Chapter 95

NADIA'S POV.

Mr Kenneth was glowing with pride, speaking animatedly about Richard and his upcoming marriage to Tammie.

Richard. That name echoed in my mind like a bitter curse.

What’s so special about Tammie? I wondered, bitterness rising like bile in my throat. Why her?

I glanced at Tammie, sitting gracefully almost next to Richard. Her smile was delicate, her posture perfect, and her presence exuded a quiet confidence that seemed to captivate everyone in the room.

Was it her innocence? Her beauty? Or was it the fact that she was the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the city?

My hands curled into fists in my lap as I struggled to keep my composure. She’s not better than me. She can’t be.

Kenneth’s voice rose, pulling me back to the present.

“Richard has been such a blessing to our family,” he said, his voice dripping with pride.

“He’s brought so many thoughtful gifts for the wedding. I couldn’t ask for a better son-in-law.”

The words felt like daggers to my heart. Better son-in-law? My jaw tightened as I fought the urge to glare at Richard.

I leaned back slightly, pretending to adjust my posture, but my mind was racing. Why hasn’t Alisha told me about this? She was supposed to be my eyes and ears, yet this was the first I was hearing about Richard and Tammie’s wedding.

What is she playing at?

The anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. I had given Alisha specific instructions, yet here I was, blindsided.

I glanced at her, seated quietly next to Richard, her expression unreadable. She was good at that…hiding her emotions, keeping secrets. But why keep this from me?

And then there was Richard. I could feel the heat of jealousy coursing through my veins as I stared at him. He sat there, calm and composed, like none of this affected him. Like I didn’t exist.

How could he leave me for her? After everything we’ve been through, how could he just… move on?

The memory of his touch, his voice, his promises…it all came flooding back, fueling my rage. Tammie could never love him the way I did.

She didn’t know him like I did. And yet, here she was, about to marry him, about to take everything that should have been mine.

I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to breathe. Losing control here would only make things worse. I needed to stay calm, to think.

Kenneth continued to talk, his voice a constant hum in the background as my thoughts spiraled.

I barely noticed the others…Mrs Daniella, Mr Jacob Mr Kenneth, Max, even Jacob. My focus was entirely on Richard and Tammie, and the injustice of it all.

What is Richard thinking? Does he even care about me anymore?

The questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and maddening. And then, suddenly, a sound pulled me back to the room.

“Ahem.”

Mr. Jacob cleared his throat, a deliberate and commanding noise that drew everyone’s attention. My eyes snapped to him, and I noticed the subtle shift in his demeanor.

He was about to say something, and I didn’t like the look on his face.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the maid approaching with a tray. On it were three apples, freshly washed and shining under the room’s warm lights.

My heart skipped a beat.

I glanced at Max, who sat calmly, his face unreadable. But I knew him too well. Beneath that composed exterior, his mind was working, calculating.

And then, as if by instinct, my gaze locked onto Jacob’s. His expression was hard to read, but there was something there…a spark of knowledge, a hint of suspicion.

He knows something.

Panic flared in my chest as my eyes darted back to Max. He met my gaze briefly, his look firm, commanding me to stay quiet. But the fear was already there, bubbling beneath the surface.

What if Jacob exposed us? What if he had overheard something earlier? My thoughts raced, each one more terrifying than the last.

I tried to steady my breathing, to keep my face neutral, but I could feel the weight of Jacob’s gaze on me. He was watching, waiting.

And then, as the maid placed the tray of apples on the coffee table, Jacob shifted in his seat, his throat clearing again.

My heart kept beating in my chest as I braced myself, my eyes flickering to Max once more. His expression remained stoic, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.

Whatever was about to happen, I knew it wouldn’t end well.

MAX POV.

Sitting in the opulent Johnson family sitting room, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

Everything in this room…the grandeur, the wealth, the people…was a reminder of how close I was to either succeeding or failing in my plan. The stakes were high, and time was running out.

My gaze swept over the room, taking in every detail. Kenneth Johnson, my so-called boss, was glowing with pride as he spoke to his stepbrother, Jacob.

The man had no idea what was brewing right under his nose. His pride in Richard, the golden son-in-law-to-be, was fucking annoying.

Richard.

My jaw tightened as I thought about him. He was the perfect distraction…Kenneth’s attention was so focused on Richard that he barely noticed the cracks forming around him.

But I knew better. I knew that once Kenneth handed over his company to Richard, my access to the empire would be severely limited. That couldn’t happen.

I need to act fast.

As my thoughts churned, my eyes turned to Nadia. She was seated across from me, her posture stiff, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. But it was her eyes that gave her away.

She was staring at Tammie with a look so intense, so filled with jealousy, that it was almost tangible.

She wants Richard, I realized, my lips curling into a small, knowing smirk.