Chapter 7

The second-to-last day of the countdown marked the anniversary of Nadine's parents' death. She woke early, dressed in plain black mourning clothes, and prepared to leave to visit their graves. Just as she reached the door, Hunter stopped her. "I'll go with you." Nadine paused mid-step and turned to glare at him coldly. "What now? Going to have your bodyguards force me to kneel to Serena again?" Hunter's expression darkened instantly. He had originally intended to ease tensions between them, but Nadine's attitude reignited the anger he'd just suppressed. "You were in the wrong yesterday. Are you really going to keep this up?" Nadine scoffed and pushed past him, heading straight for the door. But when she reached the car, she found Serena already seated in the passenger seat, smiling gently at her. "Nadine, Hunter said you guys are going to visit your parents together. I wanted to come too." Nadine's fury erupted. She whirled around to face Hunter. "Hunter, this is where I cross the line! She doesn't get to visit them!" Hunter frowned. "Nadine, don't go too far. Serena means well. Don't be ungrateful." "Means well?" Nadine's eyes flashed with scorn. "Hunter, have you forgotten? Today is my parents' death anniversary, not your date night!" Serena sighed. "Nadine, why do you hate me so much? We used to get along, didn't we? Why are you always against me?" Nadine let out a cold laugh, and she shot Serena an icy glare. "You know exactly why I hate you." Hunter had had enough. He grabbed her wrist and yanked her into the car. "Nadine, stop making a scene. Get in." She struggled but couldn't break free from his grip. The car sped to the cemetery. Unwilling to look at the pair behind her, Nadine clutched the chrysanthemums and hurried ahead to her parents' graves. She crouched down and gently placed the flowers before the tombstone, her fingertips brushing against the cold stone surface as a flicker of pain flashed through her eyes. "Dad, Mom, I've come to visit you." Hunter had followed without her noticing and now stood behind her, gazing at the tombstone with complex emotions. "Dad, Mom, though I don't like Nadine, I'll take care of her for life." Nadine's body stiffened abruptly. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth. "I don't need that. Just say you love me." Hunter's expression instantly turned icy. "That's impossible, Nadine. Don't push your luck. I told you I could never love you." The words stabbed through Nadine's heart, and she fell silent. After paying respects at the grave, Hunter left with Serena while Nadine lingered, standing before the grave and whispering a few more words to her parents. She was about to leave when a staff member, James Orwell, stopped her. "Ms. Devine? There's something we thought you should know." Nadine frowned, an ominous feeling rising in her chest. "What is it?" James lowered his head, and his voice was tinged with guilt. "Actually... your parents' ashes... Ms. Hogan had them scattered." Nadine's pupils contracted sharply, barely able to believe what she'd heard. "What did you say?" James sighed. "A few days ago, Ms. Hogan forced us to dig up your parents' ashes. She threatened us when we refused, saying she was Mr. Goldman's beloved and that the Goldman family would make our lives miserable if we disobeyed. "We had no choice but to comply. But our conscience wouldn't let us keep it from you." Nadine's mind went blank as a deafening buzz filled her ears. When she came to her senses again, she was already sprinting out of the cemetery. After making inquiries, she stormed straight into the club where Hunter and Serena were. Dim lights pulsed to the deafening beat of music inside the club. When Nadine burst into the private room, she saw Hunter and Serena sitting on the couch playing a game of truth or dare. Serena had lost, and the penalty required her to kiss Hunter. She lowered her head with feigned shyness and slowly leaned toward Hunter. Nadine charged forward just as Serena's lips were about to touch Hunter's. She grabbed a liquor bottle from the table and smashed it against Serena's head. The bottle shattered with a loud crash. Serena screamed and collapsed to the floor as blood streamed from her forehead. Screams erupted around them, and no one had time to react except Hunter. He stood and immediately slapped Nadine across the face. "Nadine, have you lost your mind?" A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Nadine's mouth, but she barely registered the pain. "I've lost my mind? She's the insane one! Do you know what she did to my parents?" Hunter's expression darkened. "Your parents are dead. What could she possibly have done?" "Their ashes!" Nadine's voice trembled, tears falling uncontrollably. "She scattered my parents' ashes!" Hunter froze, shock flashing in his eyes. But Serena burst into theatrical sobs, her voice dripping with false innocence. "I didn't... Nadine, why would you accuse me like this?" Hunter seemed to recall something too, and his face instantly turned cold. "Nadine, have your framing tactics become this cheap now? How could Serena possibly do such a thing when your parents doted on her since childhood? "You just saw us about to kiss outside and came looking for trouble, didn't you? Let me make this clear, Nadine. Even if Serena and I had kissed, which we didn't, I won't let you off if you dare lay a finger on her." Nadine stood frozen, her eyes brimming with tears. She suddenly threw her head back and laughed as she watched Hunter shield Serena protectively. Her laughter turned to weeping, and tears began streaming down her face. "Hunter, you're such a fool. And so am I. That's why we both deserve to lose what we love forever!" With these words, she turned and walked away laughing, her slender figure radiating finality as she disappeared into the distance.