Chapter 30
Nina had seen more of the adult world in her twenty years than most people ever did.§
When she was studying abroad, they actually had classes about anatomy and intimacy. Not the kind of thing you usually learned from textbooks. So when she got back home and heard–thanks to a well–placed bribe to the Newton family’s housekeeper–that Theo and his wife hadn’t even shared a bed in two years of marriage, Nina made up her mind. She was going to get involved.”
The energy in the living room changed in a flash. Theo grabbed her chin, making her look right at him. His voice was shaky. “Do you even know what you’re doing?”
Nina looked up at him, eyes shining and sincere, just a hint of mischief in her smile. “I know exactly what I’m doing. And I want this. I want you.”
…D
“Turn that off. What’s so interesting about watching something so dirty?” Patricia’s voice echoed in the villa’s quiet. She sat in her wheelchair, staring at the steamy scene playing on her tablet–a small, mocking smile tugging at her lips.”
She’d almost believed that Theo and Nina’s night together was just a drunken accident, nothing more. But seeing this, she realized how wrong she’d been.§
The Miller family always acted like they were so proper and high–class. But their daughter? Throwing herself at a man like she had no
shame at all.
On her knees, begging for his attention–Patricia couldn’t help but scoff.
She didn’t reply, just took a deep breath and shut her eyes for a second.[
“Just wait. Let them release their statement. Then we’ll leak this video and see what happens.“>
Nina wasn’t the only one who could bribe a servant–Patricia could play dirty, too. An eye for an eye.”
That same night, Theo, still basking in the afterglow, had Newton Enterprises‘ PR team issue an official clarification.
Newton Enterprises: “Our little sister, @Nina, whom we’ve watched grow up.”
The tweet didn’t allow any replies. No one could even comment, like they were shutting everyone up before the rumors could get louder.}
Patricia made sure Newton Enterprises paid for trending spots. Suddenly, every influencer and gossip account was siding with Newton, dragging anyone who’d doubted them.
:
In less than twelve hours, the whole story flipped.
Nina, feeling on top of the world, invited her girlfriends out for manicures.
The salon was high–end and private, with each client in their own room. Nina admired her new nails under the light, a satisfied smile on her face.B
“These look amazing,” Cindy said, glancing over.
“Well, I picked the color myself,” Nina replied, grinning.
Cindy, knowing full well about the scandal that had just been “cleared up,” played along. “Matches your mood today–bright and unbothered.“%
Nina’s smile didn’t fade. She glanced at Cindy, her voice upbeat. “Heard there are some new bars by the river. Want to check them out tonight?”
Cindy’s eyes flickered away from the marks on Nina’s neck. “Sure, let’s go.”
Everyone in their social circle knew exactly what was happening between Nina and Theo. But some things were better kept quiet. In their world, everyone had secrets, things you never let the public see. After all, in high society, who didn’t have a little dirt on their hands?
The official statement called her “little sister” that morning. By noon, Nina was out and about with love bites all over her neck. No one really believed Theo would have bothered with any statement unless something real had gone down.
As evening fell, Nina and Cindy slipped into a cozy bar.”
The cell signal inside was awful, so everyone just drank and played dice, barely checking their phones.
Around eight–thirty, as the crowd settled in, social media exploded again
A racy video started trending–faces half–blurred, but anyone could tell who was who
At the bar, Nina sipped her drink, but couldn’t shake the feeling that people kept glancing her way a
She leaned over to Cindy, lowering her voice. “What’s up? Why does it feel like everyone’s staring at me?”
