Chapter 30: Marrying You Was My Biggest Mistake
Nora’s POV
Under the harsh glare of the microscope, my suspicions were confirmed. High concentrations of denatured alcohol stared back at me, a toxic betrayal where there should’ve been none. No damn wonder twelve employees broke out in angry, red rashes. My formula—my life’s work—had been sabotaged.
“Found something?” Lisa’s voice wavered as she leaned over my shoulder, still rattled from Alexander’s earlier shitstorm.
“Someone spiked my samples with industrial-grade alcohol.” I straightened, wincing as my face throbbed from where that bastard had thrown the tainted crap at me. “This wasn’t in my original mix. Not even close.”
Lisa chewed her lip, eyes darting nervously. “Who’d do this? Pissed off someone big?”
Besides my oh-so-charming husband who just humiliated me in front of everyone? I thought, bitterness gnawing at my chest. But then I paused, a wry smirk tugging at my mind. Nah, Alexander wouldn’t stoop to sneaky shit like this. If he wanted to screw me over, he’d do it loud and proud, right in front of the whole damn Kingsley City. That bastard loves his grand gestures.
“Dunno,” I muttered instead, keeping my rage on a tight leash.
“Well, truth always comes out,” she said, squeezing my shoulder. “Hang in there, Nora.”
The lab door swung open, and Jason strode in, his face a storm cloud of grim determination. “Lisa, check on the other employees who tested the samples. I need every symptom documented.”
Once she was gone, Jason dragged a stool over and sat beside me. “How bad?”
“Someone fucked with the formula on purpose. Pure sabotage.” I jabbed a finger at the test results. “This ain’t a mistake. It’s a goddamn hit job.”
Jason nodded, his jaw clenched tight. “I figured. Alex already dug into it and confirmed it’s Robert’s doing.”
“Robert,” I said, my voice sharp and cold as a knife.
“Exactly.” He leaned in, dropping his voice to a hushed tone. “You might wanna lay low. That snake’s got more allies in Claflin Enterprises than you realize.”
I should’ve been pissed, but a strange calm washed over me. “I’m not scared of that slimy bastard.”
Jason tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Why didn’t you just bat your lashes at Alexander before? A little sweet talk, and you might’ve dodged all that crap he threw at you.”
I let out a hollow laugh that even surprised me. “You make it sound so easy.”
“Isn’t it? He’s your husband.”
“Is he, though?” I locked eyes with Jason, my voice sharp. “I bust my ass every damn day to prove myself here. You think Alexander’s ever—even for one second—seen me as his wife and not just some inconvenient burden?”
Jason’s face softened. “I’ve known Alex for fifteen years. He’s... complicated.”
“That’s a polite way of saying he’s a total asshole.” I turned back to the microscope, twisting the focus knob harder than necessary.
“Look, I’m not defending the shit he pulled today. That was fucked up.” Jason raked a hand through his hair. “But there’s more going on than you know.”
I sighed, exhaustion hitting like a freight train. “All I want is to do my damn job. I won’t let my personal bullshit tank the company, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m not worried about the company. I’m worried about you.”
His kindness nearly shattered my walls. I swallowed hard, refusing to crack. “I’ll be fine. Always am.”
---
By six, the burning on my face had dulled to a nagging sting, though red patches lingered like a bad memory. Heading to the elevator, my stomach growled, reminding me I’d skipped lunch. Gotta take better care of us, I thought, resting a hand on my abdomen for a fleeting second.
The doors slid open, and I froze. Robert stood there, looking like death warmed over, pale and unsteady. Despite everything, my ingrained politeness kicked in.
“Evening, Mr. Claflin,” I said, voice icy as I stepped inside.
His head snapped up, eyes blazing with venom. “You’re sneakier than I thought, you little bitch.”
I blinked, genuinely thrown. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t play dumb,” he hissed, bracing himself against the wall. “You knew somehow... and turned it back on me.”
“I have no clue what you’re yapping about,” I said, “Though you look like shit. Maybe watch what you swallow next time.”
His face twisted with rage—and, oddly, fear. “This ain’t over.”
“Oh, and I’m shocked you’re even here,” I added, voice dripping with mockery. “Didn’t think they’d let a scumbag like you out of jail, let alone back to work at Claflin.”
Robert’s jaw clenched, his knuckles whitening on the wall. “That was all Victoria’s doing. She confessed everything. Of course I’m out.”
I laughed, sharp and cutting. “Wow, what a stand-up guy. Letting your wife take the fall for all your dirty shit while you waltz out free. Real classy, Robert.”
His eyes narrowed to slits, fury boiling over. “You’ve got a big mouth for someone in way over her head. Keep pushing, and you’ll regret it.”
“Let me give you a tip,” I stepped closer, voice low and lethal. “Chemistry’s my game. I can whip up stuff that heals... or destroys. Cross me again, and I’ll make sure you choke on more than just regret.”
The color drained from his face, rage mixing with raw panic as the elevator dinged at the lobby. I strode out without a backward glance, savoring the small, sweet victory of watching that bastard squirm.
---
Claflin Estate glowed with lights as my cab rolled up, but something felt... wrong. Edward, the butler, wasn’t at the door. The silence inside was eerie, broken only by the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall.
I headed for the stairs, craving a hot shower to wash away this hellish day.
“Stop right there.”
Alexander’s voice sliced through the darkness from his study. He stepped into the hallway, face hard as granite.
“Tonight,” he said, calm but chilling, “you’ll kneel in the entryway. No moving, no speaking, no standing until I say so.”
I stared, disbelief crashing over me. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“Dead serious.” His eyes were ice, unyielding. “This is what happens when you embarrass me and Claflin Enterprises.”
“I didn’t—”
“KNEEL!” he roared, the sound echoing off the marble.
Every instinct screamed to tell him to go himself. But exhaustion—or maybe some fucked-up sense of self-preservation—made me slowly sink to the cold floor.
Without another word, he turned and vanished into his study, leaving me alone on the hard marble.
Three goddamn hours. Three hours of kneeling, my knees screaming, my back a rod of pure agony. The floor sucked every ounce of warmth from my body.
When Alexander finally returned, I was trembling with fatigue and barely contained rage.
“Learned your lesson?” he asked, looming over me like some medieval prick.
I looked up, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Yeah.”
His brow arched. “And what’s that?”
“That I made one mistake in my life,” I rasped, voice raw but steady. “Marrying your sorry ass.”
A flicker of real hurt flashed in his eyes, giving me a savage thrill before it morphed into icy fury.
“You’ll regret that,” he said quietly, then turned and walked away.
I tried to stand, but my legs were numb. The room spun, black spots dancing in my vision. Not now, I begged silently. Please, not now.
But my body was done. The last thing I felt was the cold marble rushing up as darkness swallowed me whole.