CHAPTER 003

NINA.

The words hit me, a creeping, slow horror spreading in my stomach. I stared at him, speechless. What was there to say? The look he gave me was so angry and almost hateful. I stepped forward, hands outstretched to do what? Apologize, do something…

But he took a step back from me and my heart fell to the ground. I hated disappointing him because I loved him.

With a clenched jaw and no other words, he grabbed his coat and left.

——-

I didn't speak to Dad for almost two weeks. He called, texted, even sent Mom by once, but I wouldn't speak to him. I wasn't ready. I was still too angry. And maybe… maybe I was scared too. Scared of what he'd say. Scared of what I'd do if I let myself forgive him. Scared that he was right.

Meanwhile, my relationship with Bryan had reached rock bottom. He barely even spoke to me anymore, and when he did, it was curt, icy. It was like I was the one who got him fired. Like I was the reason his life fell apart. He no longer came home most nights, and when I asked him where he was, he'd just brush me off. Out. That's all he ever said.

I was exhausted. From fighting, from crying, from struggling. We were married for fucks sake. This was not the married life I’d imagined.

The only thing that kept me from completely breaking apart was my little sister, Audrey. She stopped by every day, forcing me to eat, dragging me out for air, and distracting me with pointless facts about the universe.

Audrey wasn't like me. She had no interest in the fashion world or the glitz and glamour of high society. She was a STEM girl, a complete STEM girl, a genius kid who could likely build a robot in her sleep. She had an off-the-charts IQ, was gorgeous without even attempting to be so, and was going to do amazing things and change the world one day.

Which is why, after two weeks of no contact at all from Dad with which to perform the usual routines, I thought I was in for it when she stormed into my apartment.

She was still standing in the doorway, hands planted on her hips, eyes blazing. "Okay, this shit has to end right now."

I looked at her but not much farther. "Audrey, not in the mood."

She moved over and snatched the remote and turned off the TV.

"Hey!" I sat up, indignant. "He was just going to find out the girl he's been sleeping with is his stepdaughter!"

Audrey gagged. "What the devil are you watching?"

I massaged my face and sighed. "Trash TV. My life sucks. Let me wallow."

She ignored me like I hadn’t spoken, sitting beside me. "Dad's been calling you."

I groaned. "Not this again."

“Yes, this again.*” She gave me a pointed look. “You’re being a brat.”

I crossed my arms. “I am not a brat.”

“You’re totally a brat.”

“Dad sacked my husband, Audrey. He still doesn’t want to accept him. He doesn’t even care about fixing things. He just wants to control my life.”

Audrey hesitated. “You know he’s sick, Nina.”

I stiffened. “I know that.”

She sighed. "I don't know how bad it is, but I overheard Carla talking. He's revamping his will."

I gulped.

"The last thing he'd want is to be on bad terms with you," she continued. "You're his little minion."

I huffed a small laugh, but my chest ached.

Audrey elbowed me. "Speak to him."

I stalled, then exhaled. "Fine."

Audrey let out a whoop of victory as I hauled myself off the couch and into my dressing room.

—

"I cannot believe this," I snap, jerking my chair back so hard that it grates on the floor. "You called me here to patch things up, and talk about your will yet you won’t accept Bryan?”

Dad sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Nina, sit down."

"No!" I cross my arms, frowning. "Are you serious? Like really?"

He takes a slow breath. "Nina, I’m trying to protect you."

My stomach drops because of that.

"I'm doing this just in case, okay?" he says. "I want to get everything ready."

I clench my teeth, leaning forward in my chair. "Fine. And you’re not dropping dead like tomorrow so stop talking that way. So what do I have to do with it?"

"I want you to take over D'Atelier."

I blink. "What?"

Dad gives me a stern look. "I've been training you for this your whole life, Nina. You're the only one who can fill my shoes."

I swallow. I've dreamed of this moment since I was a child, tagging along to meetings, watching him command rooms with effortless confidence.

But then Dad clears his throat. "There's one condition."

My stomach tightens. "What condition?"

"You have to divorce Bryan."

I tensed. "You can't be serious."

Dad doesn't even flinch. "That's my condition."

I stare at him, my heart racing. "You were never interested in fixing things, were you?" I shake my head in horror. "This was always about Bryan."

Dad exhales. "Nina, that boy is bad news for you."

"You don't know him!"

"I know enough. "

I throw my hands up in exasperation. "You know what? Forget it."

Dad stands up too. "Nina…"

I give him a hurt glare. "I love him. If you can't understand that, then you don't love me."

His face flashes with something, pain, perhaps, but I don't allow myself to look too hard. I spin around and storm out before he can speak another word.

—

Later that night at my apartment, I headed over to my workspace with a plate of dinner. I sat and turned on my laptop while glancing at my unanswered messages to Bryan.

Call me back.

Where are you?

Bryan, please.

Nothing.

My chest ached. We were married. Not paying attention to me wasn't going to help.

The doorbell rings. I get up, mind elsewhere, and open the door…And freeze.

Two police officers stand before me. One of them, a stern-faced woman, moves forward. "Miss Nina Davies?"

I swallow, suddenly apprehensive. "Yes?"

"You are under arrest for the murder of Daniel Davies."

The world suddenly grinds to a halting stop.

"What?" I breathe. “Murder of who?"

They don't answer.

One of the police officers whirls me around, cold metal snapping into place around my wrists. My body locks up.

They start reciting my rights, but my ears are ringing too hard to make out anything. I try to turn, terror grasping at my throat. "Wait, there's been a mistake! Who's dead? What's going on?"

The woman officer pauses, her gaze softening ever so slightly.

"Daniel Davies," she says. "Your father."

The floor drops out from under me.

Dad. Dad was… dead?

I don't even notice as they take me to the waiting car, my brain empty, my body numb.

This isn't happening. This can't be happening.

But with the sound of the car door shutting behind me, reality strikes like a tidal wave.

Dad is dead.

And they think I killed him.