Chapter 80
RAINA
I didn’t even bother forcing a smile. My patience was far too thin, and my mood too sour to entertain any pretense of chility, “Hi, and bye,” I said curtly, hoping to escape without further interaction
But of course, she grabbed my arm.
“Raina, wait,” Alex’s mother said, her tone usually sweet, dripping with a sugary kindness I’d never heard from her before. If I didn’t know better, I might’ve believed she was trying to be genuinely pleasant. But I knew better.
noed.”
Her grip on my arm tightened as she continued, her voice smooth and calculated. “You know, since you’re still married to Alex, wouldn’t it make sense to move back in with us? Or…” She tilted her head slightly, like she was about to offer me the most brilliant solution to all my problems. “Since you’re a Graham, you could always buy us a bigger property to live in. Somewhere more spacious, more elegant–something fitting for a family of our stats. Or, if you really hate living with us that much, Alex could always get you a separate place. Somewhere private, where you could have all the space you
My body tensed as anger bubbled under my skin. I yanked my arm away, glaring at her with a look sharp enough to cut steel. “You think I’d entertain that nonsense?” I spat, my voice cold and biting. “Alex has already been summoned to court. We’re getting a divorce. It’s had enough I have to be tied to your family because of the kids. Never again will I be connected to you in any other way.”
Η
Vanessa, who had been standing nearby with her usual air of smug superiority, let out a scott. “Doesn’t matter,” she said, her tone laced with disdain. ” You’ll always be beneath us. A low class, no matter what name you carry. But for the sake of the lids, maybe you should let bygones be bygones.”
Her words hit me like a slap, sharp and infuriating. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as 1 turned on my heel, desperate to walk away before I did something I’d regret. My breathing was shallow as I stoned out of the boutique, my pulse pounding in my ears.
By the time I reached my car, my hands were trembling with rage. I climbed in and slammed the door shut behind me, gripping the steering wheel tightly as I tried to steady myself. I couldn’t start the car–not yet. Not like this.
Instead, I sat there, baking deep, massured breaths, willing the tension to leave my body. “Focus, Raina,” I muttered to myself. “Don’t let them get to you
After a few minutes, the anger began to dissipate, replaced by exhaustion and a hollow ache in my chest. I needed to regroup.
- p. To find i
my balance again.
Eventually, I drove to another mail far away from the one I’d just escaped. Once I parked, I sat in my car for a while longer, letting the tension ease out of me before heading inside.
I stood in the dressing room, smoothing out the fabric of the wine–red gown I was considering. It clung to my figure perfectly, and for a moment, I was lost in admiracion. Then my phone buzzed on the small bench beside me, Nathan’s name lighting up the screen.
Smirking, I swiped to answer. “Why are you calling me?” I asked, my tone mock–annoyed as I turned slightly, admiring the way the gown shimmered under the fluorescent lights.
“First, because I miss you,” he said, his voice warm, playful, and entirely too charming “Second, because I forgot to mention–I’ll be wearing a blue suit to the auction. Thought it might be nice if we matched”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face “Oh, so now you’re coordinating our outfits?reased, running my fingers along the gown’s elegant neckline.
“Of course,” he said without hesitation. “I’m trying to win the Best Dressed Couple award, obviously.” He chuckled at his statement.
Trolled my eyes, though the smile stayed firmly in place “Fine,” I relented, glancing at the pile of blue gowns I’d already tried on earlier. “I’ll find something blue.”
“Perfect,” he replied, his satisfaction evident even through the phone.
I shook my head, my smile widening despite myself. “Okay, okay, shoo,” I said, playfully shooing him away even though he wasn’t there.
“Goodbye, Raina,” he said with a laugh that made my heart skip.
The call ended, and I stared at the phone for a moment, shaking my head at his antics before setting it back down. My gaze shifted back to the wine gown, its rich color striking but ultimately not what I needed tonight.
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