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."

away, the

better company than

a mud puddle and ruining her expensive shoes. Her mood darkened

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

As for the contract...

come crawling back to renew. The publishing market had seen a major shakeup over the fast decade, with physical book sales struggling. Madge's fame had waned, and having withdrawn from social media, she was out of touch with the latest industry news, lacking resources in

working with her, let

visit; once the contract expired, Madge would

she been snubbed, but she also had

did you start arguing again, Louisa? Didn't Mr. Cole's family move out?" A neighbor

his, I guess. Banging on my door early

Cole's relative? They should've gone to his mansion, not

rolled her eyes, "Who

It's huge, so lavish, with several floors and two gardens. When we visited the other day,

heard, the sourer