~Strawberry and Blueberry~

She could feel and understand the tension in the room.

For the first time since she had placed her eyes on Russell, she looked away to face the threat that had her hand stretched out to her, requesting a shake.

It was easy to tell that Russell didn't want the woman an inch closer to her, but this made Nadia, unfortunately, too intoxicated by the intimacy. She wanted him to pin her down to the carpet and take her. She wanted him to let her play the victim. She wanted to have her imagination run wild one more time, but the alarm ringing in front of her was too bright of a red light to ignore.

Nadia quickly analyzed the situation and predicted that the threatening woman in front of them must be one of the reasons why Russell needed a contract wife in the first place.

And if that were true, then Nadia would have to come up with something—and fast.

"You've been visiting my office too often, Indiana. Some would mistake it for yours." Indiana let out a fake smile, her hand still waiting for Nadia's welcome. "Why are you here?" Indiana's smile disappeared as she withdrew her hand, but Nadia was fast enough to return the gesture and reciprocate her sneering smile, causing both Russell and Lorraine to gaze at her in surprise.

"You must be the noble sister my husband's always been talking about."

Lorraine almost dropped her phone when she heard what Nadia said while Russell stared silently at her in admiration, sparks in his eyes.

Indiana seemed a bit startled at what she said. "I did expect him to say something about me, but that's new."

Nadia chuckled lightly, letting her full British accent bloom after such a long time of hibernation.

She used to read stories to her twins in a British accent to make them more interested in them, until they randomly began asking her to talk to them in it before using it as an excuse to burst into laughter. Those two.

"I don't see how that's true. It's a pleasure meeting you; I'm Nadia Lane."

Indiana scanned her eyes around Nadia, but Nadia didn't spare her enough time to get her clothing details. "I'm so sorry this is not a proper introduction. I just arrived back from the UK and was so eager to come see my husband," Nadia said, laughing as she left Russell's embrace to get closer to the evil snake.

It was only then that Russell snapped out of his trance and resumed his glaring. "I already said I would introduce her at the welcome dinner party happening this weekend."

Why did that make Nadia nervous all of a sudden?

Indiana suddenly looked like she had just remembered something. "Speaking of which, wasn't she meant to arrive this Friday?"

Before Russell could speak, Nadia chipped in. "Like I mentioned earlier, I just couldn't stay away from this handsome hunk, so I..." Nadia lost her words just as she enveloped her hands around Russell's arms, silently asking him for help.

"So she wrapped up business earlier than planned. I was equally surprised to see her here today," Russell said as Nadia pecked his cheek, doing everything she could to protect her money, which was unintentionally turning Russell on.

The way she held him, her closeness, her warmth, the feeling of her lips on his face—he wanted it all. He was desperate.

"Is that so?" Nadia had never seen a faker smile. By now, Lorraine had stepped back to watch the show, still in awe at how Nadia was handling everything. Perhaps she had been wrong about not trusting Russell's choice. "That's understandable, but..."

Before Indiana could continue in her terrorizing tone, Nadia's phone alarm rang. Damn it, she was already late to pick up her kids. They'd be so mad.

"Oh, would you look at that? Packing's calling. There's so much to handle at home, and I don't want my sweetheart to return to a messy house. I shouldn't leave all the work to the maids."

'He does have maids, right?' Nadia thought. 'Right?!'

"Of course," Indiana agreed with a trace of irritation.

Russell was enjoying Nadia's attention far too much. When she turned to peck him again, he wanted to hold her down and do the job properly, but she pulled away so fast, making for the door.

Nadia prayed she hadn't overdone everything.

Russell tried to stop her from leaving, but she ran out anyway, catching her breath, as Lorraine joined her side to take her down the elevator.

"Mr. Lane wants me to escort you as he has to take care of Indiana. Hope you don't mind," Lorraine said as she pressed the button. Nadia was too fazed to answer. The only thing she hated more than tests were surprise tests. "You handled the confrontation well, Ms. Wilde," Lorraine added out of character, causing Nadia to stand straight as the elevator reached their destination. "Really? I thought I messed up pretty badly."

Lorraine only smiled as she walked ahead with Nadia, trying to remember her breathing pace.

During the ride, Nadia rethought the terrible decision she might've just made and knew now that she had stepped in drying cement.

The Lanes were not to be messed with, and now that she had made herself known to them, she'd have to prepare herself for a fierce battle.

Nadia got a text as she reached Lily and Lyle's school. It was from Lucas, her best and only friend, but she was too bothered to read it.

The doors of her house burst open as her kids ran in just as they got home. They were fighting over the sweets Lorraine had given them. They were always fighting.

"Strawberry is mine, Lily!"

"No, boys don't like pink! They like blue! I want the pink one! You take the blueberry!"

Nadia was about to stop their bickering when her phone buzzed. She thought it was another text from Lucas, but she almost collapsed when she saw what it actually was.

She couldn't believe her eyes. Her account balance had never had so many zeros in such a fucking long time.

Russell had already completed his part of the deal and sent the first part of the money to her. So many thoughts ran through her mind. She couldn't stand up.

Nadia was afraid of what she had done to get this money. Was risking her children's identity worth it? She knew she was doing this for them, but was she doing it wrong?

If the Lanes ever found out who they were, they would be dragged into their fierce and evil side of the world. She never wanted them to experience that. She had gone through it all once in her life, and it had almost destroyed her.

Russell could never know. They could never know.

She would do anything for them. Her twins were all she had.

Nadia was so close to bursting into tears, as she was feeling emotional again. So much had happened to her, and money could make everyone feel a lot of things.

As soon as Lily and Lyle saw their mother's change in actions, they stopped fighting and embraced her without saying another word.

This was not the first time something like this had happened.

Nadia laugh-cried when she realized what they were doing. She rubbed their heads, her face as red as an apple. "Oh, you two are so adorable." They giggled when she spoke in her British accent again. "Should we run away, kids? Mommy has a lot of money now."

Nadia was really contemplating it. She would happily take off with the money to avoid the problems, but that was an idea she could only imagine.

Doing that was like throwing her kids into fire if they ever got caught.

"Will we have more candy if we run?!" Lily asked excitedly.

"That's bribing, Lily!"

The doorbell rang, forcing Nadia to clean up her tears. "Go change your clothes, kids. I'll be there in a minute."

The two scuttled away, still arguing, as Nadia opened the door for the serial ringer.

Her eyes brightened when she saw who was behind it. She couldn't say she was surprised because he was a regular at her home, but for some reason she was expecting either Lorraine or Russell to show up.

It was Lucas.

Lucas Stone.