ve found a way.”
“I know, and it wasn’t the only reason why I agreed, but it was part of it. I love you, and that means I’ll always have your back and have your best interests in mind.”
“Forever and always, pariltim .” He kisses me softly and repeats, “Forever and always.”