I Was His Wife, Then His Widow, Then No One's But My Own novel Chapter 55

"You're representing the institute? And what exactly are you bringing to the table? A person needs to understand their own worth, Nora. And you, someone who hasn't worked in years..."

She paused, raking a disdainful gaze over her. "...have absolutely zero value."

Nora offered a faint smile. "So your idea of 'value' is standing in a corner trying to win an argument with me, instead of mingling and securing investments?"

Seraphina's face paled. "You think I want to talk to you? I'm just terrified you'll humiliate the institute and the Fletchers."

Nora nodded, her gaze resting calmly on Seraphina's face. "Well, that just proves you lack competence."

Seraphina froze. "What did you say?"

"If you were actually competent, you wouldn't give me the chance to embarrass you. If you were truly capable, you could carry the institute's reputation all by yourself, without obsessing over whether I drag you down. At the end of the day, you're just terrified that you don't have enough weight to carry the room, so you're projecting onto me."

Seraphina's face flushed with fury, but she couldn't find a single word to fight back.

She knew deep down that her status in the institute wasn't built on academic brilliance, but on the backing of the Fletchers.

Without Finn, she was an absolute nobody in this circle.

But Nora had the undeniable prestige of being Professor Vance's star protege and a solid track record of scientific achievements—things Seraphina desperately lacked.

Just as she opened her mouth to retort, she caught sight of Finn walking toward them.

A calculated glint flashed in Seraphina's eyes. In a blur of motion, she snatched a glass of champagne from the table, gripped Nora's wrist tightly, and flashed a wicked smirk.

Before Nora could even react, the champagne was tipped straight down Seraphina's own neckline, instantly ruining her dress.

Letting out a sharp shriek, Seraphina stumbled backward, her eyes welling up with tears on command.

Hearing the commotion, Finn quickened his pace. Seeing the scene, his eyes darkened instantly.

"Nora, what the hell do you think you're doing!"

Nora watched the entire performance with detached exhaustion, finding the whole charade incredibly boring.

It wasn't her first time witnessing this trick; this was Seraphina's signature move.

In the past, she would have scrambled to defend herself. Now, she just found it pathetic.

"There are security cameras," Nora said, her voice completely flat as she looked up.

He said it without a sliver of hesitation. The truth didn't matter to him; what mattered was who he chose to stand by.

Nora turned her head and let out a dry chuckle.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson on Finn's behalf," Finn practically spat out the words, glaring at her. "Nora, apologize to Seraphina."

Nora stared at the two of them.

One was leaning against him with a soaked dress and red-rimmed, pitiful eyes. The other was shielding her, righteously acting on behalf of a 'dead' man to punish his widow.

It was absolutely hilarious.

She set her juice glass back on the table, lifting her eyes to meet theirs with utter calm. "I won't admit to something I didn't do."

She let out a soft laugh, raising an eyebrow. "Refusing to check the cameras only proves how guilty you are."

Picking up her clutch from the high-top table, she turned to leave. "If you really want to escalate this, call the cops. If you won't look at the footage, the police definitely will."

She had barely taken a step when a large hand clamped viciously around her wrist.