“Pour me another,” Jackson said, handing over his ss with a crooked grin. He looked so pleased with himself, it was almost contagious. <fn5769> This update is avable on </fn5769>


    “I’ve stuck by you for two years. Finally, you’ve put those shameless Newtons in their ce. If you just walk away after all this, I’ll be the one who’s pissed off for you.”


    The Newton family was the absolute worst. Especially Kelly–what a piece of work. She’d barge into their home time and again, looking for any excuse to <b>insult </b>Patricia, never missing a chance to call her a cripple or twist the knife a little deeper.


    And when her own son almost died and someone else saved him, was she grateful? Not a chance. She even had the nerve to ask why anyone would bother saving him. People like her honestly deserved every bit of bad luck they got.


    “No hurry,” Patricia said, calm as ever–even with just twenty–four hours left on the clock. She didn’t need to wait for daylight. The real show would start long before then.


    “Did you send that thing to <b>Nina </b>like I asked?”


    “Yeah, it’s done. Don’t worry,” Jackson replied.


    “You want Joseph to go after Ruby for you?”


    /* <![CDATA[ */


    fpm_start( "true" );


    /* ]]> */


    Patricia poured herself a drink, her tonezy. “Exactly. The Millers are desperate to cling to the Newtons so they can get their hotel brand on the market. But I’m not letting them catch that ride. The second Joseph makes a move on Ruby, Theo’s going to step in for his precious first love. No way he’ll let Joseph get what he wants.”


    Jackson’s eyes lit up. “What’s that called again? Indirect attack?”


    He always admired how Patricia handled things–brains over brawn, every time. Made him wish he’d spent a bit more time in school.


    Jackson slouched into the couch with a dramatic sigh. “Guess brains really do win out. All I’ve


    muscle.”


    e got is


    Patricia smiled at him, gentle and reassuring. “You’re amazing too. Without action, all that knowledge means nothing.”


    Out in the ck Mercedes, Nina curled up in the passenger seat, hugging a pillow, looking like she’d just lost her best friend. Joseph drove in silence, his jaw set, eyes locked on the road.


    At a red light, Nina’s phone buzzed. It was a voice message.


    “Nina, I ran into Ruby and her friends at dinner tonight. You won’t believe what they said about you.”


    “I recorded it. Sending it now. Make sure you listen.”


    Nina tapped y.


    “Who? Joseph? If this were the old days he’d be calling me madam. He’s just ackey–why should I care what he thinks? And his little sister? Honestly, she’s not even worth my time…”


    13:29


    Ruby’s mocking voice filled the car.


    Nina flinched and quickly stopped the recording.


    “y it,” Joseph said, voice ice–cold.


    “Let’s not listen to this stuff, okay?” Nina tried.


    “I said y it.” He reached over, took her phone, and pressed y again. The sneers and insults. spilled out, sharp as <b>ss</b>.


    There’s always a pecking order in this world. He used to look down on Patricia. Now Ruby looked down on him. Back then, Ruby’s words meant something to Theo. But now? Who knew.


    When Joseph finally dropped Nina off at home, he pulled up in the driveway and turned to her. “Go inside and get some rest. Don’t let it get to you.”


    “Where are you going?” Nina asked.


    “I’ve got something to handle. I’ll be back soon,” Joseph said, ruffling her hair to reassure her. Elsewhere, Ruby and Tina were just about to turn into their neighborhood when Ruby’s phone rang.


    Wendy.


    Ruby nced at the screen, then leaned over and whispered, “It’s Wendy. Don’t say anything<b>.</b>” Tina shot her a look–she clearly didn’t like how close Ruby was getting to Wendy’s crowd. But she didn’t argue. After all, Wendy was the sharpest de in Ruby’s arsenal.