Nina knew what Vicente meant, and added, "So the media will believe that I have cheated on you. Are you worried that they will curse me?"
"Yes." Vicente lowered her eyes. "But I'm more afraid that I will be selfish and not stand up to speak for you. I'm in a very precarious position, Nina. I've sacrificed a lot to guard my title as the count. I have to protect my family.
That's my responsibility and mission." She raised her head again. "You're my good friend, and you're very important to me. But I'm afraid I'll choose my name and reputation over you one day. This is it for me. I'm meant to be here for the rest of my life."
Nina understood what Vicente meant. Everything she said was true. 'Vicente has worked her entire life to get to where she is now. If we divorce, then the public will definitely target me.
Also, there's the matter of John and the children. They are like time bombs at this point. It's relatively easy keeping John's identity a secret, but the children are growing up now.
They're bound to bear a resemblance to their real father and then everyone will get suspicious and start asking uncomfortable questions.'
"Why do you sound so worried? I'm honored to be your friend." Nina smiled. She did not seem to be affected by Vicente's words.
Vicente was stunned. "Didn't you hear what I just said? Why aren't you angry?"
"Why should I be?" Nina asked. "Well, actually, one thing that you said didn't sit well with me. You said you were meant to be here for the rest of your life. We've discussed this before. I don't want you to be trapped here all your life."
"That's the least of our worries." Vicente glared at her. "If our divorce is really made public by the media, people will curse you. Even if I speak up for me, they won't believe it. That's how they are. They love hearing bad things about others. A lot of them like to gossip for fun while some slander those they think are dishonorable."
"I know." Nina was in a good mood. "But still, these are just mere assumptions. We can't know for sure right now how the people will react. You worry too much. As long as you keep Jett under control, no one will oppose you again. As long as you use my identity to amplify your power, anyone who dares to go against you dies."
A fierce look flashed across Nina's eyes. Hearing her resolute words, Vicente trembled. "Nina, you do know that I can't use my title and social status to kill people and shut them up forever, right? And even if I can,
I won't do such an evil thing." Nina was speechless for a moment. "That's why you are unable to defeat Jett."
Vicente's face darkened in response. "I thought we were good friends. Why are you saying this to me?"
"I'm serious." Nina stared at her. "You're not ruthless enough. You couldn't defeat Jett on your own, right? That's why you brought me in to begin with. I understand that you want to live your life honorably and honestly, but if you want to live long enough to stop the bad guys, then you've got to be willing to be worse than they are. Sometimes, being good means wielding bad powers against bad people. It doesn't necessarily make you a bad person. It all depends on how you use it.
Take John for example. Time Group's industrial chain has spread all over the world, and it hasn't gotten that way without John making some enemies. To protect his life's work and everyone who works for him, he's cruel to those who scheme against him, and has made a reputation out of it. He's a good man but not to his enemies, and everyone knows it. Now his enemies fear him, and his allies respect him."
Nina spoke very seriously as if she was giving Vicente some important instructions.
"John treats people very well. He just has an odd way of showing it. For example, his nephew James, the one I told you about. John bullies him every day, but in the process, he also teaches him essential business lessons that he can use to run his own entertainment company someday. There's also Chester who he also mentors and guides about other things since they doesn't want him to become a businessman. He's also good to his assistants, Henry and Richard. John is as good to the people around him as you are to your people."
Vicente quietly listened to Nina's story about John. The more she heard about him, the more she admired him.
"If you haven't told me all this, I will have forgotten again that he's not really a bodyguard but a successful entrepreneur. One of these days, I should go ask him for advice, but..." Vicente trailed off and sighed.
She turned her head and looked at Nina aggrievedly. "Can you stop praising him in front of me all the time? I get it. I'm not as tall and capable as he is. Every time you speak about him like this, I can't help feeling that I'm a loser."
Nina lowered her eyes, feeling guilty. "Does it really hurt you?"
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