Jolene, who heard the shocking confession, froze, her eyes widening like the moon.
“B…big B…oss?” she stuttered, her face paling.
“Jolene?” Cassius’s voice sounded from her speaker. She had forgotten she had already called him. “Is everything alright?” he inquired.
She couldn’t reply and just ended the call, her hand trembling. She shook her head.
“That can’t be right,” her lips trembled.
___
Meanwhile, the room turned dead silent after a word. One could hear a pin drop.
Mr. King?!
Cassius King?!
The father of her son?!
Tatiana felt the world around her slow down as Zero’s words sank in. Her mind went haywire, her face paled, and her heart pounded hard.
Not Cassius of all people! He’s lying! Zero is lying!
“Your look shows you do not believe me-” Zero scoffed. “What did I expect, anyway? Of course, no one will believe the King that dominates is a devil in disguise…”
“You’re lying,” Tatiana retorted, her voice barely audible. She was already tearing up. This was just too much for her to handle.
Why?!
Why the hell would Cassius kill her sister and then offer to help?!
That doesn’t make sense at all.
“You’re lying,” she whispered again, this time more audibly.
“I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle the shock. In the eyes of everyone, we see a noble man that rules the industry, but I see a devil…”
“You’re lying,” a tear fell from Tatiana’s eyes. She didn’t want to believe this.
“How do you think he climbed up to his position in just a few years, woman? How long have you known him?” Zero asked.
His questions hit her hard, and the bile in her throat made it hard for her to breathe. Come to think of it, Cassius knew Isabella before he met her.
Was the story he told her in the hospital a lie?
She barely knew him for a month. Could it be that she hadn’t seen the real Cassius?
So many questions flooded her mind, and more tears flowed down her face.
Zero released Stacy, who was also in shock at what she heard.
“I’ll let you go, woman. But next time, I’ll slice your throat and deliver it to the Wallington’s doorstep,” he warned and faced his men. “Lead them out.”
___
“Easy, Tatiana. We don’t know for sure. There’s no evidence,” Stacy said as Tatiana paced around the area. They had pulled over in front of Tatiana’s apartment.
Parker stood with his hands tucked into his pockets, his eyes cold as he stared into space. “This is way too complicated. We don’t even know who our enemies or friends are,” he mumbled.
“You should talk to Big Boss first. Zero might be lying. What if he’s trying to get into your head?” Jolene added.
“What if he is telling the truth? Haven’t you considered that possibility? It doesn’t make sense, I know. Isabella was a sweet, gentle girl, and there’s no sensible reason that would have cost her life-especially not Cassius being behind it,” Tatiana said. Zero had some points. She hadn’t known Cassius for long, nor his real self.
“So, what are you going to do?” Stacy asked.
“I’ll talk to him,” Tatiana declared, nervousness swirling in her gaze.
Jolene and the others nodded in agreement. They couldn’t jump to conclusions. They needed to hear from the man himself.
“Speak of the devil,” Stacy mumbled.
Tatiana and the others looked back and saw Cassius’s car approaching. She gave Jolene a look.
“I had called him before hearing the confession,” Jolene explained.
They watched Cassius step down from the car, clad in comfortable home wear. It seemed he had rushed over.
His eyes darted between them and finally settled on Tatiana. His perfect brow creased slightly.
“Leave us,” Tatiana asked the others.
“You sure?” Stacy whispered.
Their distant talk made the man’s brow crease harder.
“Go,” Tatiana approached Cassius, taking a deep breath to control her feelings.
He remained quiet until she got closer to him, her gaze fixed on his.
“Let’s talk,” Tatiana demanded lightly and entered her apartment.
Cassius gave the others one last glance before entering with her.
“Will she be alright?” Stacy mumbled.
“Yes, she will. Big Boss would never hurt her,” Jolene responded.
Inside, Tatiana faced Cassius and took a deep breath. His eyes showed he was waiting for her to speak.
“Did he threaten you? What happened?” he finally spoke.
“Who’s Zero to you?” Tatiana asked, trying her best to compose her voice.
Cassius stayed silent for a moment before asking, “What did he tell you?”
“Just answer the question, please,” she pleaded.
‘Please don’t be the one,’ she thought to herself, her heart racing harder as her anxiety grew.
“He’s an old friend. It’s pretty complicated,” he replied, and Tatiana frowned at his response.
“Does he work for you?”
“Is that what he said?” His voice came out a bit hard, but soon his face loosened up a little as if realizing something.
“You believed him?” he asked, his gaze slowly getting cold.
“I need to confirm if he doesn’t-”
“You think I killed your sister?” Cassius took a step forward, his aura growing cold.
“He had a point. I’ve known you for barely a month. I don’t really know who you truly are. That’s why I’m asking. I don’t want to believe it-”
“But you did,” he quipped. And when she didn’t reply, he snickered. “Is that how you see me? A man who got to a high position by pushing others down? A man who destroys people just for his own good? A man who killed your sister?”
Tatiana didn’t feel relief but a pang of guilt that struck her to the core. She tried to find a hint of deception in his eyes, but all she saw was hurt.
“That’s why I asked. You don’t expect me to stay silent, did you? I wanted to trust you, Cassius, and I needed the truth-”
“Tssk… you think a man like Zero would spill out his client’s name?” he asked, his eyes piercing into hers. And when she didn’t reply, her gaze confused about what she felt, he spoke again.
“I thought you were different, but I guess you are just like others who think I’m a monster. A monster that killed your sister.”
“Cassius-”
“It’s alright to think that way, Tatiana,” he cut in. ‘Tatiana’ and not ‘Little Rebel.’ His voice sounded cold. It didn’t sound right from his lips. “Everyone thinks that way.”
As he turned to leave, Tatiana stood in place, not moving an inch. The hurt in his eyes lingered in her head.
___
Cassius’s car halted before a building after making several calls. The coldness and anger in his eyes were enough to make anyone shrink as he crossed the gate.
“Hey Mr…” One of the guards approached to stop him. “What’s your deal here?”
Cassius didn’t reply. Instead, hefty men marched in. His men. They were all built with guns and weapons.
Raising his gaze to Zero’s guard, Cassius warned coldly, “Move.” His words were laced with authority that forced the guard to get out of his way immediately.
The guard finally recognized the man. Mr. King!
Cassius stormed into the building.
“Zero! Get your fucking ass down here!” Cassius roared.
As if expecting him, Zero emerged from a room and chuckled when their eyes met.
“Old friend,” he smirked as he descended the stairs.
Cassius watched him quietly, his hands tucked into his pockets.
“I never thought I could actually force you to come. I’ve missed you, do you miss me?” he asked sarcastically, stepping closer.
His remaining words went back in as Cassius’s fist landed hard on Zero’s face. Fast enough to know he had been dying to hit him.
Zero’s jaw broke, blood spilling from his lips as he spun and fell to the ground.