Chapter 1514: keep in touch with the devil

"Tell me — didn’t Finn leave recently? Do you even know where he went? Let me guess. He told you it was a business trip, when in fact, it wasn’t."

Nina paused, slowly turning back to face Mrs. Davis. The latter sneered, the malice in her eyes as clear as day.

"Have you considered it, Nina? Why would your fiancé lie to you?" Mrs. Davis continued. "Let me tell you. Because whether he tells you or not, it wouldn’t make a difference. You wouldn’t be of help. Telling you won’t change anything. And that, right there, is one more reason I don’t approve of this union."

Nina balled her hands into tight fists until her nails dug into her palms. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as she tried to control her emotions — just as she always had. After all, she knew Mrs. Davis wasn’t just trying to hurt her, but to prove a point.

Even so, it was insulting.

"I—"

"Nina!"

Just as she opened her mouth, both women heard Finn’s voice ring out in the distance. They turned their heads to see him storming toward them.

"Finn," Nina whispered, a wave of calm washing over her at the sight of him. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she felt like crying the moment she laid eyes on him. But she didn’t.

When Finn reached her, he immediately looked her over. His face showed panic and concern, though he tried to mask it with gentleness as he examined her from head to toe.

Mrs. Davis frowned at her son’s reaction. "Finn, why are you looking at her like that? It’s not like I would hit her."

"That’s enough." Finn turned and took Nina’s hand, standing between her and his mother. "Mom, that’s enough. No more."

"Hah! Finn, is that how you speak to your mother?" Mrs. Davis snapped, taking a step forward—only for Finn to step back protectively, shielding Nina. Seeing this, her fury ignited. "Are you really going to be like this?! Ready to ruin your relationship with your family for her?!"

"The time you and Dad used your connections to get Nina kicked out of her company," Finn said through clenched teeth, "she’s the one who stopped me from coming here to confront you. Had it not been for her, I would’ve cut ties with you both right then and there."

He nodded, his voice calm but resolute. "This relationship—mother and son, father and son, husband and wife—has always been strained from the beginning. Severing ties would only be the final step in cutting what was already broken. And if that’s what it takes to protect the woman I’m going to marry and the future mother of my children, then yes. I’ll do it."

Finn lowered his head slightly, his tone steely. "Don’t cross the line again. Or don’t blame me for how far I’m willing to go to protect my wife, Madam Davis. I already cleared this with your husband."

Nina clutched his arm, feeling the slight tremble in his grip. "Finn..."

"Let’s go," he whispered, casting her a soft glance. Then, to his mother, he said, "And don’t ever talk to her again."

Nina pursed her lips and followed him, his hand still tightly holding hers. But just as they took a few steps, Mrs. Davis spoke again.

"How can you protect someone like her? Someone who, at a young age, attempted to kill another?"

Her words made both Nina and Finn freeze. But while Finn turned with cold fury, Nina’s eyes widened.

She knew exactly what Mrs. Davis was referring to.

The flowerpot incident.

Mrs. Davis didn’t elaborate, but somehow, she already knew.

"Do you really believe someone like her is sincere with you, Finn?" Mrs. Davis scoffed. "That woman was willing to kill the real daughter of the Bennet family just to keep a life she stole. A life that doesn’t belong to her."

She stepped forward. "Has it ever occurred to you that she’s only clinging to you for what she can gain? Because without anyone, she’s nothing. Not even a fraction as successful as Penelope Bennet or Yuri Cortez."

"Do you even know that, Finn Davis?"

Finn’s eyes darkened. For a split second, they turned red. "What did you just say about her?"

He took a step forward, but Nina’s grip on his arm tightened.

That simple squeeze snapped him out of whatever he was about to do—but not the anger boiling inside him. Nina gave him a firm look before turning to Mrs. Davis.

"It’s true," she said, voice steady, "that over a decade ago, I hurt a lot of people, Madam Davis. I’m not proud of what I did as a child, but I never hid it. I never forgot it. I carry it with me every day—to remind myself that change is a long, painful process."

She took a step forward, her eyes unwavering. "I never denied my past. I faced it, no matter how shameful. And while it doesn’t define me, it has shaped who I am today. I may not be as successful as my siblings or cousins, but I am proud of who I’ve become."

Finn looked at her side profile, his heart easing. Nina had always been gentle and kind, but this—this fire—reminded him she could stand her ground when it mattered most.

"If you’re going to bring up the past," Finn added, turning to his mother with a cold smile, "you might as well bring up my school records too, Madam Davis. You might be surprised by what’s in there."

Nina glanced at him and saw the subtle smirk tugging at his lips.

"Let’s go," he said.

She nodded. But just before they could leave, Nina stopped and turned back.

"One more thing, Madam Davis." Her voice was calm, but there was a sharpness to it. "I did what I did, and I’ve changed. But you should know—everyone has a limit."

She paused, letting her words sink in, and said slowly and clearly,

"Don’t make me want to keep in touch with the devil again."

"Pfft—" Finn chuckled, wondering if Penny had coached her on that line. Then, he glanced back at his mother and added, "And just so you know as well — I do know what she did. In case you forgot—or never cared to ask — we went to the same school."

And just like that, the couple turned and walked away, leaving Mrs. Davis seething in anger.