Chapter 533: The truth will set you free

When Nina came home, she tried not to dwell on what had been bothering her all day. But just when she thought she had successfully pushed it aside, she paused while applying her moisturizer.

Seated in front of her small vanity, Nina bit her lip.

"Ugh!" she groaned, finally reaching for her phone. She quickly called someone who could help her.

The call rang a few times before being answered.

"Hey, Nina!" came Yuri’s soft voice on the other end. "How are you?"

"Hi, Yuri. I’m doing great, thanks! How about you?"

"I’m fine," Yuri hummed. "Just a lot of work with exam week coming up, but everything’s alright."

"Oh..." Nina nodded, pursing her lips.

Yuri, sensing something, raised her brows. "Is everything okay, Nina? Why did you call?"

"Well... is this a good time? If you’re busy, you can just get back to it."

"Nina, even if I’m busy, I always make time for you," Yuri said warmly, her words comforting Nina. "What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you broke up with Finn?"

"What? No! Finn and I are fine."

"Did you two have a fight?"

"No," Nina let out a small, defeated laugh, still hesitant to bring up what was troubling her. "We didn’t fight. Since when did we fight? Finn isn’t like that to argue and I don’t like arguing as well."

"Then why do you sound so reluctant to talk?"

"Well..." Nina massaged the back of her neck, trying to find the right words to say. "I think... my friend... is being cheated on."

"Huh?" Yuri furrowed her brows. "Wait, you have a friend?"

Nina frowned. "Yuri, why are you being mean? Of course, I have friends!"

"Haha, just kidding."

"Anyway, here’s the thing," Nina said, clearing her throat. "This friend of mine is married to this guy..."

"Okay?"

"And I know someone else who keeps talking about being in a relationship with my friend’s husband," Nina explained, keeping the identities vague.

Yuri tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Yuri, don’t you get it? This woman keeps bragging about becoming the future matriarch of the guy’s family. Not just her, but her mother too!" Nina exclaimed. "Would they have the guts to brag like that if nothing was going on?"

"Well..." Yuri rested her chin on her knuckles. "That’s definitely strange. You have a point. But then again, if the guy is influential, I wouldn’t be surprised if the mother and daughter were just overly bold."

"Yuri, I know these two. They might be... the way they are, but would they really humiliate themselves like that?" Nina asked, recalling yesterday’s run-in with Patricia and her mother while she was shopping for home furniture. Although Patricia had tried to quiet her mother, Mrs. Miller kept boasting about her daughter’s lover. At first, they were vague, but then Mrs. Miller slipped up and mentioned Zoren Pierson’s name.

That was why Nina was so shocked when she heard Penny’s husband was Zoren Pierson.

"Yuri, what am I supposed to do?" Nina asked worriedly, sighing deeply. "This friend of mine is very important to me. If I knew she was being cheated on, I couldn’t just sit back and say nothing. But I don’t want to hurt her either."

"Nina, you don’t even know for sure yet," Yuri replied. "How about gathering some evidence first? I mean, you’re basing everything on what the mother and daughter said. Who knows? Maybe they’ve lost their minds."

"But what if there’s a reason behind it?"

"You could be right, but that’s why you need proof," Yuri emphasized. "Just be discreet about it. You don’t want to ruin a marriage without being certain."

"It’s already ruined if he’s cheating!"

"Well, I’m sure you already know what to do. You just called me for a little encouragement, didn’t you?"

Nina sighed. ’No, I called because I know you’d feel the same way if I told you this friend is Penny,’she thought, but kept the information to herself. She didn’t want to burden Yuri, who already had a lot on her plate.

"By the way, have you heard from Yugi?" Nina asked, changing the subject after making up her mind. "Aunty is still mad at him and keeps dropping by his apartment, hoping he’ll show up."

"Do you really think Yugi would call me and tell me where he is, knowing Mom is waiting to kill him?" Yuri laughed. "That evil twin... he’s dead meat when he finally shows his face."

Nina chuckled, her expression softening. "You say that, but you miss him."

"I don’t miss him," Yuri pouted. "That brat."

"Yes, you do. Anyway, thanks for listening to me."

"You’re welcome," Yuri replied gently. "Nina, if this friend of yours is that important to you, make sure you plan carefully. Remember, if she’s your friend, even though the truth might hurt her, it’s better than watching her get deceived."

"Mhm." Nina nodded, understanding. "The truth will set you free, right?"

That phrase was Nina’s motto in life. After all, the truth had set Nina free when she was caged in her own delusions. Letting things go, accepting the truth, and embracing it made her the person she was.

The truth saved Nina. Although it was a painful journey, looking back, she was thankful for the pain. If this saved her, she was hopeful it would also save Penny.

"Exactly."

They lingered on the line a little longer, smiling. After another moment, they said their goodbyes and wished each other goodnight. As soon as Nina put down her phone, she let out another deep breath.

"Yuri’s right. I need receipts — proof of his infidelity," Nina said to herself, her resolve strengthening. "If it comes to that, I’ll just be there for Penny. I won’t let anyone hurt her — especially not Patricia Miller."

Nina had her reasons for tolerating Patricia and Mrs. Miller, even though the past was already behind her. However, she wouldn’t let them bring their wickedness into her family’s life.

With that thought, Nina embraced this mission fully, determined to protect her sister.