Scarred Seductress

Someone Who Knows

Marina’s eyes landed on Damien and she exhaled quietly. He had finally remembered it was supposed to be his anniversary—and that he had a wife.

She hissed and gulped down water for the umpteenth time, watching him with a bitter scowl as he settled quietly in front of her, an unfamiliar, alluring scent trooping its way into her nostrils from him.

“She does smell nice, I must say…” she chuckled bitterly and shook her head, digging into her food grudgingly.

Damien said nothing to her, about to dig in too, when she spoke again.

“I want another child.”

Damien’s eyes snapped to her face at once. He raised a brow.

“Yes, Damien… you heard me right,” she stated firmly, meeting his gaze.

“Marina—”

“I know we agreed to make do with only one child, but I changed my mind… so whether or not you’re down, Damien, I’m having another baby.” She added, cutting him off.

He shook his head and seized the glass of water before him, emptying it at once.

Marina rolled her eyes. She understood too well how much he hated the talks of having a child with her. His dream had always been Samantha, and if it hadn’t been for Matteo, Damien would have even claimed Quinn.

“Suit yourself, Marina…” he gruffed.

Marina rolled her eyes again.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” the same girl who had confronted Selene earlier asked her friend, her eyes steady on Damien and Marina.

“You’re going to have to learn to mind your business, Laura,” her friend warned, shaking her head.

Laura rolled her eyes.

“Leave these people alone… you know absolutely nothing about them.”

“What are you girls talking about? Who is she leaving alone?” Ava’s mother chipped in, her eyes trailing over the girls, her hand occupied with a tray of drinks ready to be served to Marina’s table.

The girls said nothing at first and the woman chuckled.

“Come on, girls… don’t leave me out of this one.”

“He’s cheating on his wife,” the other girl blurted, snapping Laura’s eyes wide in surprise. She had no right to let another person into her business.

“Why would you do that—”

Her friend scoffed, turning to Ava’s mother.

“And she’s planning on exposing the side piece.”

Ava’s mother faked surprise, her eyes widening as they roamed from Damien at his table to the girl beside her.

Laura hissed angrily.

“You have absolutely no right to spill my business like that.”

“So tell her—tell her to stay out of it like I’ve been saying since the very moment we discovered the affair.”

Ava’s mother shook her head and turned away from the concerned friend, facing Laura instead.

“You’re absolutely right, Laura… I mean, why keep such a secret when you can turn your whole world around just by playing the right game…”

Laura’s eyes lit up. Finally—someone who understood her.

“You think so too?” she rushed.

Ava’s mother pressed a nod.

Laura exhaled deeply, a proud smile curving her lips. The other girl shook her head in defeat.

“So tell me, girl… what do you plan to do?” Ava’s mother asked—exactly as Selene had texted her just seconds ago to inquire.

Laura tucked the strand of hair falling across her face behind her ear and exhaled again, her expression twisting with mischief and disgust.

“I’ll take her money, of course…”

“And what next?” Ava’s mother pressed.

Laura scoffed.

“I’ll expose her still.”

Her friend looked at her quickly, disbelief flickering across her face.

“But she’s paying you to—”

“I don’t care. She’s a homewrecker. She deserves anything that comes her way,” Laura sneered.

Ava’s mother nodded slowly.

“Laura, you don’t know these people—”

“That’s boring,” Ava’s mother cut in suddenly.

Laura raised a brow.

“Boring?”

“Yes, Laura… it’s boring,” Ava’s mother insisted.

Laura chuckled dryly.

“What do you mean?”

“For a second, I thought maybe you were doing this because you were concerned for the wife… but you’re not. You’re only trying to make something for yourself out of this, so why not give it your best?”

The two girls exchanged glances.

Ava’s mother scoffed quietly.

“But—”

“No buts, Laura. Do you have any idea who that man is?”

Laura shook her head quickly. Ava’s mother smiled and pulled out her phone, flipping the screen open to a news article before pressing it into Laura’s hand.

The girls gasped, their eyes snapping wide.

“He’s—he’s Damien Moretti… the Damien Moretti?” Laura breathed, stunned beyond words.

Ava’s mother nodded.

“I… I can’t believe it…”

“So tell me, Laura,” Ava’s mother continued calmly, “do you still care about exposing his little mistress… or making sure your life never remains the same from today onwards?”

Laura swallowed hard, her eyes darting briefly to Damien and Marina.

“The choice is—”

“What do you suggest?” Laura cut in before she could finish.

Ava’s mother tucked her phone back into her pocket and glanced toward Marina.

“I’ll do anything,” Laura rushed, breathless.

Ava’s mother flicked her gaze briefly to Laura’s reluctant friend, silently urging her to excuse them.

Laura shot her a glare and the girl shook her head, stepping aside quietly.

“So what do you suggest?” Laura pressed.

Ava’s mother pulled out a small piece of paper from her pocket. Meet me outside before it’s too late was written across it.

She pressed it into Laura’s hand, along with the tray of drinks.

“Give this to her.”

Laura arched a brow, staring from the paper to the woman’s face.

“Trust me.”

Laura shrugged and pushed her reluctant legs into motion. In no time, she arrived at Marina’s table.

She set down the tray and tucked the paper beneath it. Luckily, Marina caught sight of it—not Damien.

Laura bowed slightly and turned, walking back to Ava’s mother quickly.

Marina’s gaze followed her before returning to the paper lying in front of her.

She hissed in annoyance and picked it up—only to freeze as her eyes caught the words hidden on the back.

"Someone who knows your biggest secret."

Marina snapped her gaze up, searching for the girl, only to find she was nowhere in sight.

Her fist clenched against the table as her heart raced, cold sweat breaking across her forehead.

Marina folded the paper slowly, fingers trembling.

There were only three people who knew that secret.

Marina.

Her mother.

And the woman Marina was certain the fire had erased.