Marina spoke in a gentle, honeyed voice, but when she saw Jonathan remain silent, she quickly tried to walk back some of what she’d said.
“But really, you can’t blame Niamh for all this. These days, if you don’t have a bit of cunning, you’ll never make it to the top. At least now we know she’s got Preston looking out for her, so that’s something, right? I mean, when I first saw her waiting tables here, I thought she must be strapped for cash. Now it all makes sense–she was just trying to get close to Queen Elizabeth…”
Marina knew she was talking too much, but the fact that Niamh had called Preston over and stolen their project was right there in front of them–it wasn’t like she was making things up.
As long as her words could plant a seed in Jonathan’s mind, she was sure it would take root eventually.
Jonathan stayed silent for a very long time.
His expression was icy, as cold and distant as snow on a mountaintop that never melts.
Marina had no idea what he was thinking.
“I’ll go return the first aid kit.”
Jonathan finally broke the silence.
A trivial thing like a first aid kit–anyone could’ve returned it.
But before Marina could say anything, Jonathan was already gone.
His hand clenched the handle so tightly that, even when the plastic snapped beneath his grip, he didn’t let go.
er social
In the restroom, Susy ran into Marina and immediately unleashed a furious tirade, forgetting all about the polished composure expected from someone c standing.
If Marina hadn’t played her little tricks on Niamh tonight, Niamh never would’ve had
a chance to even get near Queen Elizabeth–let alone set off the chain of events that followed. A real butterfly effect.
So who ended up humiliated tonight? Was it Niamh?
Not at all. It was Susy herself.
“Alright, alright, yell at me all you want–but do you really think I’m happy watching Niamh walk off with such a win?”
Marina knew she was partly to blame, so she waited until Susy’s anger was spent before snapping back, “I lost the project because of Niamh too, you know… In the end, it all comes back to whatever Niamh said to Queen Elizabeth at dinner. The moment the Queen left the table, her attitude toward both of us changed completely…”
The memory made Marina’s blood boil.
That Frostvale Queen’s crown commission had taken her ages to secure–she’d begged Jonathan to pull every string he could. Now, even if Queen Elizabeth said the final payment would be honored, was that really the point?
The world of jewelry design was a small one. It wouldn’t be long before everyone knew that Marina’s crown for the Queen of Frostvale had lost a stone, and that it was a disgraced designer–banished from the industry–who’d repaired it and ended up taking over the commission entirely.
She’d be a laughingstock.
Marina’s face darkened.
And it wasn’t just her career–her love life was a mess too.
Jonathan had promised her that once he divorced Niamh, she would finally have her place at his side. Now both marriages were over, but the promise of a future together had vanished without a trace.
The anxiety gnawed at her, but she didn’t dare push for answers.
How had she, Jonathan’s beloved first love, ended up in such a pitiful position?
In her mind, all of it was Niamh’s fault.
“Niamh is completely unnecessary…”
The last time at Blackspire, she’d failed to get rid of her–a huge mistake.
“Susy, we can’t afford to turn on each other.”
Marina’s eyes burned with intensity as she looked at Susy.
“Niamh’s screwed us over enough. It’s time she paid the price.”
