Chapter 108
Nathan had told me to up the dosage for the old man. “It’s time to move things along,” he had said with that calm, commanding tone of his, the one that made it impossible to say no. “Make sure it’s enough to finish the job soon. But don’t touch Raina’s dose. She needs to stay functional for now.”
That last part had made my blood boil. He always talked about Raina like she was the centerpiece of his grand plan, like she was more important than anyone else. He didn’t see her the way I did: a nuisance, a usurper. She didn’t belong in this family, and she certainly didn’t belong in Nathan’s world.
So I ignored that part of his instructions.
As I poured the tonic for the next dose, my hand was steady, deliberate. I added an extra measure of the poison to Raina’s portion, watching it dissolve as I stirred it in. She didn’t deserve to come out of this unscathed. If Nathan thought I was going to let her take everything and walk away with him, he was
wrong.
The voice in my head whispered again, doubt creeping in. What if Nathan finds out? What if he figures out you’re disobeying him?
I shook the thought away, gripping the edge of the counter. “I don’t care,” I muttered under my breath. “She’s crossing too many lines, and she needs to be punished.”
Nathan wouldn’t know. And even if he did, what could he say? Raina had been inching closer and closer to him, and he’d let her. How could I ignore the way he looked at her, the way he softened around her? He’d forgotten who was there for him before all of this started. Forgotten me.
I rinsed the glass and leaned against the counter, my thoughts swirling. The plan was simple: with the old man gone, Nathan would swoop in to comfort a grieving Raina. He’d propose, they’d marry, and once he had access to the Graham wealth, he’d stage a tragic accident to eliminate the rest of the family. It was brilliant.
But Raina’s part in the plan gnawed at me. She wasn’t supposed to matter this much. Nathan was supposed to marry her for convenience, not affection. Yet, every glance, every moment they shared, felt like a dagger in my chest.
I heard his voice in my head again. “Stick to the plan, Adelaide.”
But this was my plan now. And when it was over, Raina would be gone too. It would just take a little more time for her.
The house was quiet now, everyone tucked away for the night. I slipped outside, the cool air brushing against my skin as I pulled my phone from my pocket. Nathan. He was avoiding me, and I knew it. I clenched my jaw as I dialed his number, pressing the phone to my ear.
The line rang longer than usual before he picked up.
“What do you want, Adelaide?” His voice was clipped, impatient, like I was an annoyance he had to deal with.
“I need to talk to you,” I replied, keeping my voice calm even though my fingers tightened around the phone. “It’s important.”
“I’m busy,” he said flatly. “Call me tomorrow.”
Before I could say another word, the line went dead. My hand dropped to my side, the phone slipping from my grip onto the porch railing. Busy. He was always busy these days, especially when it came to me.
I didn’t trust it. Not for a second.
I stormed back into the house, the anger boiling under my skin. In my room, I tore through my wardrobe, pulling on something more presentable but still casual. Jeans, a fitted top, and a light jacket. If Nathan thought he could keep brushing me off, he was wrong. He was the one who approached me, who brought me into his grand plan. He needed me as much as I needed him.
And yet, he acted like I was just another pawn. Like I was working for him.
I grabbed my keys and headed for my car, the drive to his place passing in a haze of frustration. By the time I pulled up outside his house, my hands were trembling–not with fear, but with fury.
I called him again, hitting redial with more force than necessary. This time, I didn’t give him a chance to avoid me. When he picked up, I snapped, “I’m
outside. You have two minutes to come down.”
Silence. Then, “Adelaide, you’re out of your mind. Go home.”
You have one minute now,” I hissed, cutting him off and hanging up before he could say another word.
