Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Dine doped her gaze. lips pressed tightly together, choosing sex
Why would we thought” Darren eyed her for a long bear, then let out a soft de tinged with darp incuts and as
tably “The kid Hank, nothing stares him, yet here he is, with something be can’t own to venting he ran
He is the question drop, turning instead to a rosewood box at his side. From it, he drew barr gren, glowing wids a watery sheen, took Dina’s hand, and slid it onto her wrist.
He said. “This is the Woodward family’s heirloom bracelet”
His eyes lingered on the luminous jewel, a subtle veil of grief and reminiscence clouding thei lepén. Wat’s not luck ran din: she was gone too soon. Today, I am putting this on you in her place
The chill of the jewel against her skin left Dina reeling,
Word on the street was that Darren spoiled Hank rotten, and it looked like the rumors nailed it. Whatever akses his to, even the bombshell of marrying Blair’s wife, Darren swallowed it whole, even showering her with open favoritism and backing right there in front of everyone.
She’d truly scored the ultimate powerhouse ally.
The worry that had been eating at her all night finally eased. “Thank you, Darren”
“Oh my God! Tell me I’m not hallucinating, Darren just gave Dina the family heirloom bracelet
“This… this spells it out loud and clear. Even if she can’t have kids, she’s still the granddaughter–in–law he respects and
cherishes.”
“Hurry! Let’s go congratulate her. We completely had her wrong.”
The same relatives who’d been snickering and trash–talking moments earlier now flocked to Dina, all smiles and shameless flattery.
In a flash, the group buzzing around Belinda vanished into thin air.
Left holding the baby, Belinda stood isolated on the edges of the crowd.
She stared at Dina, the undeniable star of the show, mobbed like a celebrity, and at how Blair’s eyes were locked on her. unblinking, drawn like a moth to a flame. Jealousy seared through her veins like sulfuric acid, eating away at her organs and all but incinerating her last shreds of reason.
She thought, ‘Why her? I nearly died bringing the Woodward family’s first grandson into the world, but Darren hasn’t spared me a single compliment or token gesture.
‘Yet he’s bestowed the heirloom bracelet, the ultimate badge of family acceptance and prestige, on Dina.
“That useless, infertile nobody who can’t squeeze out a single heir, why does she deserve more? Why is she hogging the limelight? No way am I letting this slide:
A deranged plan wormed its way into Belinda’s head.
She glared at Dina like a viper coiled in the dark, waiting. The moment she spotted her dodging the raucous throng and slipping off alone toward the restroom, Belinda pounced, trailing right behind.
1/4
Chap 14
Sher cut her off plastering on a smile laced with pure venom. Preary pleased with you
apped me now, that you can saunter back into the Woodward family as the pampered Mrs. Wor heating
Now had the words left her mouth than she thrust the swadded baby straight into Dim
De caught him on reflex. The preemie was so fragile and feather–light, like holding a wisp of cloud, that she ara locked in place. She didn’t dare budge, petrified that even a twinch might harm hiem
In that frouen instant, a savage glimt sparked in Belinda’s eyes. She latched onto Dina’s arm, jerking and thrashing madwoman, all while unleashing a frenzied, blood–curdling shriek
“Dina” Are you insane? Just because you can’t pop one out you’re gonna murder my baby? He’s brand new! So small. So delicate! How can you be this cruel? Please, spare him! Don’t throw him down! Please, hand him over… give me back may chaid
Jolied by the frantic shaking, the infant erupted in piercing wails
The uproar yanked every head in the room toward them in a heartbeat.
“Oh my God! Look over there! Dina’s lost it. She’s actually hurting a newborn?”
“That’s horrific! So malicious! She’s got a heart of poiso
“Darren just handed her that bracelet, and now her true colors come out? How could someone like her ever deserve to be Mrs. Woodward?”
“Dina! Let go of my son Blate’s eyes were splitting with fury. He charged forward in a few swift steps, frantically satching the crying child froes Dana’s arms. Without thinking twice, he raised his hand and delivered a vicious slap across her face.
The crisp, echoing smack reverberated through the abruptly silent hall, cutting through the air like a knife.
Dina’s head jerked to the side from the force. Her left check swelled up right away, stinging with intense heat, as a stable taste of blood filled her mouth
She held her face, absorbing the sight of Blair’s good–looking features contorted in rage, the poorly hidden spiteful satisfaction in Belinda’s eyes, and the crowd of faces surrounding them all etched with contempt and condemnation…
Accused by everyone, completely humiliated. Belinda’s scheme was brutal, absolutely venuITIONS.
She’d gone so far as to use her own flesh and blood as a trap, dragging Dina down from her exalted position among the stars right into the gutter, turning her into a parish
“Dina…” Blair’s hoarse voice broke in over the line. I’m giving this willingly. I want to make things right…
“Dina..” Blair gazed at her quickly bruising check, his rashness giving way as some sanity returned. His voice carried a hird of unease, though it was still heavy with accusation. “I didn’t mean to hit you, but you had no right to to hurt stach a small
child.
Dina probed the cut inside her cheek with her tongue, her eyes like ice.
In the very next moment-“Slap” She swung with all her might, landing a resounding smack on Blair’s face. It echoed eves louder than his had
She said, “This one’s for being blind as a bar and dumb as a post, heartless to boot!”
Blair was dared, frozen in place, his pupils contracting sharply, his expression one of sheer incredulity.
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12:00 ZZZ.
troudly luring him in pablir edinngr. How dare she? How can the hear to do it?
We do wolf to one thara’s one see the line Relinda seemed enraged lunging at her and ramming into Dina
Share ingrongested and the cofficiel sent Hermeling Harkward
She sunlit Averty and the carsaring died of her head again the hand floor. She vowed inwardly that as soon as she sandinden dir deinde fe Hair and mash her fare in the ground grinding it raw
bu die anlasat agony severit Xaming elegant am wrapped around her ward and back, catching her solidly The
chaude ass of gine onethget her immediately
Her eyes fesyen meeting pair of gesond icy deaths that made her heart stutter. “Hanke
The word chandelier soonest desam darling light framing him in a cool halo. His towering, straight–backed frame Sante a mobile peak cauding antimidating presence.
Saved medic sharply defined features his thin lips compressed into a stark, frosty line.
Brand snus Sing’s inflamed cheek Who did that?
then
sey and high caring the site of an antic gale, laced with a fearsome edge, like a razor–sharp blade set for dining finagh he fucked hall
alg enter on the inmit the wrongful blame the strike, standing strong alone, like nothing could break her bhi na ahorata ni Hank’s query her facade crumbled. A rush of unexpected sorrow and grievance
sinally and auto back her up shejabbed a finger at the culprit, teeth gritted in complaint “Blair.
Backs you infiet wanted a War prasing him as if he were an inanimate thing. It was bone–chilling
This set thead aim Hank it wa Dina who hurt my baby first. Blair only lashed out in a panic…”“”
The way an art at a Dina tad been rally broken Pank
