CHAPTER 28
Nina stood before the mirror adjusting a loose strand of hair when a long, venom-laced voice sounded behind her:
“Did you see? Frank brought her here.”
Nina met the gaze of Marissa, one of those women who lived for society scandals. She stood beside Lauren and Anna, all three watching Nina eagerly, hungry for her reaction.
Nina smirked.
“Of course I saw. Everyone did.”
“And how does it feel?” Marissa tilted her head, trying to read Nina’s expression. “Don’t you want to destroy that little tramp?”
Nina shrugged.
“Nothing special. She was in my husband’s bed long before the divorce. Now they just made their circus official.”
“You’re too calm, Nina,” Lauren narrowed her eyes. “You’re not angry at all?”
Nina glanced at her reflection and smiled.
“Why should I be? She’s not from our circle anyway. If Vivian thinks she can climb her way into society on my family’s money and influence, she’s very mistaken.”
Anna let out a small giggle.
“Oh, absolutely. No matter how many designer dresses she puts on, no matter how much money Frank spends on her—she’ll always be a nobody trying to look expensive.”
“The funniest part? She once tried to befriend me,” Nina said suddenly, and all three women perked up.
A dirty trick, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
“Oh, you have to tell us,” Marissa urged, stepping closer. Women loved gossip—these three were no exception.
Nina pretended to search her memory, but then noticed movement in the mirror’s reflection. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Vivian. She was standing behind a column, perfectly still, barely breathing. She’d probably already been in the restroom before the others came in.
No one but Nina noticed her.
Nina froze for a beat, then looked away and pulled herself together.
“Imagine,” Nina said lightly, “she asked which boutiques I shop at, where I get my nails done, which aesthetician I see. I guess she wanted to look like me so Frank would pay more attention to her. The baby didn't work, so she tried a new tactic.”
“That's rich,” Lauren laughed.
“That is so low,” Marissa covered her mouth.
Nina leaned closer to the mirror, as if fixing her lipstick.
“What did you expect?” Marissa touched Nina’s elbow. “She really is… well, you know.”
Nina understood exactly what she meant and nodded.
“Of course. Her background says it all.”
A wave of quiet laughter followed.
“So be careful, girls,” Nina added casually. “If she ever shows up near your husbands, take charge immediately. I doubt she’ll stop with my Frank.”
Just then, Nina saw Vivian spin around and rush out. She was trembling all over. Humiliated.
“Cinderellas these days just aren’t the same,” Marissa declared solemnly. “After this, I’m afraid to let my husband go anywhere alone. I trust him, but these little climbers will do anything to hook a rich man. Married or not.”
The women nodded, unified in their disdain—as if Vivian truly posed a threat to all their marriages.
“All right, ladies, I should go.”
Nina picked up her clutch and headed toward the exit, feeling their eyes glued to her back. She knew they'd start new rumors the second she left.
Vivian was already gone. Nina didn’t need to see her to know—she was crushed and furious. Exactly what she wanted.
Nina paused, watching as Vivian and Frank practically rushed out of the hall. Vivian was stiff, curled into herself, and Nina felt an unsettling surge of satisfaction.
“You’re harsher than I thought,” a voice murmured behind her—low, rough. “You almost made your rival weep.”
She didn’t turn. She didn’t need to. Her body recognized him instantly. Jasper. She felt his gaze, his breath, his presence wash over her.
“Life has scraped away the last of my softness,” she said evenly. The words felt sharp on her tongue.
She stood still, knowing his gaze was fixed on her back. She didn’t look at him. Didn’t want to.
The tension between them thickened, settling around her like fog.
He walked past at last.
Suddenly his shoulder brushed hers. Lightly. Barely there. Accidental or intentional—she couldn’t tell.
But the touch sent a tremor through her. Her insides tightened as if struck. Her skin remembered.
She shrank in on herself, as if trying to disappear. Her breaths were shallow, slow.
"Get it together, Nina. There are people everywhere. He won’t do anything."
His back was right in front of her. And she remembered something important. Something that had been gnawing at her for days.
Her fear evaporated, replaced by a sudden, inexplicable boldness.
“Wait,” she said quietly.
He heard. He stopped abruptly.
Nina took two steps forward until she was beside him. She spoke low, just for him:
“Who were those people who tried to kidnap Lynn?”
She hadn’t had the chance to ask him. Last time had been chaos. And she didn’t even know why it mattered so much. She herself was in danger—why care about a girl she’d abandoned and left to fate? A bit cynical to worry now, wasn’t it?
Jasper tensed. Slowly turned his head toward her. She saw his face again. This time he didn’t look threatening or cold like the night he’d shown up out of nowhere.
He looked tired. Like he hadn’t slept at all.
“I already handled it. You don’t need to get involved with our family. Isn’t that what we agreed on?” His voice was hard. Sobering.
Our family—that meant himself and Lynn. Nina was not included. And he had every right to shut her out.
“Good luck with the divorce. And goodbye.”
He strode toward the exit, leaving her standing there.
Nina blinked rapidly. Something dark stirred inside her. She didn’t know what compelled her—but she suddenly followed him.
Stella tried to ask her something as she passed, but Nina waved her off, didn’t stop, pushed through the doors and stepped outside.
At that moment Jasper Garth was getting into his car.
Her heels struck sharply against the pavement. The car door closed—any second now the driver would pull away.
Nina must’ve gone insane, because instead of running in the opposite direction, she opened the back door and slipped inside. Right into the wolf’s den.