A Dangerous Kind of Purity

I had no idea what she was up to, but I followed her up.

The moment we stepped inside, she yanked off her mask. A foul, rotting smell hit me immediately. Her mouth was covered in angry red sores–disgusting to look at.

I forced a concerned tone. "What happened to you?"

She tossed the mask aside. "The piercings got infected. You used to be a doctor. Take a look."

I hesitated.

She suddenly grabbed a knife and pressed it against her face, her voice turning hysterical. "Hurry up! Or I'll tell Mom and Dad you've been bullying me!"

That trick of hers had a hundred percent hit rate.

She might be a foster, but after fifteen years my dad treated her like blood. He defended her on autopilot.

Just earlier, even though I was clearly the one wronged, he had not said a word.

I let out a quiet sigh. "Fine. Put the knife down. Looks like the friction is too much. The implant sites are tearing."

"I'll go to the pharmacy and get you something to ease it for now."

She smiled, smug. "By the way. Since you've been keeping tabs on Marcus, the second you spot anything off, you tell me."

"Once I'm officially Mrs. Mercer, I'll put in a word with Mr. Mercer about you. Marcus has a cousin. The lame one. Edward. You'll be set up with him."

"Don't act like that's beneath you. He's a Mercer. Without me, you don't get within a mile of that family in this lifetime."

I made a noncommittal sound and walked out.

On my way to the pharmacy, my assistant called.

"Ms. Sterling, there's an update on Whitney Bell."

I pulled up the date. Right on schedule. Marcus's first love Whitney Bell, was flying in. Her flight would land in less than thirty minutes.

I went to the pharmacy, then quickly headed back. I swapped a few vitamin tablets into an antibiotic box and handed it to Nina.

She saw me hesitating and kicked me, annoyed. "I hate it when you act like this. If you have something to say, just say it."

I drew a slow breath. "Marcus's first love is back in town. They're meeting at the Royale Hotel, room 7032."

Her expression changed instantly.

She yanked the mask back over her mouth and stormed out, fury in every step. "First love? She dares to seduce my fiance? Let's see how far she gets."

She let out a cold laugh. "Imagine her face when she watches Marcus undone in front of me. That's going to wreck her."

After she left, I finally relaxed.

An hour later, the Mercer family came calling. The first words out of their mouths were that they were canceling the engagement.

Vivian's face turned red with anger. "What is the meaning of this. Are the Mercers playing games with my Nina?"

I took my time and produced photos my surveillance team had gotten at the airport. "Half an hour ago, my sister went chasing after Marcus. Cheating allegation. Royale Hotel, room 7032."

Vivian saw the photos and slapped me hard across the face. "Why didn't you say something earlier?!"

"The nerve of that woman–trying to seduce my daughter's fiance! Get people there now! I want her dragged out of that hotel!"

My dad was banging the table. "Go now! Calling off the engagement is one thing–Nina getting hurt is another!"

He paused, then turned to me. "Penny, you know people in the media. Call them. If the Mercer family tries anything, I want their reputation destroyed by tomorrow."

I gave him a docile little nod.

The whole convoy roared up to the front of the Royale, and we marched up to room 7032.

From inside came unmistakable, explicit sounds.

Vivian clutched at her chest. "She's heartbroken in there. I will not let him get away with this."

On her order, security kicked the door in. I lunged in first and slapped the lights on.

The whole room went still. Vivian sank to the floor.

"Nina… what are you doing?!"