+15 Bonus
Chapter 4
Nathan looked at me with those soft, bedroom eyes, full of unspoken emotion. I felt like I was under some kind of spell, completely dazed, as I placed my hand in his.
Keith and John were both stunned. “Who the hell are you? You’ve got a lot of nerve talking like that. Do you even know where you are? You think you can just come here and act like this?”
Vanessa sneered. “Isn’t Willow already engaged? What is she doing holding hands with some random guy? That doesn’t look very appropriate.”
That was when John noticed Nathan and I were holding hands, our fingers tightly intertwined.
John shot me a bitter and jealous look. He mocked me for having no shame. “You’re the heiress of the Quinn family, for God’s sake. You shouldn’t be messing around with trash like that!”
Keith scoffed. “Looks like I’ve been way too soft on you since Mom and Dad died. Sneaking around behind our backs with some random guy? Seriously?”
They kept piling on, one after another, like tearing me down somehow made them feel better. Even Vanessa got her sense of superiority by putting me down, too.
If this had happened before, I probably would’ve just swallowed it all, held back the tears, and found some quiet place to cry alone.
But today, before I could even say a word, Nathan cut in. “It doesn’t matter who I am. What matters is you hurt her. Now, apologize.”
His tone was calm, but there was an undeniable authority in his voice, the kind of quiet confidence that came from someone who was used to being in control.
Keith and John had never been spoken to like that before. The contempt in Nathan’s words set them off instantly.
In a flash, a group of Quinn family bodyguards surrounded Nathan. Everyone stood by, waiting to see him panic, beg for mercy, or even wet himself in fear.
Vanessa, full of arrogance, said, “We don’t normally throw our weight around, but you should understand the difference between people like us and people like you. Maybe think twice before running your mouth next time.”
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Worried that Nathan might get hurt, especially since he was still recovering, I gritted my teeth and stepped in front of him.
Vanessa scoffed. “Seriously, Willow? You passed on the Stone family’s golden boy to hang around with someone like that? Sure, Nathan’s basically half–dead. But at least he’s filthy rich. You would be stuck playing the grieving wife your whole life, but hey, at least you would be set for life. Honestly, I’m jealous.”
“Half–dead? Did you really just use those words to describe Nathan Stone?” Nathan said with a faint smile.
“Oh wow, look at you getting all worked up. I was talking about her fiancé. Why are you so bothered? If Nathan wasn’t half- dead, do you really think my sister would be messing around with you? The way you two act all lovey–dovey is honestly disgusting,” Keith said.
Nothing had happened between me and Nathan, and we were completely innocent. Yet, Vannesa had made it sound like we had been hiding some dirty little secret.
Keith and John didn’t say a word to defend me. Instead, they nodded in agreement like they actually bought into everything she said.
Then, with a fake sweet tone, one of them added, “At least Vanessa knows her place. Compared to some people, she acts way more like the real heiress of the Quinn family.”
I lowered my gaze and let out a long sigh. Whatever hope I had left for this family was completely gone.
Chapter 4
+15 Bonus
“Can you take me with you?” I looked at Nathan.
He had already seen just how miserable things were for me in the Quin family. There was nothing left to hide. As for everything, else, we could deal with that after I got out of here.
Before Nathan could respond, Keith cut in, his tone sharp. “Willow, are you seriously trying to threaten me like this?”
“We all can’t stand women who compete for attention. As long as you promise to stop fighting Vanessa for affection, we’re willing to let you stay in the Quinn family,” John chimed in.
Their words made me laugh out of sheer disbelief. The Quinn residence was my home. And somehow, Vanessa had taken over like she belonged here. Now they were acting like letting me stay was some kind of charity.
When Mom and Dad passed, they told Keith and me over and over to look out for each other. “From now on, you’re all each other’s got now. Don’t ever turn against one another.”
Before she passed, Mom even held John’s hand and made him promise to treat me well.
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