Chapter 23 Nova and Corin Alone - Kael Arrived ! Grace , unaware of the tension , smiled and chimed in , " How thoughtful of you , Ms. Reed . Don't let Ms. Hale's guidance go to waste . " Sloane smiled , dimples forming on her cheeks . " Of course not ! Ms. Hale is so kind - I'd never let her down ! " ]] She looked at Nova , tilting her head playfully . [] I won't let her down , all right . I'll take everything from her , leave her with nothing for the rest of her life . ] Corin glanced at silent Nova . His brows furrowed slightly , his eyes deep as a pool ] Nova stood up , taking the wine glass from Sloane . Her expression was still gentle and calm , eyes soft - like she was easy to push around . [ ] Sloane sneered inwardly . Just as she'd thought - Nova was a pushover . [ ] She looked away , drank her wine , then sauntered back to her seat . She leaned back , waiting . [ ] Wasn't Nova supposed to care about her reputation ? She couldn't wait to see Nova make a fool of herself - after drinking the wine laced with laxatives . The thought made her grin . ] ] But a minute passed , and Nova was still chatting with Grace and Corin , smiling easily - unaffected . [ ] Sloane frowned . Why isn't it working ? [ ] Suddenly , a dull pain hit her stomach . She doubled over , clutching her belly , face turning red . " Ugh - " [ ] " Wait , is that a bad smell ? " a maid whispered . [ ] " Looks like it's coming from over there . " Someone subtly pointed at Sloane . [ ] Sloane heard them and saw the glances . She bit her lip , enduring . The stench was unbearable . Grace frowned , face dark . " What's going on ? Did something go bad ? " ] Nova covered her nose with a tissue , eyes glinting with mockery as she looked at Sloane - whose face had turned pale and green . [ ] A wet sound escaped . Sloane couldn't hold on anymore . She jumped up , face white . " Sorry , Ms. Quinn - I'm not feeling well . I need to use the restroom . " [ ] She fled the dining room - but everyone saw the stain on her dress . [ ] " Pfft - did you see Ms. Reed ? " a maid laughed . ] " What a disaster . " " Haha ! " The words stung like needles , stripping Sloane of all dignity . She was used to being admired - never endured such humiliation ! Grace frowned , glaring at Sloane's empty seat and her things . Her tone sharpened . " Replace all this . Throw away the dirty stuff ! " ]}] "Yes , Ms. Quinn . " The maids held back laughter and stepped forward to clean up . [ ] Sloane froze . She was mortified , face turning even greener . ] ] She looked up - and saw Nova's unhidden , cold smile . [ ] Sloane suddenly realized - she'd been played by Noval Nova had turned her own trick against her ! [ ] Another cramp hit Sloane's face went ashen . ] Humiliated and furious , she ran to the restroom [ ] In the dining room , Nova's smile hadn't faded . Her eyes crinkled , long lashes brushing her cheeks - bright and lively . Thinking of Sloane's embarrassment , her bad mood uned Corin sat quietly , raising an eyebrow at the woman across from him . His gaze was deep . ] Chapter 23 Nova and Corin Alone - Kael Arrived ! " What are you smiling at ? " Grace asked , eyeing him suspiciously . [ ] Corin pulled himself together , picking up a cup of coffee and taking a sip . His voice was as cold as ever . " Was I smiling ? " ] Grace was left speechless . She narrowed her eyes , doubtful . ] After the commotion , no one wanted to stay in the dining room . They moved to the living room . ] Meanwhile , Sloane suffered in the restroom . When she came out , her legs were weak , energy drained - she looked like a zombie . She leaned against the wall , then ran into Nova , who was touching up her makeup at the sink . [ ] Compared to Nova's flawless makeup , Sloane looked like rotten garbage . Sloane ground her teeth , hatred burning in her eyes . " You're enjoying this , aren't you ? Watching me make a fool of myself ! " [ ] Nova glanced at her in the mirror , closing her lipstick tube slowly . " You brought this on yourself . You're too stupid to pull off a prank - how dare you mess with me ? " ] Sloane's face flushed red , then pale . She clenched her fists , sneering , " So what ? You're so smart , but you can't keep your man . I snap my fingers , and he leaves you for me Your position's hanging by a thread ! " [ ] She paused , then added , " Oh , right - I forgot . How did it feel in the haunted house ? Seeing Kael with me ? Hurting , then being abandoned by him ? " [] Nova's heart stung , like being pricked by a bee . [ ] She remembered that night - Kael had known she feared the dark , known her ankle was badly hurt . But he'd still left her for Sloane . The haunted house had been cold and dark . She barely remembered how she'd walked out . Sloane crossed her arms . " He worries about me . He went to the obstetrics checkup with me . You know - Kael wants a baby so bad . These days , when we're together ... he doesn't use protection . He wants a baby with me ! " [ ] At those words , Nova felt like she'd been hit by a hammer . The pain was suffocating . Years ago , she'd hurt her abdomen saving Kael - she could barely get pregnant . It was a scar she'd never dared to mention . [ ] Her eyes turned red at the corners . Her hands , hanging at her sides , tightened until her knuckles turned white . [ ] Sloane laughed , placing a hand on her stomach . " And you ? I heard you can't have kids . Ha - you're basically a barren cow- " Before she finished , a loud slap echoed . [ ] e . " l " That's for your rude mouth , for insulting me ." Sloane's head snapped to the side . Her cheek burned . She stared at Nova , shocked . She touched her cheek , frowning . " Bitch , how dare you - " [] Slap ! Another slap hit her other cheek . Sloane stumbled . [ ] Nova's cold voice followed . " That's for trying to trick me ." " Nova ! You crazy woman ! You hit me ! " Sloane's eyes bulged . She lunged at Nova , hands outstretched to scratch her . ] ] Nova kicked her away , grabbed a mop from the corner , and pressed it to Sloane's face . Sloane lost her balance , falling onto the floor with a thud . [] " Ah Screams filled the restroom ] ] That mop was used to clean floors - maybe even the toilet ! Sloane made her living with her face - she was on camera every day ! [ ] " Nova , I'll kill you ! [ ] The only response was a loud door slam . Nova walked away without looking back , grabbing a tissue to wipe her hands . After teaching Sloane a lesson , her chest felt Lighter . But when she turned around , she froze . She looked up - and saw Corin [ ] Did he hear everything ? Nova's heart skipped a beat . Her feet rooted to the ground . " M Mr. Thorne ... ]