The Replacement Heiress

Thankfully, Nina didn't have to force herself to say anything because the sound of soft footsteps behind her broke the silence. Turning her head, she saw who it was, and relief poured through her like a tidal wave.

"Master Graves, I was told to inform you that the party is over. And Miss Adelaide, your presence is needed by your parents," the servant said, bowing slightly.

Nathan didn't move. He didn't even acknowledge the interruption, sitting there as if rooted to the bench. His silence surprised Nina, but honestly, she didn't care. If he wanted to pretend to be a statue, that was his problem, not hers.

She was about to stand and leave when suddenly, his hand shot out, resting firmly on her lap.

Her eyes widened in shock at the boldness of the gesture. Every nerve in her body screamed to shove his hand away, but then reality crashed in: she wasn't herself. She was Adelaide, and whatever dynamic Adelaide had with Nathan, she had to tread carefully.

"Let go of me, Nathan," she said, her voice cold, measured.

He flinched, his fingers twitching slightly, and for a moment, she thought he'd obey. But instead of letting go, he looked at her with an expression she couldn't quite place-hurt, confusion... something deeper.

The way he flinched at the mention of his name made her pause. Had she said it wrong? He was Nathan, right? Doubt crept into her mind, but she forced herself to maintain the icy exterior.

"Why?" he asked, his voice low and sharp. "Were you gaslighted again?"

His words hit her like a slap. She blinked, stunned for a second, before quickly regaining her composure. "And why would you think that?" she said, keeping her tone steady, though her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

He didn't answer immediately, and she seized the moment to add, "Well, it doesn't matter what you think, Nathan. It's late, and you should go now."

His hand flinched again, and this time, his face twisted with something that looked dangerously close to pain.

"You stopped calling me that a few months ago," he said softly, his voice carrying a sadness that made the air feel heavier. "What's wrong, Addie?"

The nickname made Nina's stomach churn. His familiarity, the weight of whatever history they'd shared, hung in the space between them like a storm cloud.

Oh God. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. Her suspicion had been right-Adelaide had been seeing two Graves. For someone so frail, she certainly had a knack for making bold choices.

Now that Nina was caught in the middle of this tangled web, she was utterly lost. Who had Adelaide truly loved? Why had she been cheating on Axel when they were engaged to be married next month? And more importantly, what on earth had Nina gotten herself into?

She swallowed hard, fighting the urge to bolt. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," she said finally, trying to keep her voice steady. "But I need to go."

She glanced over her shoulder, spotting Rose standing nearby, waiting patiently. She was the perfect excuse to escape this awkward and increasingly tense situation.

"Goodnight, Nathan," Nina said, mustering as much calm as she could. She was about to stand when his hand shot out again, gently but firmly holding her in place.

"Stay a little while longer," he said, his voice softer now, but his expression deadly serious-an expression she hadn't seen on him all night. "Please."

The plea in his tone, coupled with the intensity in his eyes, froze her. It was as if her limbs and mind were no longer her own; she was suddenly incapable of acting on her own will.

"Miss Adelaide..." Rose started to speak, her voice cutting through the tension like a lifeline.

But Nathan whipped his head toward her, his face darkening with anger. "Get out of here," he snapped.

"But-"

"I said go," he growled, his glare so sharp it could have cut through stone.

Rose hesitated for barely a second before scurrying away, disappearing into the shadows.

Nina stared at Nathan, completely bewildered, trying to process how this situation had spiraled so quickly. How had she managed to land herself in this mess?

One thing was clear: she couldn't stay. Whatever Nathan thought, whatever he said, it didn't matter. She had to leave.

Without another word, she rose to her feet, determined to put an end to this. But before she could take a single step, Nathan grabbed her hand and stood as well, his eyes filled with an intensity that made her stomach twist.

"When will I see you again?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost pleading.

"I don't know," she replied, keeping her tone as steady as she could, though her insides were anything but.

"What really happened during those two months, Adelaide?" His voice broke slightly, his confusion and desperation palpable. "Why are you suddenly so cold to me? Were you threatened?"

Sweet Jesus. Her stomach dropped. She had failed miserably in her role as Adelaide with Nathan, and it was showing. This wasn't sustainable. If she didn't pull herself together and play along, he'd start asking questions-dangerous ones.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she forced a small, practiced smile. "You didn't do anything wrong, Nathan. I'm just tired, okay? We'll talk another day." She shrugged the jacket off her shoulders and handed it back to him, her fingers brushing against his briefly.

But even then, he didn't let go. Instead, he leaned in closer, his intentions unmistakable. Her senses screamed at her to act before this spiraled any further.

"What are you doing?" she blurted, her voice laced with alarm she couldn't quite mask.

His lips curled into a faint smirk, but there was something unsettlingly sincere in his gaze. "Can't I at least get a goodnight kiss?"

She almost shouted, No, absolutely not! But she bit down on the words, forcing herself to maintain the calm, composed facade she had practiced so many times. Instead, she managed a light tone, "Not tonight, Nathan."

He pouted, his playful expression doing little to lighten the tension between them. "That's not fair," he said, tilting his head slightly. "How about a hug then? Surely you can't say no to that."

Her mind raced. Refusing would draw too much attention-it would be suspicious. With reluctant resolve, she gave a stiff nod. "Fine. A hug."

Before she could brace herself, Nathan pulled her into a hug so tight she felt like the air had been knocked out of her lungs. His arms wrapped around her as though he never wanted to let go.

"I missed you," he murmured into her ear, his voice thick with emotion. He repeated it like a mantra, along with a string of sweet nothings she couldn't bring herself to focus on. Every fiber of her being was on high alert, desperate to escape this moment without creating a scene.

She tried to steady her breathing, forcing herself to remain still, but inside, she was plotting her next move. There was no way she could let this happen again.

Then, like divine intervention, the sound of footsteps echoed behind her. Relief flooded through her, but as quickly as it had arrived, it dissipated when she heard Mrs. Whitlock's sharp, authoritative voice cut through the tension.

"Adelaide, get over here. Nathan, it's time for you to return to your family. The party's over."