58

Ophelia held her face in shock, her eyes widening in disbelief. She looked at Adira like she had just done the most forbidden.

"You have no right to talk about my marriage." Adira threatened. "I don't know who the hell your informant is, but my relationship with Nikolai is nothing like what you had with him."

"Have you gone nuts?! How dare you lay your hand on her?" The lady beside Ophelia shrieked.

In a brisk, Ophelia tried returning the slap, but Adira was quick enough to repel and pulled at her hair instead.

"You witch!" Ophelia yelled and grabbed her own hair.

And a messy fight ensued.

***

Nikolai stepped down from his car and hurried into the grocery store. For a week, he's been doing his best to avoid public attention, but not when Adira is involved.

He got into the store and found the four women there - Adira, Ophelia, Ophelia's mum and an unfamiliar lady. The store keeper was there as well, at his counter.

He halted momentarily at the door, his gaze roving around Ophelia.

Her