Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

With a sneer, the woman's gaze raked over Nadine from head to toe. "Well, look at you. That outfit doesn't exactly scream 'respectable lady,' does it? All dolled up, but who knows how many guys you've entertained last night?" Nadine was dumbstruck.

She hadn't expected such a vile barrage of insults, a direct attack on her character.

"You... you" She was so furious, she was shaking.

But to hurl back insults in the same manner? She just couldn't stoop to that level of filth.

"Me, me, me, what? Got your tongue tied, can't speak clearly? Guess your overnight rate must be on discount, huh? Fifty? Seventy? Surely not a hundred bucks? You think you're worth that much?"

Nadine's cheeks flushed with anger, "I won't stoop to arguing with someone as vile as you, utterly nonsensical, unreasonable, and filthy to the core!"

"Oh, getting fancy with your words now? I can do that too-flirt, shameless, harlot, lowlife!"

Nadine was speechless.

"I... I won't stoop to your level. There's no point. You're only fit to be compared with swine."

and strode away, the click of her high heels punctuating her

better company than a lowlife like

stumbled, her heel sinking into a mud puddle and ruining her expensive

lived in, with such trashy neighbors. Today was just one

As for the contract...

major shakeup over the fast decade, with physical book sales struggling. Madge's fame had waned, and having

but Nadine would even consider working with

once the contract expired, Madge would surely come begging to

more Nadine thought about it, the more she regretted coming. Not only had she been snubbed, but she also had to endure a tirade from a lunatic.

family

door early in

gone

rolled her eyes,

mansion, though? It's huge, so lavish, with several floors and two gardens. When we visited the other day, the flowers were blooming beautifully! And

more Louisa heard, the sourer her