Chapter 3

The next day, I found Nina in my own contacts.

Her profile picture was a silhouette of her reading. Most of her stories showed library corners, open books, and cups of tea.

I scrolled slowly. Then my finger stopped.

Her latest post had gone up yesterday afternoon.

[Periods are the worst. My cramps hurt so much I can’t even study. Thank goodness I have my gentleman~]

The photo showed a steaming mug of ginger tea on a natural-wood desk.

I stared at it for a few seconds, then zoomed in.

At the corner of the desk, part of a cardboard box was visible.

The expensive pad brand’s logo was clearly printed on it. I counted eight visible packs.

Another pack sat beside it, looking as if she’d just opened it.

Exactly nine.

Nine… Nina.

So all the desire Nathan had supposedly restrained during my period had simply gone to another woman.

That afternoon, I went to Nathan’s office for the first time in ages.

The sight in front of me made my eyes burn.

Nina was wearing a schoolgirl outfit, sitting on Nathan’s lap with her arms around his neck.

They were locked in a kiss. Nathan’s hands rested on her waist, and the air was thick with the smell of sex.

I charged forward, grabbed Nina by the hair, and yanked her off his lap.

She stumbled, nearly falling. I slapped her, the sharp crack ringing through the office.

Then I turned to Nathan. He stood, his face dark.

I raised my hand to slap him too, but he caught my wrist.

“Evelyn, what the hell is wrong with you? Why aren’t you at home, getting ready to pick up our son? What are you doing making a scene at my office?”

There wasn’t a trace of guilt in his voice. He acted as if he’d done nothing wrong.

I tore my hand free and demanded through my tears, “Nathan, so you do remember we have a son? When you were screwing another woman in here, did you remember you had a wife and child?”

Holding her cheek, Nina walked over to Nathan and timidly tugged his jacket. Then she bowed her head to me.

“Mrs. Bennett, I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry with him. It’s my fault. I’m the one who fell for him. This has nothing to do with him. Blame me.”

I pointed in her face.

“Nina, I agreed to sponsor you because I knew how hard it was for you to get out of that mountain town. I wanted you to study, build a future, and support yourself. This is how you repay me?”

“You used our help to seduce a married man. Do you have any conscience at all?”

Nina suddenly dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around my legs.

Her tears fell harder. The red mark on her cheek stood out vividly, but her eyes were defiant.

“Mrs. Bennett, I know this is wrong, but we’re truly in love. Loving someone isn’t a crime. So what if we’re together? In a relationship, the one who isn’t loved is the real other woman!”

My stomach churned. I lifted my foot to push her away.

“Let go! Don’t touch me. You disgust me!”

Nina suddenly screamed and clutched her stomach.

Her body went limp, and she collapsed.

“Nina!”

Nathan’s face changed.

When he’d seen me pushing at Nina, he’d turned to shut the office door I’d burst through, apparently worried about the spectacle outside.

He turned back just in time to see her on the floor.

“Nina? What’s wrong?”

She curled into his arms, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes into her hair.

“Nathan… my stomach hurts so much. It’s okay. Don’t blame her. I just lost my balance…”

Nathan looked up at me, his eyes icy.

“She’s already in pain, and you still shoved her! Evelyn, when did you become so vicious?”