Chapter 5 That's Impossible!

Nadine gave a sharp, humorless laugh. "What's wrong, Mr. Bailey? You're not on board with this?"

Everything she had heard about Rhys seemed true. He could be drawn to any woman, and his attitude made her skin crawl.

"If this engagement mattered so much to you, where were you when my family was falling apart? If you have an issue, I'll go straight to your father and have the whole thing scrapped."

Rhys knew words would not help him now.

If he had realized the woman he owed his life to was actually the youngest Clark daughter, he never would have let the family struggle on their own.

He understood how empty those words would sound to Nadine, so he watched her go, powerless to stop her.

But as far as he was concerned, the engagement was far from over. Not now, not ever.

Pulling out his phone, Rhys barked into the receiver. "Get me a list of every enemy the Clark family have. I want every single one of them ruined. Make sure no one can sleep easy until I say so."

He hung up and immediately sent out another order. "Prepare a formal gift. I'll visit the Clark family myself to apologize."

Back at the Clark house, Nadine stepped inside and glanced at her phone when it chimed.

A message from Rhys appeared. "Whatever trouble your family has, I'll handle it."

Nadine barely reacted, having heard empty promises like that countless times in Urygan.

Nadine tapped out a reply, saying, "Save your concern."

Without another thought, she blocked his number and tucked her phone away.

The only person Nadine could rely on in this world was herself.

...

In a grand sitting room at the Lewis family villa, Daniela buried her face in Lisette Lewis's shoulder, sobs shaking her body. "Mrs. Lewis, please help me! I did everything you and Mr. Lewis wanted. I tried to gather whatever scraps the Clarks had left, but now Nadine's come home and thrown me out! She called me a leech and even kicked me!"

Painting herself as the wronged little sister, Daniela leaned into her role as the victim, hoping to win sympathy and a new place in the Lewis family. In truth, she had done everything in her power to ruin the Clark family for the Lewises' gain, and now, desperate, she clung to the hope of rising higher under their roof.

Blaine Lewis sat at the head of the table, his eyes cold as steel. "Did you do as I instructed, Daniela? Was Jordy poisoned every day?"

Daniela nodded, trying to look as pitiful as possible.

Blaine's voice thundered through the room. "Then how do you explain this? Word is, someone kept him alive!"

Decadesleep Toxin was not something a man survived. Blaine had spent a small fortune to bring the deadly poison from overseas. Daniela had dosed Jordy for more than a decade-he was supposed to be at death's door by now.

Instead, Jordy had managed to eat breakfast this morning.

Suspicion sharpened Blaine's gaze as he fixed it on Daniela. "Be honest. Did Nadine save him?"

Daniela bristled, her envy showing through. "That's impossible! Nadine grew up in poverty. She doesn't know a thing about medicine. Just wait-Jordy's not going to last!"

Blaine tapped his fingers against the tabletop, deep in thought.

He had ruined Kaden, the Clark family's second son, and picked the family clean over the years. Victory was within reach until Nadine's return disrupted everything.

She was an unknown threat. He needed to see her with his own eyes.

Blaine looked up, a sly smile creeping across his face. "Dry your tears, Daniela. We're throwing a business banquet tomorrow. You'll bring an invitation to the Clark family. Tell them it's a party to welcome Nadine back and celebrate their reunion."

He had to find out for himself who Nadine truly was and what kind of person she turned out to be.