Nana waved her hand, this time dismissively. “We did say this was chess. We needed to be sure of everything before our plan went into motion. We thought for sure it was Jane, after all. But I guess that explains why her name is Poppy and the others start with a J.”
All I could do was blink at them. “And Donovan being broke?”
“He’s made some poor decisions, and his family is quite fed up with him. If he can’t figure it out, he will be cut off. He’s trying to make it all happen for himself. Marrying a billionaire in a deal that will set him up for life. The deal, of course, was too good to be true.”
Nana nodded, proud of herself. “He had no idea he was signing a prenup or that he would never see any of Poppy or Jane’s money.”
I frowned. “Why would he see Jane’s money?”
They frowned in unison. “She didn’t tell you?”
There it was, the reason for everything. “Jane was collateral. If Poppy didn’t do what they said… Jane would marry Donovan.”
My stomach dropped. It all made more sense now. I didn’t know why I hadn’t figured it out before. I tilted my head back on the pillows and stared up at the foam-tiled ceiling. I was so stupid. Of course.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Poppy
The blazer dresswasn’t complete without sky-high bright red heels to match my dark red lips and my hair straightened and slicked back. When I stared at myself in the mirror, I could recognize myself—but just barely. The old me, the innocent me, would’ve never worn this. She would’ve blushed at the neckline, tugged at the hem, worried what people thought.
Tonight, I was done caring.
Tonight, I was making a power move.
Tonight, I was going to show everyone—Donovan, Marta, his family, the entire city—that I wasn’t someone to be fucked with anymore.
I was exhausted.Hollow. One frayed breath away from unraveling completely. But I was going to make a statement, even if it took every piece of me that hadn’t already shattered.
I slipped the engagement ring back onto my finger. It was heavy and obnoxious, but it was necessary for the engagement party I was going to be marching into.
Jane hovered at the doorway, chewing her lip, eyes full of worry she tried to hide. “You look… scary.”
“Good.” I adjusted the hem of the blazer, my movements sharp and sure. “I’m supposed to.”
“Poppy,” she whispered. “I don’t like this.”
I touched her cheek gently. “I don’t like any of it either, sweetheart. But I need him to believe I’m all-in.”
Her breath shook. “Because of Ivan.”
His name hit me like a blade slipped between the ribs.
My jaw clenched. “Because of Ivan,” I echoed, though my voice nearly broke on the last word.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “What are you planning? I don’t like this one bit. He will hurt you just like he did Ivan. You can’t go marching in like this… Like you’re ready for war.”
“I don’t have a choice, I have to protectus. You.” I shook my head. “You are all that matters now. I have to make all of this count.”
I squared my shoulders and walked toward the door. Jane followed behind me silently. As we stepped into the hallway, Marta looked me over from head to toe, her cold eyes widening in something close to approval.
“Powerful,” she said simply. “Calculated. Controlled.” Her lips curved. “Mr. Madden will be pleased.”
A chill rippled through me, but I kept my expression serene. She couldn’t know how badly I hated this.
“I’d hoped so, I dressed for him.”
But it was a lie. I’d dressed for war.
