Lately, the names Nina and Elysium Couture have taken the entire fashion industry by storm. After her graduation, Nina was selected as one of the lead designers of Elysium Couture, a position second only to the head designer.Nina’s rapid ascent within the company initially sparked rumors among the employees and netizens. Some even questioned if she had climbed the ranks by sleeping her way up.In rebuttal, Nina shut their mouths by letting her designs speak for themselves.Releasing two back-to-back successful collections, she quickly silenced the ideologues, that questioned her worth.The enormous success of these two shows was a testament to Nina’s talent and hard work, proving that she had earned her place among the elite designers.As the CEO of Elysium Couture and a designer himself, Victor was greatly impressed by Nina’s talent. He considered himself fortunate to have recognized her potential and brought her into the company before someone else poached her.Nina’s rise to promi
Emerging from the shadows stood a figure she recognized all too well.Keith Luxton, Jayden’s step-brother, had an unsettling smirk on his face.“What are you doing here? Where’s Jayden?” She questioned.Though Nina appeared calm, the quiver in her voice gave away her fear as she backed away from him.Keith’s calculating eyes bore into her, and he took a step closer.As Keith moved nearer, Nina’s anxiety deepened. “What do you want from me?” She cast her eyes around the lavish room, searching for an escape, but found none in sight. Keith’s smirk grew darker into a cold smile, his figure casting a shadow over her. “Relax, sister-in-law. I’ve brought you here so that we can have a little chat. I’ve always been fascinated by you, and I think it’s time we get to know each other better.”“Well, I don’t have anything to talk to you about,” Nina said coldly. “Now, open the door before I make you regret it.”Keith’s laughter echoed through the hushed, luxurious room when he heard her defiant
The door burst open with a deafening bang, sending shock waves through the room. There was a sudden drop in temperature as Jayden charged inside the room with a frosty look on his face.Without uttering a word, he seized Keith by his hair and yanked him off the bed with brutal force. Keith’s body was thrown over Jayden’s shoulder, causing him to roll across the room.As Keith lay sprawled on the floor, Jayden approached him. Without a hint of mercy, he sat on Keith’s stomach and delivered a series of merciless punches to his face.The force in Jayden’s fists was lethal, evidence of the emotions that had surged within him since the moment he realized Nina was in danger. His punches rained down with an intensity that left no room for escape.As the tumultuous confrontation unfolded in the room, Nora and Stefan arrived behind Jayden.Stefan immediately averted his gaze and turned around when he saw Nina’s disheveled state. He instructed his men to stand guard outside while he stood facin
The aftermath of the incident had taken a toll on Nina’s mental health. Recognizing the need for a break, Jayden took her to Iceland’s serene and breathtaking landscapes.Meanwhile, back in Spring City, a storm was brewing as Jayden’s stepmother, Lilian, turned the city upside down.Upon learning of Keith’s brutal predicament, Lilian’s world seemed to shatter around her. She wasted no time and dropped everything before rushing back to Spring City.When she arrived at the hospital, Lilian felt as though someone had hammered her chest. The sight of her only flesh and blood, beaten and battered, drove her to the brink of madness.“Where’s Jayden? Where’s that bastard?!” she screamed. Her voice, a thunderous force that echoed through the halls.Seeing her son in this state, she wished nothing more than to skin Jayden alive, and to exact a painful retribution.“Old Madam, Master isn’t here.” The nurse replied as she watched Lilian cause a ruckus.“I don’t care.” Lilian pointed at the nurse
“Since we’re family, I don’t want to have a falling out with you,” she explained, her tone more conciliatory. “Hand Nina to me, and we can put our differences behind us.” Lilian felt that challenging Jayden directly wasn’t an option, especially since they needed him to run the company. However, she believed that by shifting her focus to Nina, she could exert influence and apply pressure on Jayden. Upon hearing her ridiculous words, Jayden raised an eyebrow. “And what makes you think I’ll oblige?” “Because my poor son is in the hospital because of you,” she continued, her eyes filled with pain and anger. “With five of his ribs broken, I can’t let this matter go unnoticed.” Besides the five broken ribs, his legs were also crippled. The doctors had also declared that he might not be able to use his di** in the future. She was actually showing kindness by asking Jayden to hand Nina over to her. Because even the lives of Jayden and Nina combined could not compensate for the immense pai
Knowing he could not win against his wife, Jayden surrendered. Setting his priorities straight, he turned to Emma, apologetically. “I’m sorry my wife isn’t comfortable eating around strangers. Why don’t you join us next time?” Emma frowned at his behavior. She never expected him to blatantly chase her out. But now that he had, it would be unwise to linger behind. “It’s alright,” she replied, her tone magnanimous, as if she were brushing off the situation. Then, pretending as though Nina didn’t exist in the room, she offered a casual wave in Jayden’s direction. “See you around,” she added before leaving. Jayden acknowledged her with a simple nod. As the door closed behind Emma, the room fell into silence. Jayden’s hand tugged at Nina’s, urging her to follow him inside his office. However, to his surprise, she stood her ground, refusing to budge. He turned to look at her, a hint of irritation flickering in his eyes. “What now?” Still annoyed, Nina struggled to keep her voice ev
After the call was hung up, the air inside the study turned somber.Nina slumped back in the chair as Madison’s mocking voice echoed in her ears.“You are just a mere replacement.”“LJ has been waiting patiently for her all these years.”“Bet you might not even know who your biological father is.”“He married you so that he could fill in the void left behind by Emma.”All the pieces of the puzzle suddenly began to fall into place.So, all along, she had been living in the shadow of a life that had never truly belonged to her. She was a substitute, a pathetic replacement of his true love he couldn’t let go of.As the truth settled in, the world seemed to close in around Nina.Suddenly, an unexpected downpour of tears fell onto the iPad screen one after another. The wetness on her cheeks startled her, and Nina instinctively reached out to wipe them away.She didn’t want to cry.Crying was for the vulnerable. Crying meant that it affected her. And she wasn’t weak.Taking a deep breath, s
“Have you fallen in love with me?”After he finished speaking, silence descended in the air. Other than their mixed heartbeats, one could hear nothing inside the empty study.For a moment, time seemed to have frozen in its place. Nina’s heart skipped a beat as she met Jayden’s intense gaze. Originally, Jayden just wanted to tease her. But when the words were laid out, his breath tightened as he anticipated her response.Suddenly, a mocking laugh resounded inside the room.Nina turned her gaze away, refusing to meet Jayden’s eyes. “I don’t dare fall in love with you, Mr. Luxton,” she replied bitterly. “I can’t afford it.”Taken aback by her words, Jayden couldn’t hide the disappointment in his eyes and his countenance changed. This time, it wasn’t just coldness; it was an intense and foreboding aura that seemed to radiate from him, causing Nina to involuntarily shiver.He raised his hand, his broad palm cupping Nina’s cheek with a firm grip, and pushed her against the door.The streng