Chapter 2
Nadia couldn't care less about the family business, and our dad couldn't help but sigh over it.
That all changed when my dad found out Yosef, the crown prince of the city's elite, was chasing after Nadia.
To outsiders, it was just a rumor, but my dad quickly confirmed it was true.
"If we get in with the Warren Group, we won't have to worry about business ever again," my dad said.
I hadn't met Yosef yet, but I could feel the whole house buzzing with excitement.
But Nadia was totally unfazed by all this.
She said casually, "Dad, don't try to use me to get in with Yosef or ask him for any perks.
"Just because he's into me doesn't mean I've made up my mind.
"What does that make me look like?"
My dad knew better than to push Nadia when she was in this mood. He just let her have her way.
"I know, I've been dealing with the Warren family a bit more lately, but it's all just regular business," he said.
That seemed to cheer Nadia up a bit.
The whole family was having a warm, lively dinner, but it was like I didn't even exist at the table.
I quietly tightened my grip on my fork. I knew breaking into the company was only going to get tougher.
Later, I met Yosef at a party. Everyone was crowding around him, trying to suck up to him.
People kept saying he and Nadia were the perfect couple, like something straight out of a fairy tale.
But I wasn't buying it.
After the party ended, Yosef really went all out. He had a thousand drones light up the night sky to declare his love, and the fireworks continued until dawn.
That night, Nadia and Yosef made it official. They were finally a couple.
Meanwhile, a plan was quietly taking shape in my mind.
Once Nadia and Yosef became official, my dad completely stopped interfering in her life.
He gave her free rein. She could do whatever she pleased, and no one dared to question her.
Even when she purposely tossed her ring into the pool and had me dive in to fetch it, my dad didn't bat an eye.
Nadia said softly, "This is the ring Yosef gave me when he declared his feelings for me. I can't lose it.
"Come on, Melina, do me a favor."
Without hesitation, I dove straight into the pool and spent the entire night hunting for that ring, finally fishing it out from a corner.
When I brought the ring to her, she'd barely rolled out of bed.
She was stretched out in the sun, lazily swirling her drink.
When she saw me dripping wet, she acted all shocked, like she hadn't expected it at all.
She said, feigning surprise. "Wow, you actually went and did it?
"That ring? I grabbed it while traveling abroad. Just throw it away."
I tossed the ring in the trash and got ready to leave.
"Stop right there," Nadia called out.
"You know, seeing you like this so early in the morning just ruins my mood. So why don't you entertain me a little?" she said.
She tipped her glass, letting the red wine spill onto the floor.
"Lick it up," she ordered.
I got down on my knees, bowed my head, and licked it clean.
Nadia's lips curled into a cruel, malicious grin.
She sneered, "You worthless brat.
"Just like your homewrecker mom, you're both pathetic.
"Once Dad's out of the picture, I'll make sure you're wiped off the face of the earth.
"So I won't have to see your disgusting face every day."
I managed a weak, forced smile, trying to please her. "Whatever makes you happy, Nadia."
The sound of the door opening behind me made Nadia tense up for a second.
But when she realized it was just our dad, she let out a breath and relaxed.
My dad took one look at me, soaked and kneeling on the floor, and frowned, clearly not pleased.
"You're about to get engaged to Yosef. Don't take things too far. If people hear about this, it'll ruin your reputation," he warned.
"Alright, Dad, I get it," Nadia replied, rolling her eyes. "It's not like anyone's going to find out."
Once my dad left, Nadia gave me a scornful smile.
She said, as if she were doing me a favor, "Alright, get up, good girl."
"Thanks, Nadia," I replied.
That night, I caught a nasty fever and was out cold for three days.
When I finally came to, I found out everything outside had totally changed.
One night, Nadia ran into a drunk troublemaker, but was rescued by an underground boxer.
She was deeply grateful, and when she learned he was strapped for cash but refused to take her money, she found another way to help.
She offered him a generous salary to teach her how to fight, so she could handle herself if things ever got dangerous while traveling.
It was nothing at first, but just a couple of days later, paparazzi caught the two in a near-kiss moment and snapped some compromising photos.
The pictures went viral, blowing up all over social media in no time.
Everyone started saying Nadia had cheated on Yosef, the crown prince of the city's elite.
The PR teams went into overdrive, and both families rushed to issue statements, trying to spin the story and set the record straight.
The boxer wanted nothing to do with Nadia. He acted like he'd never even met her, as if just being seen with her would ruin his life.
The scandal died down fast, but the fallout was impossible to ignore.
Nadia kept training with Oliver Riley, the underground boxer, acting as if the whole scandal had never happened.
Yosef was furious. Behind Nadia's back, he went to Oliver and tried to pay him off, hoping he'd stay away from her.
Oliver refused, so Yosef had his guys rough him up.
When Nadia found out, she totally lost it at Yosef.
"How many times do I have to tell you? I just want to pay him back for helping me," Nadia shot back.
"If he needs money, I'll just give it to him. Whatever amount, it doesn't matter," Yosef said, sounding exasperated.
"He's got his pride, and he's never tried to cash in on what he did for me," Nadia insisted.
"So now you two are all mixed up together, but did either of you ever stop to think about how I feel?" Yosef retorted.