THE HEIRESS RECKONING のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 5

Nina groaned and pulled her pillow over her ears as her phone rang again. Whoever was calling refused to give up. The vibration felt like it was drilling into her skull.“Five minutes…” she mumbled, turning her face deeper into the pillow.The phone rang again. And again.She squeezed her eyes shut.Then, with pure frustration, she yanked her pillow off her head and grabbed the phone without checking the caller ID.“Hello?” she said in a sleepy, annoyed voice.“Ms. Brooks!” Jemima’s panicked voice shot through the speaker. “The board meeting is about to end!”Nina blinked. Slowly. The words didn’t sink in at first. “The… what?” she whispered.“The BOARD MEETING!” Jemima half-shouted. “Everyone has been waiting for you, but the directors are rounding up. Clara is already….”Nina didn’t hear the rest.Her eyes flew to the time on her screen.12:00 PM.Exactly 12 noon.Her heart stopped.She shot up from the bed like someone poured hot water on her.“Twelve?! Jemima, the board presentati

It was the Brooks family’s 25th anniversary. The house was full of guests. Music played softly, people laughed, and waiters moved through the room with trays.Nina sat at the corner of the ballroom, her glass of wine untouched, her eyes flicking toward the entrance every few seconds. Tonight wasn’t just any celebration—it was her chance to finally introduce Joseph Brown, heir to the prestigious Brown International Conglomerate, to her family.They had been dating for a year and tonight was the night she wanted to take a step ahead of Clara to meet the Brooks family’s other rule: whoever becomes heiress must also prove she can make a strong marriage into a respected family. She hoped Joseph would show them she could do both.She checked her phone, then looked at the door again. She tried to sit still, but her fingers tapped lightly against the glass, giving her nervousness away.An hour passed..A waitress came by and offered her a fresh drink. “Miss Brooks, would you like more?” she a

Nina picked up a few spoonfuls of her food, but her stomach churned with discomfort. Her face had already turned pale, and Richard noticed immediately.“Are you okay, Nina?” he asked gently.“Yes… I just feel a little warm in my stomach. I need to step out for a moment,” she replied, seizing the excuse to leave the table.A few minutes later, Ethan excused himself as well. He was shown the way to the restroom but he spotted Nina on the hallway. He quickly caught up to her and dragged her to a quieter corner. "Nina’s cheeks flushed. Realizing what he was about to say, she quickly spoke first to diffuse the rising tension between them." “I’m really sorry for dragging you into my mess. I didn’t know you were my sister’s fiancé.”Ethan ran a hand over his head, clearly uneasy. “We can just keep this between us,” he said softly. “No one has to know.”Nina nodded, avoiding his gaze. She was clearly embarrassed—not only had she cheated on Joseph, but it was also with her sister’s fiancé. I