NATHAN
The pillar had fallen at just the right time. Senior Graham’s death was the opportunity I needed—a chance to infiltrate the Grahams and dismantle them from within. Everything was falling into place.
So why did it feel like I was slipping?
Raina was avoiding me. I could feel it. She hadn’t returned my calls or texts. Was it just grief, or was there something more?
And Alex.
Why had she let him stay?
The thought burned in my chest. Were they getting back together?
The voices in my head wouldn’t stop, spiraling louder and louder until they drowned out every other thought.
“They’re pushing you out.”
“She’s slipping away.”
“You’re losing her.”
“SHUT UP!” I roared, slamming my fist onto the desk. The sound echoed through the room, and for a moment, there was silence.
But the questions lingered, their whispers like needles in my brain.
Was it him? Was Alex the reason Raina wouldn’t let me in? My fingers curled into fists, my nails digging into my palms as I stared at the wall. She had to see the truth—Alex was the enemy.
When the chaos in my head finally settled into an uneasy quiet, my phone buzzed on the desk, the shrill sound making my nerves jump. Of course, it had to be Adelaide.
I grabbed the phone, my grip tightening as her name flashed on the screen. "What now?" I barked, pressing the device to my ear.
Her voice came through, shaky and laced with panic. "Nathan, I think Alex suspects me."
I froze for a moment, my mind racing. "Why the hell would you think that?" I demanded.
"It's the way he looks at me," she stammered, her tone bordering on pathetic. "And... and he caught me."
Earlier during the funeral, I had pulled Adelaide aside, making it clear in no uncertain terms what she needed to do. "Stay out of sight. Blend in. Barely noticeable," I had instructed, my voice low and firm. "I need to know the entirety of the contents of that will. Everything, Adelaide."
She nodded quickly, her wide eyes a mix of fear and determination. "I’ll find out, Nathan."
But now, it was clear she hadn’t done a damn thing.
After hanging up the phone, I slumped back into my chair, my fingers drumming angrily against the armrest. Not only had Adelaide failed to get the information, but she’d also almost gotten caught by Alex. Idiot.
My mind raced, piecing together what needed to happen next. Adelaide was a liability, one I didn’t have time to babysit. If I wanted results, I had to take matters into my own hands.
And the best way to get those results? Raina.
I leaned forward, elbows on the desk, rubbing my temples. Raina was still grieving; she was vulnerable. If I could find a way back into her good graces, it would be the perfect opportunity to undermine Alex and make her see that he was the true enemy.
You can do this, Nathan, I told myself, leaning back with a sly grin.
It was time to play the role of the concerned confidant, the one she could lean on. She would never suspect my intentions—not until it was far too late.
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