CHAPTER THREE: NOT GOOD ENOUGH
1351 Words
The Sterling mansion looked more like a palace than a family home.
Golden lights illuminated the massive estate while luxury cars lined the entrance driveway beneath the dark evening sky. Uniformed staff moved quietly through the marble halls preparing dinner while soft classical music echoed through the enormous dining room.
Everything about the house screamed wealth.
Old money.
Power.
The kind of place where people like Nina Castillo never truly belonged.
Nina stood near the entrance holding her small purse tightly while trying not to appear nervous.
She had changed clothes three times before coming tonight.
Nothing felt right.
Nothing ever did whenever she entered Lucas’s world.
A maid approached politely.
“Miss Nina, this way please.”
Nina nodded softly.
“Thank you.”
As she followed the maid through the mansion, her eyes drifted across expensive paintings, crystal chandeliers, and towering windows overlooking the city lights below.
The Sterling family lived in a completely different reality from ordinary people.
Sometimes she wondered if Lucas even remembered what normal life looked like anymore.
The maid stopped in front of the dining room entrance.
“They’re waiting for you.”
Nina inhaled quietly before stepping inside.
Conversation immediately slowed.
At the center of the long dining table sat the Sterling family.
Richard Sterling calmly sipped wine while reading something on his tablet.
Beside him sat Victoria Sterling looking flawless as always in a dark emerald dress.
And directly across from them sat Lucas Sterling.
For a moment, Nina’s nervousness eased slightly at the sight of him.
Then she noticed the woman sitting beside Lucas.
Celeste Harrington smiled beautifully.
“Nina,” Celeste greeted smoothly. “You made it.”
Nina froze slightly.
She had not known Celeste would be here.
Lucas finally stood.
“You’re late.”
The words were not cruel exactly.
Just cold.
Nina glanced at the clock instinctively.
“I came as quickly as I could after visiting the hospital.”
The moment those words left her mouth, Victoria’s expression changed faintly.
“There is always a hospital,” she said calmly.
Nina lowered her gaze slightly.
“My father is not well.”
Victoria smiled politely.
“Yes. We know.”
The maid pulled out a chair near the far end of the table for Nina.
Not beside Lucas.
Far from him.
Nina noticed it immediately.
So did everyone else.
Still, she sat down quietly.
Dinner began smoothly enough at first.
Staff served expensive dishes Nina could barely pronounce while conversations revolved around investments, political connections, and international business deals.
Nina remained mostly silent.
Not because she wanted to be.
Because she had nothing useful to add.
Every time she tried speaking, someone redirected the conversation elsewhere.
As though her voice naturally carried less importance.
Lucas barely looked at her.
Instead, most of his attention stayed on discussions with Richard and Celeste regarding Sterling Dynamics.
“The Singapore investors are interested in long term expansion,” Richard said calmly.
Lucas nodded once.
“We can handle it.”
Celeste smiled softly.
“My father agrees. The Harrington group is willing to support the project fully.”
Victoria looked pleased.
“This partnership benefits both families.”
Families.
Nina quietly cut into her food while pretending not to notice the meaning behind their words.
Partnership.
Families.
Support.
Everything sounded bigger than love.
Stronger than love.
Across the table, Victoria finally turned her attention toward Nina directly.
“And what about you, Nina?”
Nina looked up slightly.
Victoria’s smile remained elegant.
“What are your plans for the future?”
The question sounded harmless.
But something about her tone made Nina uneasy immediately.
“I’m still working,” Nina answered carefully.
Victoria tilted her head slightly.
“At the café?”
Nina nodded once.
“And the hospital.”
A brief silence followed.
Then Victoria softly laughed.
“How exhausting.”
Nina forced a polite smile.
“It’s manageable.”
Victoria set down her wine glass carefully.
“I admire your determination.”
Again, harmless words.
Yet every sentence somehow felt sharp beneath the surface.
Celeste observed quietly with amusement hidden in her eyes.
Victoria continued smoothly.
“Although I do wonder how sustainable this lifestyle is.”
Nina’s fingers tightened slightly around her fork.
“I’m doing my best.”
“Yes,” Victoria replied. “But effort and suitability are not always the same thing.”
The table grew quieter.
Even Lucas looked uncomfortable now.
Still, he said nothing.
Victoria leaned back elegantly.
“A woman beside a man like Lucas must understand certain responsibilities.”
Nina swallowed slowly.
“I understand.”
“Do you?”
Victoria’s voice remained soft.
“Lucas’s future involves powerful investors, elite social circles, political relationships, international business events.”
Her eyes scanned Nina calmly.
“Can you truly stand beside him in that world?”
The humiliation arrived slowly.
Quietly.
Like poison spreading beneath skin.
Nina felt heat rise into her face.
“I can support him emotionally.”
Victoria smiled sympathetically.
“Emotional support is lovely for ordinary couples.”
The silence after those words felt suffocating.
Richard continued eating without interference.
Celeste looked almost entertained.
And Lucas still remained silent.
Victoria dabbed her lips gently with a napkin before speaking again.
“But Lucas no longer has an ordinary future.”
Nina finally looked toward Lucas.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Anything.
A defense.
A disagreement.
A sign he would choose her side.
But Lucas only exhaled quietly.
As if tired already.
“Nina,” he said carefully, “my mother is just trying to explain the pressure surrounding the company.”
Nina stared at him.
That was it.
That was all he would say.
Something painful cracked quietly inside her chest.
Victoria noticed immediately.
And continued.
“You are a sweet girl, Nina.”
The words sounded almost kind.
Which somehow made them hurt more.
“But sweetness alone cannot survive in our world.”
Nina lowered her gaze before anyone could see the emotion building in her eyes.
She hated this feeling.
This helplessness.
This constant reminder that no matter how hard she tried, she would never be enough for people like them.
Celeste suddenly smiled softly across the table.
“I think Nina is very strong actually.”
Nina looked up slightly.
Then Celeste added:
“It must be difficult trying to keep up with Lucas’s lifestyle.”
The pity hidden inside her voice was unbearable.
Nina forced herself to smile politely.
“I never asked Lucas for anything.”
Victoria responded immediately.
“That is not the point.”
No.
The point was status.
Money.
Power.
Bloodlines.
Everything Nina lacked.
The room suddenly felt too warm.
Too suffocating.
She quietly placed her utensils down.
“I should probably leave soon. Visiting hours begin early tomorrow.”
Victoria nodded almost instantly.
“Of course.”
Too quickly.
Like she had been waiting for it.
Lucas finally looked at Nina properly for the first time that evening.
“You’re leaving already?”
Nina stared at him for a moment.
Did he truly not understand what had just happened?
Or did he simply not care enough to stop it?
Either answer hurt.
“I’m tired,” she whispered softly.
Lucas glanced around the table awkwardly.
“Fine. I’ll have someone drive you home.”
Home.
Not even: I’ll take you myself.
Nina stood slowly from her chair.
“Thank you for dinner.”
Victoria smiled gracefully.
“Take care of yourself, Nina.”
The kindness in her voice felt crueler than insults.
Nina nodded politely before turning toward the exit.
Nobody stopped her.
Not Richard.
Not Celeste.
Not even Lucas.
As she walked through the enormous Sterling mansion alone, tears burned painfully behind her eyes.
But she refused to let them fall here.
Not inside this house.
Outside, cold night air hit her immediately.
The moment the mansion doors closed behind her, the silence finally broke something inside her chest.
For the first time in months, Nina allowed herself to admit the truth.
She was losing Lucas.
And worse than that…
Maybe she had already lost him long ago.
- Writer
