Page 29 of Toxic

I shake my head minutely. “Not yet. It’s... complicated.”

She sighs, squeezing my hand. “I know. But Devin, he’s worried about you. We both are.”

Before I can respond, a familiar voice sends ice through my veins. “Devin, darling, it’s been too long.”

I turn to face Regina, forcing a polite smile. “Regina. Always a pleasure.”

Her eyes flick to where Hawk stands across the room deep in conversation with a group of businessmen. “I see you’ve brought quite the companion tonight.”

“Yes, Hawk and I have been spending quite a bit of time together,” I reply evenly, watching her reaction carefully. I feel Olivia tense beside me, her hand still clasped in mine.

A flicker of annoyance passes across Regina’s perfectly made-up face. “Be careful, cousin,” she says, her voice honeyedwith false concern. “Not everyone is as they appear. Associations can be... risky.”

I meet her gaze steadily. “Is that a warning?”

“Just friendly advice,” Regina responds, her tone sweet but edged with venom. “One never knows who might be... aligning with unsavory characters.”

As she saunters away, her words echo in my mind. The implication is clear – she’s hinting at her alliance with Viktor Kazanov. A chill runs down my spine as I realize the true severity of the threat looming over me.

Olivia squeezes my hand. “What was that about?” she whispers, concern etched on her features.

I force a smile. “Nothing to worry about. Just Regina being Regina.”

But Olivia knows me too well to be fooled. “Devin,” she says softly, “you know you can tell me anything, right? I’m here for you, always.”

For a moment, I’m tempted to unburden myself, to share the weight of the secrets I’ve been carrying. But I can’t risk putting Olivia in danger. So instead, I nod, giving her hand a grateful squeeze. “I know. Thank you.”

We make our way toward the restroom, Olivia’s presence a comforting warmth beside me. As we turn down a dimly lit corridor, we find our path blocked by Regina and her two cronies, Isabella and Vivian. Their eyes gleam with malicious intent like predators cornering their prey.

“Off to freshen up?” Isabella sneers, her lips curled in a mocking smile.

I feel Olivia stiffen beside me, but I keep my expression neutral. “Is there something you need?” My voice is cool, devoid of emotion.

Vivian smirks, her eyes raking over me dismissively. “We couldn’t help but notice how out of place you seem here. Still trying to fit in with the family?”

“It’s adorable, really,” Regina adds, her voice dripping with condescension. “Playing dress-up doesn’t change who you are, Devin.”

For a moment, I feel a surge of old insecurities threatening to overwhelm me. But I push them down, drawing strength from the knowledge of who I’ve become. “And who am I, Regina?” I ask, my voice steady and cold as ice.

“An outsider pretending to be relevant,” she spits, her mask of civility slipping.

I take a deep breath, knowing that what I’m about to do will change everything. But I’m done being their punching bag. “Interesting,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “Coming from you, Regina, I suppose you would know all about pretending.”

Their smug expressions falter as I continue, my tone remaining unnervingly calm. “Like how you pretend to be the perfect daughter while secretly funneling family funds into personal accounts.”

I turn to Isabella, whose eyes have gone wide. “Or how you maintain that happy marriage facade while your ‘young male model’ friend keeps you company when your husband’s away.”

Finally, I fix my gaze on Vivian, whose smirk has completely vanished. “And Vivian, those late-night visits to the strip clubs must be exhausting. Does your father know where his precious daughter spends her time?”

The silence that follows is deafening. I can see the shock and fury warring on their faces as they process my words. Beside me, Olivia inhales sharply, her hand moving to intervene. Without looking, I raise my hand slightly, signaling her to stand down. This is my fight, and after years of friendship, she knows when to let me handle things.

“You bitch!” Isabella screeches, her composure shattering. “How dare you?—“

“I dare because you came here to intimidate me,” I interrupt, my voice still eerily calm. “But I’m not the same girl you used to bully.”

Regina’s eyes narrow to slits. “You’re making a mistake,” she hisses, her voice trembling with rage.

Before I can respond, Isabella lunges forward, her hand raised to slap me. I dodge easily, causing her to stumble. Vivian grabs my arm, but I twist free, using a subtle self-defense move to throw her off balance.

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