Chapter 2

I pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the restaurant.

Right away, I spotted Nathan and Mia sitting by the window.

Nathan was dressed in a tailored suit, attentively cutting a piece of steak for Mia.

Mia sat across from him with a coy smile, her eyes practically dripping with smug satisfaction.

If this had happened yesterday, my heart would have shattered.

Now, they just looked like two clowns in a low-budget circus.

"Nina, you're here!"

Seeing me walk over, Nathan immediately jumped up and pulled out a chair for me.

I smiled faintly and sat down, shifting my gaze toward Mia.

She was sporting the latest Chanel bag, and around her wrist was a sparkling Cartier Love bracelet.

If I remembered correctly, she was complaining last month about not being able to afford her rent.

Clearly, Nathan had been funneling my brother's investment money straight into her pockets.

"Nina, please don't be mad," Mia said softly, flashing her wrist on purpose to let the diamonds catch the light. "Nathan just saw how exhausted I've been with my new project and insisted on treating me to a nice meal."

Looking at that glittering bracelet, I found it hilarious.

"Why would I be mad? After all, you two are such *good friends*."

I put extra weight on the words "good friends."

Nathan gave an awkward little cough.

"Babe, Mia's startup has been having a tough time. As family, we should try to be supportive."

I picked up my water glass and took a slow sip.

"Oh? Supportive how?"

Nathan and Mia exchanged a brief glance.

Then Nathan pulled a folder out of his briefcase and pushed it toward me.

"Here's the thing. Mia's design studio needs to apply for a ten-million-dollar loan."

"The bank requires a guarantor with solid, unencumbered assets."

"I was thinking... you still have that fully paid-off house your parents left you. You could sign as her guarantor."

Staring at the loan guarantee contract, I almost burst out laughing.

Look at my wonderful "husband."

To fund his former flame's little venture, he had the audacity to aim for my only real property.

"Nina, please, don't worry," Mia chimed in with a pleading pout. "I'll make every payment on time."

"Besides, Nathan is a shareholder in my company now. If we get this funding, his company benefits too."

Watching them play their rehearsed routine, I sneered inwardly.

"And what if I say no?"

I slid the contract back across the table.

Nathan's face instantly darkened.

"Nina, don't be so selfish."

"We're married. What's good for my company is good for you, isn't it?"

"Besides, Mia is going to pay it back. You won't even help with a small favor like this? Do you even consider us family?"

Seeing him act so righteously entitled, I wondered if his brain had completely short-circuited.

Who the hell was family with them?

"Nathan, are you sure you want to tally up who owes what?"

I looked straight into his eyes, a mocking glint in mine.

Nathan shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze.

"I'm just thinking about our future," he muttered, irritated. "Fine, if you really don't want to help, forget it!"

He snatched the papers back, visibly pissed off.

Mia slumped in her chair with a sigh, her eyes flashing with pure disgust.

"Forget it, Nate. Nina's an outsider, after all. She has a small-town mindset. It's totally normal for her not to understand our grand vision."

That sentence pushed my buttons.

An outsider?

A small-town mindset?

When my brother handed Nathan fifty million dollars, why didn't anyone call us outsiders back then?

"Mia is right. I truly don't understand your 'grand vision.'"

I grabbed my purse and stood up.

"I have things to take care of. Enjoy your dinner."

"I hope your 'big business' keeps running this smoothly."

Without looking back at Nathan calling after me, I walked straight out into the cool night air.

At the curb, I tapped out a quick text to my lawyer:

"Pull the trigger."

Tonight, I was going to teach these two a harsh lesson in reality.