From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 70

**Chapter 3**

From that moment onward, Ryker began to inundate Nova with flowers, ordering them with an almost obsessive fervor.

Roses, peonies, magnolias, lilacs—they came in a riot of colors, filling our villa with their intoxicating scents.

It was transforming into a veritable sky garden, a paradise that felt both enchanting and suffocating.

And as the days turned into weeks, I couldn’t help but notice how Ryker and Nova were drawing closer, their bond deepening like the roots of a tree, intertwining and strengthening with each passing moment.

Then, one fateful day, Ryker made a declaration that took us all by surprise. He announced his intention to sponsor Nova’s education.

“She’s just a teenager. So bright and hardworking. It would be a tragedy to let her potential wither away,” he said, his voice filled with a conviction that made my heart sink.

Nova fidgeted, her hands twisting nervously, the roughness of her calloused fingers betraying the hard work she had endured.

Her sun-kissed face broke into a smile—a smile that was both anxious and eager, as if she was desperate to please.

“Allison… I promise I’ll study hard. I swear,” she said, her voice trembling with a mix of hope and fear.

“I used to excel in my studies. I only dropped out because of my mother’s tragic car accident. I had to step up and support the family,” she continued, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“If you just give me this chance, I swear I won’t let you down!”

Her youthful face bore the marks of exhaustion, lines that seemed far too heavy for someone of her age.

As I gazed into those earnest eyes, a wave of nostalgia washed over me.

I was transported back to a memory of eight-year-old Ryker, sitting alone in that dimly lit stairwell, looking lost and helpless.

The softness in my heart returned, a familiar ache that I had tried to suppress.

For a long time, I had taken Nova under my wing, treating her as if she were my own little sister.

I showered her with gifts—new clothes, skincare tips, and guidance on how to navigate the complexities of the world.

She called me “Allison” with a tone that was sweet and full of gratitude, often expressing how I was the best person in her life.

She promised me that if she ever had the opportunity, she would repay my kindness in ways I could only dream of.

And she didn’t disappoint.

She earned a spot at the same university where Ryker and I worked.

The night she received her acceptance letter was a moment of pure elation, or so I thought.

**Chapter 3**

In a whirlwind of excitement, she climbed into Ryker’s bed that very night.

I had left work early, my heart set on preparing a grand dinner to celebrate her monumental achievement.

But when I arrived home, the scene that greeted me was one that shattered my heart into a million pieces.

Their clothes were half-off, bodies entwined in a way that left no space between them, as if they were two halves of the same whole.

In that instant, fury erupted within me.

I lost all composure, hurling the cake I had lovingly baked at them, the sweet confection splattering across the room.

In a fit of rage, I smashed every potted plant in the house, the sound of shattering clay echoing my despair.

Ryker stood protectively in front of Nova, his cold, detached gaze fixed on me as if I were an annoyance he could easily dismiss.

“Allison. Are you done? Please close the door behind you when you leave,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth.

“You may not care about shame, but Nova does,” I shot back, my voice trembling with indignation.

In that moment, it became painfully clear where his loyalties lay.

Between me and Nova, he chose the homewrecker without a moment’s hesitation.

I couldn’t bear it. I demanded an explanation, my heart racing with a mix of anger and betrayal.

He frowned at me, as if I were the unreasonable one in this twisted scenario.

“Allison, you’re still my wife. As long as you don’t cause trouble, Nova will never threaten your position,” he replied, his tone dismissive.

In a desperate plea, Nova dropped to her knees before me, her eyes pleading.

“Allison, I know I’ve wronged you. But Ryker and I—we’re in love. It’s real love,” she confessed, her voice trembling.

“We’re soulmates. We understand each other in ways that no one else ever could,” she continued, her sincerity cutting through the tension.

“I won’t forget everything you’ve done for me. I don’t need a title. I won’t compete with you,” she insisted, her voice steady despite her obvious distress.

“I just… I just want to be by his side. That’s all.”

Back then, I was in my twenties—young, proud, and utterly incapable of swallowing even the smallest slight.

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