Marina seized the opportunity to play the victim, her words tumbling out between sobs. She’d been worried Niamh might deny everything, but now she could milk the situation for all it was worth.
“Jonathan, Niamh revoked my membership from the Jewelry Guild. My suppliers have cut me off, and I’m facing huge fines for breach of contract—not to mention the damage to my reputation. I only came here to beg her for mercy, to ask her to give me a way out. But instead, she insulted me—and then she hit me…”
The more Marina spoke, the more pitiful she seemed, tears streaming down her cheeks as she wept.
“That’s a load of crap!”
Lana couldn’t hold back any longer. “You’re such a fraud, Marina! You were the one who started yelling at Nia. You tried to hit her first—”
Before Lana could finish, Niamh raised a hand to stop her.
Niamh knew all too well that, in front of Jonathan, any rebuttal would be useless. He’d only believe Marina—especially since she was actually crying, looking like the very picture of a wronged damsel.
“Jonathan, you have to believe me. Look at me—I’m a mess. If you hadn’t shown up, who knows what Niamh would have done to me!”
Marina clung to Jonathan’s arm, her tear-filled eyes wide with desperate sincerity.
“…Yeah. I believe you.”
Jonathan’s voice was low and heavy.
Lana let out a sharp, exasperated, “Oh, for God’s sake.”
Jonathan ignored her, his gaze fixed on Niamh. He was waiting, certain that Niamh couldn’t just stand by in silence.
But Niamh only looked back at him, her beautiful eyes calm as a painting—utterly untroubled.
Still calm.
Jonathan, on the other hand, was anything but calm. Anger flickered in his eyes, his brows drawing together.
The look told Niamh all she needed to know: Jonathan hadn’t believed a word Lana had said. He’d sided with Marina, just as she expected.
“Can I have a word with you? Alone?” Jonathan finally spoke.
His voice wasn’t as cold or angry as Niamh had imagined it would be.
“Is that really necessary?” she replied.
“It is.”
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