Chapter 540: Four Bennets down

If there was one thing Nina learned after having lunch with Penny and Zoren, it was that Zoren was head over heels for Penny. Well, if Nina were in his shoes, she would be too.

Penny was beautiful, smart, and successful. She also had a good heart. But then again, Zoren was a man who had a lot to offer as well. They were like a match made in heaven—a perfect fit, a power couple.

Thinking about them brought a smile to Nina’s face.

"I feel silly," she mumbled, putting on her earrings in front of the full-body mirror. "I really am silly."

Nina shook her head, laughing to herself. At the same time, she felt relieved that Patricia and Mrs. Miller were simply delusional. Her smile faded, however, as she thought about the mother-daughter pair.

They reminded Nina of herself when she was younger. Although she often told herself she was no longer the thirteen-year-old brat she once was, she would still look back, just to remind herself of how far she’d come.

The things she thought would break her as a child—living in a small house, having an old, cramped room, and carrying the Reed family name—didn’t break her. If anything, she realized the Cortez house wasn’t small at all. It wasn’t a mansion, but it had shaped her into who she was today.

"They’re lucky he doesn’t seem like the type to care about irrelevant rumors. I mean, they’re lucky Penny and Zoren aren’t that petty," she told herself with a sigh. "I hope they get out of that mindset because it’s not going to end well for them."

Nina understood that while Zoren and Penny were kind and considerate, they were also individuals people didn’t want to cross. Penny was the head of a leading security firm that handled some of the most important figures in the world.

Zoren, on the other hand, was one of the richest men in the world. He didn’t brag about it or even talk much about himself, aside from briefly explaining the dynamics of the Pierson family. Even so, his presence alone was enough to show that this man could be dangerous if he wanted to be.

"Ready?" Nina’s thoughts were interrupted by Finn’s voice from the door. She turned and saw him leaning against the doorframe.

His eyes scanned her figure. "You look stunning, Nina."

Nina smiled broadly. "I’m just putting on my earrings and necklace, and I’ll be out."

"Mhm," Finn hummed, watching her hurry with the earrings. She picked up the necklace next, fumbling with it in her hands. "You don’t have to rush. We have plenty of time."

Finn moved away from the door and approached her. Standing behind her, he gently grazed her hands as he took the necklace from her.

"I’ll do it," he volunteered, meeting her eyes in the mirror.

"It’s okay..." she trailed off, but then she slowly released her grip, letting him lock the necklace.

Nina lowered her gaze, staring at the dress he had chosen for her. It was a black, beaded gown that hugged her figure, the color accentuating her skin, making it appear lighter. However, it revealed more skin than she was used to, especially since it was backless.

"Don’t you like the dress?" he asked while carefully locking the necklace behind her. "I thought you’d love it."

"No, it’s not that." Nina forced a smile. "It’s just... it shows a lot of skin."

Finn finished securing the necklace and placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her around to face him. "It’s perfect," he said, gently rubbing the pendant between his fingers. "But if you’re not comfortable, I can have someone send a different one."

"You don’t need to do that." Nina shook her head with a smile. "This one’s fine. I’m just not used to it."

"You’ll get used to it," he replied, smiling as he lightly pinched her chin and studied her face.

The silence between them made Nina purse her lips. She swallowed nervously as Finn continued to gaze at her, but this time, his look wasn’t the gentle one she was accustomed to. It was as though he was contemplating something.

"Nina," he called, breaking the silence.

She raised her eyebrows. "What is it, Finn?"

"When we started dating, you told me... you loved your family more than anything."

Deep lines appeared on her forehead. "What about it?"

"I was just wondering, is that still true?"

"Of course." She answered quickly, chuckling. "My family means everything to me, and you’re part of that family."

"Is that so?"

"Why are you asking me this, Finn?" she asked, curious.

"Nothing. I was just... curious." Finn released her chin and took a step back. He smiled, tilting his head slightly. "Shall we go?"

Nina studied him for a moment, sensing something strange about his question and demeanor. However, she chose not to dwell on it. Taking his hand, they left the hotel room to attend the biggest charity event of the year.

******

[FLASHBACK]

Nina gasped for air, only to wince as each breath felt like a stabbing pain in her lungs. She weakly turned her head, blood trickling from the side of her face. She was on her way home after leaving the charity event early because she wasn’t feeling well.

Who would have thought that on her way home, the car would suddenly lose control of its brakes, leading to a crash?

"Help..." she whispered, reaching out toward the broken window as the car lay upside down in the middle of nowhere. "Help... please..."

Mustering all her strength, Nina crawled out through the shattered window. She barely felt the shards cutting into her skin, the pain in her body already overwhelming. But as she managed to get half her body out, she noticed a pair of boots in front of her.

"Huh?" she murmured, looking up just as the person squatted down.

"Four Bennets down... that only leaves Slater Bennet."

Her vision blurred, but the voice was something she recognized. It was her husband’s friend.

Finn.