Chapter 302
1
Hector snapped out of his groggy haze, suddenly wide awake.
He switched on the bedside lamp, rubbed his face, and sat up. The heavy curtains kept out any hint
of daylight.
“You’re not kidding, right?” he asked.
Mr. Padilla’s voice was calm, not even looking up as he finished wrapping a bandage around his hand. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”
Hector frowned, still half lost. “I thought you said you wouldn’t get involved in your wife’s revenge plans?”
“Did I?” Oliver shot back, his tone smooth.
In the dimly lit study, surrounded by shadows, Oliver looked every bit like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The realization hit Hector and he let out a quiet curse. “So it was me who did it, wasn’t it?”
Oliver just shrugged. “Glad you figured it out.”
He gave the bandage a sharp tug, tearing the end, then tied a knot with practiced ease.
“Unbelievable. You want it done but don’t want to get your hands dirty, so you let me take the fall. If your wife finds out and comes after me, are you really going to have my back?”
“Of course,” Oliver replied, not missing a beat.
“That’s all I need to hear.” Hector threw off the covers and got out of bed.
He had no idea how ruthlessly Oliver would throw him under the bus in the years to come.
Reassured?
Not even close.
Oliver finished up and headed back to the bedroom. He slipped under the covers and pulled Patricia into his arms, holding her close as she slept.
“What time is it?” Nina’s voice was scratchy as she blinked awake to the sound of her alarm in the apartment.
She hugged her blanket, watching the man at the end of the bed button up his shirt.
Theo glanced at his phone, barely slowing as he dressed. “Seven. Still early. Go back to sleep if you
want.”
Nina stayed in bed, watching him fasten his shirt, the blanket pulled up to her chin.
“My parents want to know if you’ll come to dinner for New Year’s,” she said.
Theo looked over, eyebrow raised. “Something up?”
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18:49
Chapter 302
“They want us to make it official.”
Theo looked at her, clearly caught off guard. “You know I’m not ready for that.”
“Not ready for commitment in general, or just not with me?” Nina sat up, leaning against the headboard, determined to have the conversation.
She looked like she wasn’t going to let it go.
“Nina, do we really have to fight about this?” Theo sighed.
“Who’s fighting?” Nina shot back, her jaw set.
As usual, Theo didn’t bother answering. He grabbed his keys, opened the door, and left.
He drove to work in his BMW. Once he was in the office, he called Aiden in. “Go pick up something
nice for Nina.”
Aiden got the picture right away.
Ms. Miller was mad again.
His boss had a routine for situations like this–buy her something shiny.
Honestly, Ms. Miller was a bit of a mystery. Years together and she still wasn’t official. Then again, maybe she wasn’t so pitiful. Patricia never got this kind of treatment. If you pissed off Patricia, you were lucky to walk away in one piece, forget about getting an apology.
Aiden ordered a set of jewelry and sent it to Nina’s place.
At first, Nina had been thrilled with gifts like these. But as time went on, it started to feel empty. Just another way to brush things under the rug.
She stormed home, jewelry bag in hand, still fuming.
Zoey was off work that day. Watching Nina march in early, cheeks flushed with anger, she looked surprised.
“What happened? Fight already, and it’s not even ten?”
Nina just grumbled, then shoved the jewelry bag at Zoey. “Here. See if you know anyone who actually wants this stuff.”
