Ninety

Felix stared at Nicholas with a sharp, cynical gaze. The atmosphere in the living room grew increasingly tense, as if every breath could ignite an explosion at any moment. Felix leaned back on the sofa, folding his arms across his chest.

"I still don’t understand why Nicholas has to be here," he said flatly, though his tone dripped with sarcasm.

Nicholas gave a small smile, unfazed by Felix’s hostility. "I’m here because, unfortunately, I’ve been cast as the 'main character' in this scandal. You know how the media loves a dramatic story—they’ve painted me as the man who stole someone else’s wife." He glanced briefly at Isabella with a calm smile. "The lover everyone’s been talking about."

Felix snorted. "Oh, and you’re proud of that title, are you?"

Nicholas shrugged, the smile never leaving his face. "I just feel I have to be here because this isn’t just about you or Isabella. I’m involved, whether I like it or not."

The tension between them was palpable, and Isabella could feel the