The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Chapter 88

ZANE

The second I saw the bright red handprint blooming across her fair cheek, something inside me snapped.

Astra’s skin was so pale that the mark stood out like a brand, five clear fingers burned into her soft, delicate face. My Trouble. My fucking girl. Someone had dared to put their hands on her.

Rage like I’d never felt before flooded my veins.

I grabbed her wrist, firm but careful, and started pulling her back toward the dressing room.

“Zane, no!” she cried, digging her heels in, tears streaming down her face. “It’s fine, please! It’s not like it’s the first time…”

I stopped dead, turning to look at her.

“What the fuck do you mean it’s not the first time?”

She was sobbing now, big ugly tears that broke something in my chest. Her voice cracked as she tried to speak through them.

“I’m poor, Zane… I have nothing. People like them… they’ve always looked at me like I’m dirt. This is normal for someone like me. Please, just let it go. I need to take this dress off and find a way to fix it or pay for it, but I don’t even have the money, I should not…”

Her words only made me angrier.

“You are not paying for shit,” I bit out then tightened my grip on her wrist and pulled her with me, ignoring her weak protests. “And no one gets to put their hands on you. Ever.”

I pushed the door open.

Catherine Whitmore was standing there, talking loudly to my mother.

“… you need to fire that thing immediately, Elira. She’s clearly violent and unstable. Attacking my daughter like a feral animal? It’s disgraceful. People like her don’t belong…”

I stepped inside, Astra half-hidden behind me, still crying.

“What the fuck did you just say?”

The room went silent.

Everyone turned.

Catherine’s eyes widened, then narrowed in disgust. Elira looked shocked.

“Zane,” Mom said, stepping forward.

Catherine recovered quickly, pointing at Astra. “That little gold-digger pushed my daughter and ruined an expensive dress! She should be thrown out!”

I felt Astra flinch behind me. Her quiet sobs tore at something raw inside my chest.

I stepped forward, pulling Astra gently with me so everyone could see the bright red handprint on her cheek.

“You slapped her,” I said, my voice deceptively calm while fury roared through my veins. My gaze locked on Catherine like a

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predator sighting prey. “You put your fucking hands on what’s mine.”

“Zane,” Mom said firmly. “I know you’re angry, but this isn’t the time.”

Catherine lifted her chin haughtily. “She deserved it. These people need to learn their place.”

I smiled, but there was nothing friendly about it.

“Her place,” I repeated slowly, “is under my protection. Touch her again and you’ll regret it. And you…” I looked at my mother, voice sharp. “You let someone slap the girl living under our roof? The one taking care of my brothers? Really. Mom?”

Elira looked stricken. “I was handling it.”

“Not fast enough.” I cut her off.

Then I turned back to Catherine.

“Get the fuck out of my mother’s event. And stay the hell away from Astra.”

Catherine looked genuinely stunned for the first time.

“You don’t speak to me that way.”

I took a step toward her.

“Then stop giving me reasons to.”

I felt Astra’s fingers curl into the back of my jacket.

“Zane…” she whispered shakily. “Please…”

I barely heard her.

Catherine stared at me in disbelief before turning sharply to my mother.

“You’re seriously going to stand there and allow your son to speak to me that way?”

The room was so quiet I could hear Astra’s uneven breathing behind me.

Elira took a slow breath.

“Catherine, emotions are running high right now. Let’s all take a step back and..”

“Oh, don’t insult my intelligence, Catherine snapped, cutting her off. “Your little charity project attacks my daughter, ruins an expensive gown, and now your son is threatening me”

Maya shifted beside her mother, looking shocked. For the first time all night, she didn’t look smug. She looked shaken.

Elira’s expression hardened slightly.

“Astra did not attack your daughter.”

Catherine laughed coldly.

“Is that what we’re doing now? Taking the nanny’s side over mine?”

“No.” Elira replied evenly. “I’m saying that slapping an eighteen-year-old girl was unacceptable.”

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Catherine’s face went rigid.

For a moment, neither woman spoke.

Then Catherine grabbed Maya’s arm.

“We’re leaving.”

“Mom..” Maya started.

“Now.”

She turned her icy gaze on me one last time.

“This isn’t over.”

I smiled.

“It is if you stay the hell away from Astra.”

Something ugly flashed across Catherine’s face.

Then she spun on her heel and marched toward the door, dragging Maya with her.

Maya glanced back once, her eyes darting from Astra’s tear-streaked face to mine.

For the first time since I’d met her, she looked genuinely uncertain.

The door slammed behind them.

The entire room seemed to exhale.

I pulled Astra into my chest as she cried.

For the first time, I didn’t care who saw.

She was mine.

And anyone who forgot that was going to learn the hard way.

The room remained quiet after Catherine and Maya stormed out.

Mom stepped forward, regret etched across her face as she gently took Astra’s hands.

“Astra, sweetheart… I’m so sorry,” she said softly, voice thick with emotion. “I should have stepped in faster. I never wanted you to be treated like that in my home.”

Astra lifted her head.

“I… I’m the one who’s sorry,” she whispered. “The dress… it’s ruined. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Elira’s eyes softened.

“Oh, sweetheart, stop that,” she said gently. “The dress is just a dress. None of this was your fault.”

Astra’s lips trembled.

Elira brushed away her tears before her expression tightened.

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“Oh, darling…”

Her fingers hovered near Astra’s cheek.

“We’ll get some ice and arnica cream on this right away so it doesn’t bruise too badly.”

She glanced at one of her assistants.

“Bring some ice and the soothing gel, please.”

I stepped forward.

My hand found Astra’s waist, pulling her gently against my side.

“Mom, I’ll take care of her.”

Elira looked up at me.

“Zane…”

I shook my head.

“She needs a minute.”

My gaze settled on Astra.

“Come on, Trouble,” I said quietly. “Let’s get some ice on that cheek.”

Astra tried to protest.

“Zane, the event…”