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Chapter 12
Nosi stood at the edge of the garden behind the mansion, the soft breeze tugging at her curls. The evening was quiet—too quiet. She closed her eyes, enjoying the peace, until a voice sliced through it like a dull blade.
"Nosi."
Her heart sank. She didn't have to turn to know who it was. Andrew.
"What are you doing here?" she asked without facing him.
"I needed to see you," Andrew replied, his tone desperate. "I needed to explain."
She finally turned, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Andrew looked worn—his eyes bloodshot, his face unshaven. His once-proud posture was gone, replaced by a slump of regret.
"There's nothing to explain," Nosi said coldly. "You slept with Ruth. That's all the explanation I'll ever need."
He stepped closer. "It was a mistake, okay? A terrible mistake. I wasn't thinking. She tricked me. I didn't mean for it to happen."
"You didn't mean for it to happen?" Nosi let out a humorless laugh. "Andrew, she's my stepmother. Do you even understand what you did to me?"
"I do, I swear. That's why I came back. I miss you. I want us to start over." He reached for her hand.
She jerked away.
Andrew's jaw tightened. "You're different now. Cold. What happened to you?"
"I grew up," Nosi said. "I stopped letting people walk all over me. Including you."
"I can be better," he whispered. "I can fix this."
"No," she said, her voice firm. "You had your chance. You broke me, Andrew. But I survived. And now, I'm stronger. I won't go back."
Andrew's expression darkened. "Is it him? That man you work for? Fred?"
Nosi didn't answer.
"You're sleeping with him, aren't you?" he spat, the anger rising. "Is that why you won't forgive me? You think he's better than me?"
"I'm not sleeping with anyone. But even if I were, what right do you have to question me after what you did?"
"I loved you!" he shouted, fists clenched.
"No, Andrew. You loved having control. You loved knowing I'd never say no. But you never really saw me."
He looked like he wanted to scream, but instead, he turned and stormed off without another word.
Nosi watched him go, heart pounding. A small part of her—the part that still remembered his kisses, his warmth—ached. But she pushed it down. That chapter was over.
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Meanwhile, Andrew slammed the car door as he parked in front of Ruth's house. He banged on the door until it swung open.
Ruth appeared in a silk robe, a glass of wine in hand. "Andrew? You look awful."
"The plan failed," he hissed, stepping inside without being invited. "She didn't forgive me."
Ruth closed the door behind him, her expression shifting from amusement to irritation. "What did you say to her?"
"I begged. I apologized. I even said I'd take her back, but she's different now. Colder. Stronger. I think... I think that man has done something to her."
"Fred," Ruth muttered, sitting down on the couch, swirling her wine. "She's always been soft. I didn't expect her to hold a grudge this long."
"She didn't even flinch when I mentioned what happened," Andrew growled. "She said I broke her. That she won't go back."
"Well, you did break her," Ruth said matter-of-factly. "But that was the point, wasn't it? Break her enough so we could shape her."
Andrew ran his hands through his hair. "You said if I came back and played the victim, she'd crawl back to me."
"She used to. She adored you," Ruth said. "But something's changed. That man—Fred—he's not just a fling. He's protecting her."
Andrew leaned against the wall, defeated. "So what now?"
Ruth's eyes narrowed, her lips curving into a cruel smile. "We adjust the plan. If emotional manipulation doesn't work... maybe fear will."
Andrew looked at her, confused. "What are you talking about?"
Ruth stood, setting her wine down. "Leave that to me. Nosi may think she's strong now, but she's still my little project. And I always finish what I start."
Andrew felt a shiver run down his spine.
He had no idea what Ruth was planning—but he knew one thing.
It would be dangerous.
!