RAINA
My heart was racing, and I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling coursing through me. I never thought I’d be in this kind of situation again—confronted by doubts, and mistrust—not this early and definitely not with Nathan. But I had to admit, I didn’t know enough about him to be certain he wouldn’t put me in this position.
Nathan’s expression was unreadable as he looked around the room. Without a word, he gently but firmly took my arm and led me to the side of the room. Another day, another pull. If this kept up, my arm was going to need its own lawyer.
“What did Vivian tell you?” he asked, his voice calm but with an edge of irritation.
I folded my arms, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of sidestepping my question. “No, Nathan. You first. Who is she?”
He sighed, his hand moving to rub the back of his neck as he tried to find the right words. “Vivian’s a coworker,” he explained. “Unfortunately, one who confessed that she liked me. I told her I wasn’t interested, but apparently, that wasn’t enough for her.”
The sincerity in his voice was hard to ignore, but my mind wasn’t letting go so easily. He looked genuine—earnest, even—but wasn’t that a lawyer’s greatest skill? To mask their emotions so well that no one could tell what they were really thinking? Or maybe he was telling the truth. A small part of me clung to that possibility like a lifeline.
My stomach churned as my thoughts spiraled. Why would Vivian say something like that if it wasn’t true? Was she lying? Was Nathan?
I hadn’t even realized I’d zoned out until Nathan snapped his fingers gently in front of my face. “Raina,” he said, his tone softer now, his eyes searching mine.
I blinked, snapping back to reality. Before I could say anything, he pulled out his phone and swiped through it, holding the screen out to me. There, clear as day, were dozens of texts from Vivian. The messages were blatant—confessions of love, pleas for attention, and outright declarations that she wouldn’t give up on him.
“Oh,” I breathed, the weight in my chest lifting slightly. “She’s… persistent.”
“Obsessive,” he corrected, his jaw tightening. “I should’ve dealt with this sooner. I’m sorry you got dragged into it.”
I believed him then. Maybe it was foolish, but seeing the proof made me trust him. Vivian wasn’t just interested—she was obsessed, crazier than Eliza had ever been with Alexander.
But then Nathan smiled, catching me off guard. “What’s funny?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Divorce He Regrets (Alissa Nexus)