Fabian sat on the stool in the dimly lit club, his mind spiraling as the adrenaline slowly faded from his system. The encounter with Ella and Ethan replayed in his head, but something deeper gnawed at him the moment when his world truly began to crumble.
It had been only a few days ago when he met Tania at a secluded cafe for a conversation that would change everything. As soon as he saw her, his first question tumbled out: “Is Grace my daughter?”
Tania didn’t hesitate. “Yes,” she replied coldly
Fabian’s heart dropped, a mix of anger and disbelief surging within him. “Why didn’t you tell me? I mean, I get that what we had was just a one-night stand, something physical, but…”
Tania cut him off, her tone venomous. “But what, Fabian? “Do you want to play daddy now?” Her voice rose with fury. “Grace already has a father, and that’s Ethan. Not you.” She jabbed her finger at him. “I don’t want you in her life, Fabian. What don’t you understand?”
Fabian clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “You had no right to keep this from me. She’s my daughter too…”
Tania’s rage exploded. “I had a perfect plan! Kill Ella, marry Ethan, and live happily ever after! But you ruined everything, Fabian! You let her live. You disappeared on me, leaving me to pick up the pieces!”
He glared at her, his voice rising in frustration. “How did I ruin anything? I couldn’t go through with it! I couldn’t kill Ella, Tania. How am I the one who’s wrong?”
Tania’s expression twisted with contempt. “You want to know how? By sparing her life, you destroyed mine. Now Ethan is pulling away, everything’s falling apart, and you-” she jabbed a finger into his chest, “you don’t deserve to know Grace. Consider not knowing her your punishment for not doing what I asked.”
Her words stung like a knife in his gut, but before Fabian could respond, Tania leaned in close, her voice icy. “Listen, Fabian. I have connections in places you wouldn’t even dream of. If you even think about disobeying me, if you don’t give me every single detail about Ella and her little brats I swear I’ll make sure you never see or hear from Grace again. I will make her disappear. And trust me, I have no problem doing that.”
Fabian’s blood ran cold as Tania’s words hung in the air. He knew she wasn’t bluffing. With one last cold look, Tania turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving him stunned and powerless.
Now, sitting in the club, Fabian’s phone pinged. He glanced down, and the message from Tania blinked on the screen: How did it go?
He stared at the message for a long moment before sighing heavily, fingers hovering over the keys. Finally, he typed a simple reply: It went well.
As he sent the message, a bitter taste filled his mouth. He couldn’t turn back now. No matter how much regret gnawed at his insides, he was locked in this game. And deep down, he wasn’t sure he wanted to stop. “Maybe,” he muttered to himself, swirling the glass in his hand, “I’ll see where this drama leads. Who knows? Maybe I’ll have some fun with it too.”
Back at Tania’s home, she was on her bed, satisfaction curling her lips into a smile. Everything was falling into place. Fabian was under her control, and she had leverage over Ella and Ethan. As long as Grace remained her pawn, she could manipulate Fabian however she wanted.
Grace, she thought, her smile fading slightly. She didn’t care if she was using her own daughter as a piece in this dangerous game. Grace was just a means to an end. Everything Tania did was for her own gain.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of tiny footsteps. Grace, with her homework in hand, stepped into the room. Her innocent voice cut through the tension, reminding Tania of the fragility of the life she’d created.
“Mommy, where’s Daddy?” Grace asked, her big eyes full of innocence. “I have an assignment I need help with.”
Tania’s fake smile returned quickly as she faced her daughter. “Well, Daddy isn’t home right now,” she said sweetly, brushing a strand of Grace’s hair behind her ear. “But I can help you with it, sweetheart.”
Grace hesitated for a moment before nodding, her trust in her mother has started unwavering. As Tania sat beside her daughter to look over the assignment, a flicker of guilt surfaced deep within her heart. But she buried it quickly, masking it with the warm smile that had fooled so many.
“Let’s get started,” Tania said, her voice soft, but inside, her mind was already planning the next move in her game. No matter the cost.