From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 83

**Chapter 7**

“Cedric!” Fiona’s voice was a blend of reluctance and irritation, her words dripping with a sense of entitlement that made the air feel thick with tension.

He didn’t respond verbally; instead, he shot her a piercing glance, one that conveyed a myriad of unspoken sentiments—frustration, irritation, and perhaps a hint of weariness.

With a resigned sigh, Fiona made her way towards the door, her posture rigid as she moved, each step echoing her dissatisfaction with the situation.

Just as she reached the threshold, an impulsive idea struck her, compelling her to pivot on her heel. Her expression morphed into one of urgency mixed with anxiety.

“Nina, my bag is still on the table. Can you pass it to me?” she called out, her voice tinged with an underlying desperation that was impossible to ignore.

Rolling my eyes in exasperation, I couldn’t help but find her theatrics tiresome. I walked over to the table, snatched the bag, and extended it towards her.

But in that fleeting moment, I noticed her hand jerk back as if it had been stung by a bee, just as she was about to grasp the handle.

The bag slipped from my fingers, falling to the ground with a soft thud, its contents erupting like a chaotic fountain.

Fiona dropped to her knees, her eyes widening in sheer panic.

“Oh no! The perfume I bought for Cedric is shattered!” she cried out, her voice climbing in pitch as a wave of distress washed over her. “I had to plead with someone to bring it back from a shop in France. It was such a hassle!”

Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she continued, “It was supposed to be a birthday gift for him,” her sobs escalating into heart-wrenching cries.

“Nina, I know you can’t stand me, but why can’t you just be honest? Why do you always resort to these childish tricks?” she lamented, her words a painful mix of hurt and accusation.

Cedric moved closer, his expression shifting from confusion to concern as he took in the sight of the shattered perfume nestled among the scattered items. He gently lifted her up, trying to soothe her distress with the kind of tenderness that seemed to betray the turmoil brewing between us.

“It’s okay, Fiona. It’s just a bottle of perfume,” he reassured her, his voice calm and steady, yet it felt like a thin veneer over the brewing storm.

But she was inconsolable, insisting that all her efforts had been in vain, that I had deliberately orchestrated this disaster.

“Nina, you need to apologize to me in front of everyone today,” she demanded, her voice quivering with indignation, her eyes ablaze with a mixture of fury and desperation.

“Fiona, you’re the one who pulled your hand back; this isn’t my fault,” I replied, striving to maintain my composure despite the rising tension that felt almost suffocating.

“Cedric…” she wailed, wrapping her arms around him, seeking his support as if he were her last lifeline in a stormy sea.

He patted her back gently, trying to offer comfort, “Don’t cry. This isn’t good for the baby.”

Yet, her sobs only intensified at his words, amplifying the emotional chaos that enveloped us.

“I’m pregnant, and you know my emotions are all over the place! I want to create a good environment for our child, but I can’t help it…” she cried, her voice cracking with anguish, each word a dagger to my heart.

“She destroyed my things, and all I want is an apology from her. Isn’t that fair?” she added, her eyes darting between us, searching for validation, her desperation palpable.

With a pointed gesture towards her belly, I added, “Do you really want your own child to bear the burden of being a bastard from birth?”

His demeanor shifted abruptly, agitation flaring in his eyes as he pushed me onto the sofa, his fury palpable, a storm brewing within him.

“Let you go? It’s not that simple!” he growled, his voice low and threatening, sending chills down my spine.

“You want a divorce from me? Not in this lifetime!” he declared, his face contorted with rage, the intensity of his emotions almost overwhelming.

“Don’t think I’m oblivious. It’s because Ewan is back, isn’t it? You want to discard me the moment he returns. How could I possibly allow that?”

“Threatening me with a child?” I shot back, my voice rising in defiance, a flicker of rebellion igniting within me.

“Rest assured, I don’t care at all. All I want is to see you, Nina, suffer and regret your betrayal,” he hissed, pinning me down on the sofa, rendering me immobile, a captive to his wrath.

I felt a lump rise in my throat, a suffocating sensation that left me gasping for breath, fighting against the tide of emotions that threatened to drown me.

I struggled against him, attempting to push him away, but my efforts were futile; I was trapped in a storm of emotions and conflict, unable to escape the tempest swirling around us.

In the aftermath of the chaos, the air hung heavy with unresolved tension and raw emotions. The confrontation between Nina and Cedric had stripped away the pretense of their relationship, revealing the fractures that had long been buried beneath the surface. As Nina’s plea for freedom echoed in the room, it became painfully clear that the love they once shared had decayed into resentment and bitterness. Cedric’s refusal to acknowledge her pain only deepened the chasm between them, transforming their once-shared dreams into a battleground of accusations and despair. The storm that raged within Nina mirrored the tempest outside, a reflection of her internal struggle to reclaim her identity amidst the turmoil of their crumbling partnership. Ultimately, Nina stood at a crossroads, her heart pounding with the weight of her choices. The desire to break free from the toxic cycle of blame and manipulation surged within her, igniting a flicker of hope amidst the despair. Yet, Cedric’s fierce grip on their shared history and his unyielding anger threatened to pull her back into the darkness. As she grappled with the reality of her situation, the prospect of liberation felt both exhilarating and terrifying. With the storm still raging outside, Nina resolved to seek a path toward healing, determined to reclaim her voice and forge a new beginning, even if it meant facing the tempest head-on.

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**
As the storm of emotions continues to swirl around Nina, Cedric, and Fiona, the tension is set to escalate in the next chapter of “Storm Behind Sleeps.” With Nina’s bold declaration of wanting a divorce hanging in the air, the fragile dynamics between the three characters are bound to shatter further. Will Cedric confront his own insecurities and the truth behind his possessiveness, or will his rage blind him to the reality of the situation? Readers can expect a deep dive into Cedric’s psyche as he grapples with feelings of betrayal and jealousy, particularly with Ewan’s looming presence in the background. Moreover, Fiona’s emotional turmoil is just beginning. The implications of her pregnancy and her desperate need for Cedric’s validation will likely lead her to take drastic measures to secure her position. Will she become an ally to Cedric, or will her desperation cause her to lash out at Nina in unforeseen ways? As the chapter unfolds, the stakes will rise, and the reader will be left on the edge of their seat, wondering how far each character is willing to go to protect their interests. The aftermath of the explosive confrontation promises to reveal hidden truths and force alliances to shift, setting the stage for an even more tumultuous journey ahead.