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Besides the three of them, the surrounding crowd was still watching, curious to see what Nadine would do next.
Her face flushed red, but she had no way out now. Forcing herself to put on a brave smile, she tried to defuse the situation. “Finn, didn’t you say you were going to the office today to review some documents? This was just a minor misunderstanding. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it.”
Her heart was pounding, but she still tried to reach for Finn’s arm. The moment her fingers got close, she froze. His icy aura made her instinctively pull her hand back.
“No need, huh?”
Abel spoke upzily, brushing the loose strands of hair from his forehead. His tone sounded casual, but his eyes were sharp and unreadable.
With his arms crossed, he let out a coldugh. “I know who you are.
“You’re Nadine, right? Uncle Finn’s legal counsel at thepany?”
Abel tapped his chin as he said her name aloud.
His tone gave nothing away, but Nadine still felt a wave of relief.
After all, he had called Finn “Uncle” and Finn hadn’t denied it. Maybe they were family. She could use this connection to get some goodwill from people in Lock Group.
Over the past year when Tess was in prison, Nadine had be the woman closest to Finn, but she’d never once met any of his family.
Now that she had, Nadine straightened her back and made sure to present her best side.
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her smile sweet but her eyes shing with pride. “I’m Nadine Ember,” she said, her tone soft. She was trying to y up her charm.
Abel looked at her with a strange glint in his eyes. His expression shifted subtly, but it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
“I also heard you’re one of the topwyers in Aetheris now?” he added.
“I don’t dare im that,” Nadine replied modestly.
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Chapter 123 Humiliated
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Abel gave a faint smirk. “Then tell me… If someone insults, attacks, and spreads lies about another person in public, and the victim insists on pressing charges, what do you think should happen to the perpetrator?”
His voice was slow and calm, but his gaze was locked on Nadine like a hawk.
His long, narrow eyes focused sharply, the light in them cold enough to make anyone shiver.
Nadine froze, her lips parting slightly, but no sound came out. Her face drained of color.
She wasn’t stupid.
She knew exactly who Abel was talking about. This was all directed at her for what she’d just done to Tess.
The air turned so still it felt suffocating. No one dared to speak.
After a long moment, Abel chuckled softly, breaking the silence. “So … you’re supposed to be Lock Group’s lead attorney, aren’t you? Can’t you even answer a simple question like that?”
He nced over at Finn with a mocking smile. “Uncle Finn, does yourpany not have any hiring standards anymore? Are you just letting anyone in now?”
The crowd sucked in a collective breath.
Most of the onlookers had already figured out who these people were. Three of the four standing here were major figures. And Abel, being Finn’s nephew, came from wealth and power, too.
But this was Aetheris, and Finn was the city’s most powerful man. Even if it was his family member, calling out Nadine like this in front of so many people was practically a p in Finn’s face.
People stole nervous nces at Finn, waiting to see how he would react.
But Finn remained calm with his lips pressed together. He was silent.
Nadine’s heart dropped.
She kept sending Finn desperate looks, begging for help with her eyes. But he didn’t move or respond. In the end, she gave up.
Her mind shed back to that night at the auction when Finn had invited Tess as his date. Nadine’s hands slowly curled into fists beneath her sleeves. Jealousy and bitterness burned in <fn2aee> Read full story at f?ndnovel</fn2aee>
18:51 <b>Sat</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>27 </b>
Chapter 123 Humiliated
her chest, so sharp it almost made her dizzy.
Why?
420 Free <b>Cons </b>
<i>Tess </i>has already cut <i>ties </i>with the <i>Embers</i>. <i>She </i><i>isn’t </i><i>even </i><i>considered </i>a proper <i>socialite </i><i>anymore</i>, so why do all these powerful men still <i>flock </i><i>to </i><i>her</i><i>? </i>
I’m <i>being </i>humiliated <i>right </i><i>to </i><i>my </i><i>face</i><i>, </i><i>yet </i><i>all </i><i>I </i><i>can </i><i>do </i><i>is </i><i>stand </i><i>here </i><i>alone</i><i>, </i><i>enduring </i><i>the </i>mockery <i>and </i>
sarcasm.
Nadine could see it now–Finn was siding with Tess.
What made it worse was the way the crowd stared at her. They didn’t dare look too long at Finn, so they focused on her instead. And when they realized Finn wasn’t stepping in to protect her, which was unlike the rumors being spread around, their gazes became bold, curious, and merciless.
Her cheeks burned. She regretted evering here today. All she had done was make herself <i>a </iughingstock.
Her hand fell limp at her side, slowly balling into a fist under the cover of her sleeve.
Finally, Nadine spoke again. Her voice trembled, cracking with tears. “Finn won’t stay open for long. Let’s go back to the office.”
She forced a smile, trying to steer the conversation away.
…
the file room
Atst, she got Finn’s attention. But when Finn looked at her, his eyes weren’t gentle like they had been with Tess. His gaze was cold and distant in a way Nadine had never seen before.
“You want to leave?” Tess suddenly spoke up.
Holding La in her arms, Tess moved fast, stepping in to block Nadine’s path.