A Divorce He Regrets (Alissa Nexus) novel Chapter 77

Why hadn’t Raina mentioned him before? Did she even know he had been at the same college?

The questions piled up in my mind, one after another, as suspicion dug its claws deeper into me.

I wanted to believe this was just a coincidence, but something about it felt off. First, the orphanage. Now, the same college. I had no idea where Raina had been all these years, but the fact that Nathan had been nearby, that close to her life without me knowing—it didn’t sit right with me.

I realized I needed to talk to Raina. I had to warn her. But what would I even say if I saw her? If she agreed to meet me?

She hated me. I knew that. She’d made it clear. Would she even listen to me, or would she shut me out completely? My mind screamed no, but my heart, twisted and desperate, wanted to see her again. To make her understand.

I opened my email and typed a quick response to my investigator:

Dig deeper. I want to know where Nathan was during the years Raina disappeared. Find out if there’s a connection between them during that time. I don’t care how long it takes—just get me answers.

I hit send, my jaw clenched.

This wasn’t a coincidence.

I didn’t believe in coincidences anymore.

Just as I was about to leave my office, Vanessa appeared.

I was already teetering on the edge of frustration. Her dramatic whining about Raina firing her only made it worse.

“Can you imagine the nerve of her?” Vanessa huffed, trailing behind me as I grabbed my suit jacket. “After I worked so hard to get a job at Graham Industries! And then she hires some random woman to pretend to be Dominic’s wife—how absurd is that?”

I stopped mid-stride, turning slowly to face her. “You got a job at the Grahams' company?” My voice was cold, my patience wearing thin.

Vanessa crossed her arms, pouting like a child. “Yes. And it was going fine until Raina decided to sabotage me!”

“Sabotage?” I barked, incredulous. “Are you listening to yourself? You’re the one who caused a scene! What the hell were you thinking, Vanessa?”

Her defiance faltered, and for a split second, guilt flickered across her face before she masked it with indignation.

“It’s Raina’s fault!” she snapped.

I took a step closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous calm. “No, Vanessa. It’s yours. Your obsession with Dominic has gone too far, and now you’ve made things worse for me.”

My jaw clenched, the simmering anger threatening to bubble over. I pulled out my phone and quickly typed a message: It’s about your little boyfriend. Meet me now.

Her phone buzzed in her hand. I saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes as she glanced at the screen. Then, finally, her gaze returned to mine, harder this time.

I didn’t wait for her response. I climbed back into my car and drove to a nearby coffee shop, parking near the entrance where I could keep an eye on the door.

She didn’t keep me waiting long.

Raina stormed into the shop like a whirlwind, her face a mixture of irritation and exhaustion. Her eyes locked onto mine immediately, and I could see the fury blazing there.

“I don’t have time for your nonsense, Alex,” she snapped, her voice low but sharp enough to cut. “You need to stay away from me, or I swear I’ll get a restraining order.”

I gestured to the chair across from me, keeping my tone calm despite the tension crackling between us. “Sit down first.”

She hesitated, the fire in her gaze not dimming for a second. But after a long, charged moment, she pulled out the chair and sat down, her posture rigid.

“Talk,” she said, crossing her arms. “Make it quick.”