###Chapter 14: The Coming Storm
Nina Wainwright changed her shoes, stood up, and asked the woman, "Would you like to see classical or modern? I can also do ballet."
"Let’s do ballet."
The woman spoke as she pinched the little girl beside her. "She’s a bit too wild, and her posture isn’t very graceful. Learning ballet will improve her overall bearing."
The little girl glared at Nina Wainwright, looking indignant but not daring to speak up.
Nina Wainwright took a deep breath and, drawing on her old instincts for dance, began to move gracefully.
Dancing was what she loved most.
Dancing truly allowed her to briefly forget the pressures of life and the sorrow of love.
’Because in this mont, she could think only of herself.’
She danced through the living room like an elegant swan, her supple body erupting with powerful energy.
The woman was captivated.
Even the little girl, who had been displeased with her, was now watching with rapt attention.
After Nina Wainwright finished dancing, the woman raised her hands and clapped softly. "With talent like yours, why can’t you find a job? There must be plenty of dance troupes that would want you."
"I lost two or three years due to so personal reasons," Nina Wainwright answered truthfully.
’Her personal history was easy to look up, so there was no need to lie.’
The woman looked even more surprised. "You haven’t danced in two or three years?"
Nina Wainwright nodded lightly.
The woman sighed. "You’re truly wasting your talent. If you hadn’t wasted these past three years, you could have been a national-level dancer by now. With your looks, you could even make a living in the entertainnt industry. You’ve been so foolish."
Nina Wainwright felt a pang of regret as well.
’If she had known marriage would be like this, why did she throw herself into love like a moth to a fla?’
’Now, just to get a hundred thousand, she had to depend on Zachary Hawthorne’s mood.’
"What do you think? Did she dance well?" the woman asked the little girl beside her.
The little girl pursed her lips. "She’s a good dancer. There’s a lot of vitality."
Hearing her evaluation, Nina Wainwright smiled and said, "Thank you for the high praise, Ms. Lynn."
The little girl’s na was Lynn Aldridge, sharing a last na with her mother, Diana Aldridge.
Hearing this, Lynn Aldridge imdiately lifted her chin. "You seem pretty good. I’ll let you dance with , then."
Diana Aldridge caressed her daughter’s face and said to Nina Wainwright, "She’s very talented when it cos to dancing. She doesn’t like the usual teachers, says they don’t have their own style and can’t teach anyone anything.
"By the way, can you start work tomorrow? I can provide the dance attire and shoes. Please go with the maid to get your asurents taken."
Nina Wainwright thanked her repeatedly.
She followed the maid to the study.
Diana Aldridge sent Lynn Aldridge out to the courtyard to play with the Labrador.
Once the living room was empty, she asked Adrian Pemberton, "You like her so much, why don’t you say so? Or is it that she’s married, too?"
"Don’t talk about it here." The tips of Adrian Pemberton’s ears turned red, and his tone was full of discomfort.
"Relax, the soundproofing is excellent. You bought a house near her ho for her sake, but you don’t live in it. Why?"
Adrian Pemberton had been Diana Aldridge’s first love, but as soon as she heard his heart was already taken, she threw herself into the arms of another rich heir.
Due to her family background, she had lacked affection since childhood and didn’t like n who held a torch for an old fla.
’Her husband’s love had to be hers and hers alone.’
"She doesn’t live there," Adrian Pemberton said.
He’d gone to great trouble to find out where she lived and bought a house nearby, but he never once ran into her by chance.
He only found out later that Nina Wainwright didn’t live there, so the house was left vacant.
This was a secret he kept in his heart, one he dared not tell Nina Wainwright.
"Being a closed book will get you nowhere. If you love soone, you have to say it boldly; you can worry about the outco later. The more you’re afraid, the less chance you have." Diana Aldridge finished with a sigh. "I don’t have the energy for that anymore. All that matters is raising my daughter well."
"When the ti cos, can you introduce to your divorce lawyer?" Adrian Pemberton said in a low voice, clearing his throat to hide his awkwardness.
"She’s really married? And she wants a divorce?" Diana Aldridge looked astonished.
Adrian Pemberton nodded lightly.
Diana Aldridge let out a laugh. "You’re so devoted. I wholeheartedly admit defeat."
Nina Wainwright finished getting her asurents taken and ca out of the study. The two of them stopped talking.
As soon as Adrian Pemberton saw Nina Wainwright, he stood up. "If you’re done, we should get going and not disturb her any longer."
"You can get my contact information from Adrian," Diana Aldridge said with a smile, then called out to Lynn Aldridge, who was outside the door, "Co in, your teacher is leaving. Say goodbye to her."
Lynn Aldridge ran in from outside, hugged Diana Aldridge’s leg, and said to Nina Wainwright, who was by the door, "Goodbye, Ms. Wainwright! See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow." Seeing how cute, bright, and lovely the girl was, Nina Wainwright’s heart filled with warmth, and also a touch of envy.
’If she and Zachary Hawthorne had a child, would their child be this beautiful and smart, too?’
After getting in the car, Nina Wainwright imdiately thanked Adrian Pemberton. "Thank you for going to so much trouble for . Can I treat you to a al?"
"Okay, I happen to be hungry," Adrian Pemberton replied, his eyes crinkling with delight.
The two went to a private kitchen restaurant.
Just as they walked in, Nina Wainwright saw Zachary Hawthorne sitting not far away.
Zachary Hawthorne spotted her at the sa instant.
His gaze swept over Adrian Pemberton, and he couldn’t suppress a cold sneer.
Adrian Pemberton didn’t see him; his attention was entirely on Nina Wainwright beside him.
"Let’s go sit at the table in the very back. It’s by the window, and there are chrysanthemums outside. They should be in full bloom right now."
Nina Wainwright humd in agreent, feeling a little flustered.
Her hands clenched unconsciously.
They had just sat down when she saw Zachary Hawthorne stand up and walk toward them at an unhurried pace.
One hand was in his pocket, and he appeared calm and composed, but the powerful aura he exuded was impossible to ignore.
Nina Wainwright was so nervous her throat tightened.
The man stood beside their table, his eyes lowered to look at Nina Wainwright. "Is your business finished?"
Adrian Pemberton saw the suppressed anger in the man’s expression and was the first to explain, "I see her as a little sister. We used to be neighbors. We’re just having a al together. Please don’t misunderstand her."
’His protective stance over Nina Wainwright was really rubbing him the wrong way.’
The smile on Zachary Hawthorne’s face grew even colder. "I haven’t said a thing. What are you explaining?"
Nina Wainwright’s brow twitched. She imdiately stood up. "My business is finished. I’m treating him to a al to thank him."
Zachary Hawthorne’s gaze was deep and inscrutable as he stared fixedly at her.
He stared until her scalp tingled, then he gave a faint smile. "Protecting each other like this... I’m almost envious of this sibling bond of yours. Make things clear with him. I’ll be waiting for you outside."
With that, he turned and left.
Nina Wainwright waited until he was a good distance away before saying apologetically, "You go ahead and eat. Just tell how much it is, and I’ll pay for it..."
"Nina, there’s nothing between us. You don’t have to act so guilty, let alone be afraid of him." Adrian Pemberton felt she was being far too subservient, as if she were constantly being bullied by him.
"We’re still married, after all. It’s understandable that, as a man, he would be bothered by this," Nina Wainwright said before rushing off after Zachary Hawthorne.
*****
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