“Frank, you showed up with another woman, yet you’re clinging to Nina like you’re not planning to divorce her,” he teased.“If her admirers bother you this much, maybe your feelings aren’t gone after all. Don’t play games with a woman if you still haven’t decided who matters more.”
Nina noticed Frank’s fingers curl into a fist. Oh, he hated this conversation.
Rowan noticed too—and he was thrilled by it.
“You might wanna ease up,” Frank muttered.
“On what?”Rowan smirked.“On the fact your ex-wife is free to do whatever she wants now?”
Nina sighed, pretending she was bored, and shrugged.
“All right, boys, I’m done.”
She touched Rowan’s shoulder lightly and gave Frank a perfectly indifferent look.
“Rowan, thank you for supporting the fundraiser. It means a lot to the kids. Call me when you have time.”
And before Frank could say a single word, she turned and walked away with steady, deliberate confidence.
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 broughther 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’retoo 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, youhave 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 ofVivian. 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.
