Chapter 42 Shameless

Chapter 42 Shameless
KAITLYN

My throat clenches as I stare at the extremely gorgeous woman staring at us. 

She is wearing a red dress that hugs her body perfectly, flaunting her curves. Her dark, lustrous hair sweeps to the side as her dark, penetrating eyes dart over the faces of the guests staring at her and then stop at mine. 

“You didn't bother to tell me about your marriage, Nikolai,” she mutters.

Nikolai grips my hand, saying nothing. He seems to be upset about her appearance. Not just him, but everyone in the room. Everyone has a straight face pulled on or shock bouncing in their eyes.

“When did you return?” A voice breaks out in the crowd, and she turns her head in the direction of the woman who has spoken. 

“Last night. I came back for my father's anniversary. You don't expect me to miss it, do you?” She asks, and the woman chuckles nervously, shaking her head, as silence falls in the hall again. My eyes dim, and I tilt my head to the side. It finally made sense. She is the man’s daughter. A daughter no one wants at the moment.

I look at Elios and notice the frown on his frown and the discomfort in his eyes. He doesn't seem to be happy to see his long-lost daughter.

I glance back at the woman who had boldly questioned her, and I can tell that the smile on her face is false from the fear in her eyes. 

The woman seems mysterious and has a depressing aura surrounding her. She gives me the kind of chills Nikolai gives me. She turns towards us and begins to walk closer, the sinister smile on her face still intact.

“I make the toast,” She says as she stretches her hand towards her father. 

The man's face scrunches up in disgust as he slowly places the glass in her palm.

She turns towards us and places her hand on Nikola's shoulder, squeezing it softly. 

His gaze rises to her face, and I feel my belly tighten as I watch them stare into each other's eyes. 

“Congratulations on your marriage, Nikolai Rider,” she whispers, still maintaining eye contact.

“Thank you,” he mutters and breaks eye contact with her. 

Nikolai turns and grabs my hand, then pulls me against his body. 

The smile on the woman's face fades, and anger flashes across her eyes. She chuckles loudly and takes a step back, and turns to look at me. 

I swear I can see hatred in her eyes, even the bitterness in that chuckle is pretty obvious. 

She forces a smile on her face again and turns to face the crowd. 

“I am making this toast, not just for my father's anniversary as a Capo…” She pauses and turns to look at me again before continuing. 

“But also for the marriage of one of our highest Capos, Nikolai Rider. He found himself a beautiful, innocent woman, Kaitlyn Peterson,” She says, and chuckles ripple through the crowd.

How the fck did she get to know my name? My gaze rises, and my eyes lock with those of Regina. 

She smirks in mischief and turns to look at the woman. 

Her words begin to echo in my head, and I feel shivers run down my spine.

Why do I feel like there is something between this woman and Nikolai? The false smiles and tension between them. The fcking stares and the constant surreptitious glances they exchange.

“Cheers to my father and Nikolia,” she says, and everyone raises their glasses.

Am I the only one who finds it fishy that she calls him just Nikolai? Or am I overthinking?

“Cheers!” the guest says and begins to clink their glasses while gulping down the wine in their glass.

I clench my glass and let my gaze follow her as she goes over to the guests, sending greetings with a wide smile on her face.

A cold hand grips my elbow, and I release a gasp and jerk my head up.

“You aren't drinking?” he asks, bending over with a fake concern in his eyes.

“I am fine!” I snap and snatch my hand out of his grip.

My eyes dart in her direction, and I catch her staring. She swiftly looks away when she realizes that I have caught her.

“You look pale,” he mutters, narrowing his eyes over my body.

“I’m fine!” I snap again, narrowing my eyes in anger.

“Do you mind if I talk with her?” a voice speaks up, and I jerk my head to the side. My heart sinks, and anger kicks in when I find her before me, smiling at Nikolai for approval over her unwanted request.

Nikolai looks at me, his gaze questioning.

“Do you mind being with her?” he asks.

I part my lips to politely twist my words into a refusal, but her father suddenly appears behind Nikolai and grips his shoulder.

“We should talk,” her father says. 

I clench my fist in anger. Now there is no way to say no.

Nikolai sighs loudly and pulls away from me. 

“If you don't feel comfortable, come look for me,” he says, and I nod my head.

Her father glances at her before walking off to join the men at the bar.

“Are you sure you both are fiends?” I say. I'm just as confident as she is. I won't let some stupid aura pull me down and make me crawl back into a shell. 

I'm sure this is what that bich Regina has been looking forward to. I'm going to prove her wrong and end her delusional expectations once again.

The false smile widens as she steps closer, then places her cold hand on my shoulder. I shiver slightly at the coldness of her hand. 

“Why do you think otherwise?” she asks in a calm voice.

My lips stretch, matching her fake smile. It's time to play the crazy bitch I've always been.

“Because he doesn't seem to give a fck about you,” I blurt out, and the smile finally falls.

I've left a good crack in her strong walls of pretense.

She scoffs loudly and picks another glass of champagne from a waiter who passed by.

“I understand that you are feeling insecure, but you don't have to. Nikolai and I have been friends for a long time. In fact, we seem to be more than friends sometimes,” she whispers. My heart gives a wild flip at her last words, but I brush the feeling off, refusing to back down.

“I know. It's more about the secret organization, right?” I say. Silence trails after my words, and we stand there, staring at each other with hatred buried in our hearts.

She suddenly bursts into laughter, shaking her head. 

“The organization, what are you talking about?” she says.

“I mean, it's so obvious..” I pause and swerve my head. 

Regina is approaching us at the moment, and so is the blonde woman.

I turn to face her and place my hand on her shoulder, leaning closer.

“The anger and jealousy say it all. You being in this organization won't help you get Nikolai.”

I feel her stiffening under my grip as she jerks away, the smile on her face gone.

“Is everything okay, Estella?” Regina speaks up. 

Something hits me at the mention of the name, and my eyes darken.

I'm sure I've heard her name somewhere before. I can't seem to remember where. 

The fake smile returns, and she nods her head. 

“I was about to ask her about the relationship between her and Nikolai’s half-brother,” she replies, and my eyes widen in horror.

“I didn't know you were dating that weak Rider. Now I know why Nikolai married you,” she replies, and my chest tightens.

Regina and the blonde woman grin.

“Isn't she so shameless?” Regina chirps.

“Don't say that, Regina. She is his wife now,” Estella says in a mocking tone.

I finally remembered I had heard her name before and why. Did she really think she could pull me down? I won't be going down alone.

I chuckle loudly, and the smile on Regina’s face fades. She knows danm well something is coming.

I step closer, twirling my glass with a smirk on my face.

“I’m not the only one who is shameless,” I say and tug on her dress, then lean closer.

“I heard your engagement got cut off because of your affairs with your friend,” I whisper, and her jaws drop along with her sinister smile.

“What did you say?” she gasps loudly in horror.

Regina and the blonde exchange glances, bewilderment in their eyes.

My lips stretch widely, and mischief fills my heart as I stare up at her and part my lips, ready to crush her.

“You are shameless,” I say boldly, and the glass in her hand falls.