Nadine 0056

Book:Chasing Back What's Mine Published:2024-11-28

“W… what is this?” I stuttered, staring at the picture on her phone that she shoved in my face. I looked closer and realized it was a picture of me with another man.
I gasped, holding my hand to my mouth. “What is the meaning of this?” I asked, trying to steady my voice so I wouldn’t feel intimidated by what she was showing me.
“Either you’re dumb or too blind to see. I think I’ll go with both,” she sneered, dropping the phone from my face.
For a moment, I lost my sense of reality, unable to comprehend what I had just seen on her phone.
“No, that isn’t me,” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. “It can’t be.”
Samantha crossed her arms, a smug look on her face. “Oh, it’s you, I wonder what Logan would think if he saw this.”
The woman in the photo looked exactly like me, but I knew it wasn’t me.
“This has to be some kind of trick,” I said, still shaking my head. “I don’t know who that is, but it’s not me.”
“Then who is this?” she demanded, stepping closer with each word.
I backed up until I was pressed against the kitchen island, feeling trapped. I knew she wouldn’t let this go, she had been trying everything to drive Logan and me apart.
But I couldn’t let her think she had any power over me. Summoning all my courage, I met her gaze head-on.
“What’s your deal, Samantha? Why are you so determined to come between Logan and me?”
Her smirk grew wider like she was enjoying every moment of my discomfort.
“Why? Because you don’t belong with him. Logan deserves someone who can keep up with him, someone who understands his world. And that’s not you.”
Samantha continued, “I don’t like that my Logan ended up with you. You don’t fit him. I wonder what he sees in you that made him marry you. But this,” she said, waving the phone in my face, “this will make Logan furious, and he’ll send you packing, right where you belong.”
I felt a surge of anger, but I kept my voice steady. “That isn’t me, and I don’t know where you got that picture of me and Asher cuddling in bed.”
Samantha’s smirk widened. “Oh, so you even know his name? And yet you still deny you’ve been in bed with him?”
Her words were infuriating, but I wasn’t going to let her get to me.
“Of course I know Asher,” I said, my tone sharp with annoyance.
“He’s Logan’s friend. But that doesn’t mean anything. You’re just trying to make me feel guilty for something I didn’t do.”
Samantha’s eyes narrowed, clearly irritated that I wasn’t crumbling under her accusations.
“You can pretend all you want, but Logan isn’t going to see it that way. He’ll believe what he sees, and when he does, you’re out.”
“You both had to betray him and cuddle up in bed. I wonder what more lies you’re hiding, but I’m sure they’ll all come to light,” Samantha sneered as she grabbed a glass, opened the fridge, and poured herself some water.
She took a long gulp, clearly enjoying the tension she was creating.
“I can’t believe you’d go to the lengths of creating this Photoshopped picture just to convince Logan.”
She put down the glass and looked at me.
“Photoshop? You think this is fake?” she said, bringing the phone closer to my face and zooming in on the image.
“Take a good look.”
I reluctantly looked at the picture again, but I knew the truth. I’d never been in that situation with Asher.
This had to be a trick, but I had no idea how she’d managed to pull it off so convincingly.
Then I remembered my mom saying we’re triplets and Asher mentioning he had a one-night stand with someone who looked like me.
I stepped closer to Samantha.
“Believe me or not, that isn’t me. I don’t care what you plan to do with that picture. But if my marriage to Logan falls apart because of your nasty behavior, I’ll make sure you pay for it.”
“Haha, funny, Nadine,” Samantha said with a mocking tone. “You’ve been caught red-handed and are still denying it. How many more lies can you come up with to cover up your infidelity while still married to Logan? And just so you know, Logan isn’t a fan of cheating. So I suggest you take the easy way out and get the hell out of here before Logan finds out,” She sneered.
I stepped closer, “I’m not going anywhere. And you should know that you’re the one who should leave, Samantha.”
“What I’m doing here is between me and Logan, it’s none of your business, so stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
I wondered why she was so worked up. It seemed like she still had feelings for Logan. I was glad I hadn’t let my guard down earlier when he tried to kiss me.
Samantha’s eyes narrowed as she realized I wasn’t backing down. “You think you can just waltz in and take over, don’t you? Logan and I have a history, something you’ll never understand.”
“History or not, Logan made his choice when he married me. Whatever you two had is in the past, and it’s time you accept that.”
Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “You’re so confident now, but let’s see how long that lasts when Logan finds out about your little affair with Asher.”
“There is no affair, and Logan will see through your lies. You’re only pushing him further away with this.”
But one thing is clear: with Samantha constantly staying in the house, I doubt I will have any peace.
There will always be a reminder that she thinks I don’t belong in Logan’s life, and the worst part is, that Logan isn’t doing anything to make her leave.
This house is going to be toxic for me, especially with the state I’m in now. I’m done sitting back and not standing up for myself.
“You know what? Just get out of my sight and do whatever you want,” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. “I’m tired of sharing the same space with you. To be honest, it’s not going to end well because you’re a thorn in my side.”
As I pushed past her, she stumbled slightly, caught off guard by my sudden burst of anger. I didn’t look back.
I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I had been holding for so long.
I felt a small sense of relief. I had finally stood up to Samantha. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.
I couldn’t let her continue to poison my life, especially now when I needed to stay strong for my baby.
When I reached the dining room, the table was already set. I saw Kiana coming down the stairs, having just finished taking care of Logan.
But even as I tried to focus on the present, the thought of that manipulated photo of me and Asher in bed wouldn’t leave my mind. It made my stomach churn.
Logan had made it crystal clear that there was to be no involvement with any other man while we were in this contract marriage, and I had held up my end of the bargain.
With that in mind, I walked up the steps to Logan’s room to call him down for breakfast. I slowly knocked on the door, then turned the knob and stepped in.
“Break…f-” I stopped in my tracks, my words catching in my throat as I took in Logan’s expression.
His jaw was clenched, and his face was twisted with anger. The air in the room felt cold and tense.
“How dare you, Nadine,” he said in an icy tone that sent a chill down my spine.
My heart dropped. Something was very wrong.