Tatiana gripped the gun tightly. She fucking swore that after the man’s words, she’d be happy to pull the trigger. He deserved a painful death. True, but his presence alone disgusted her to the core. She badly wanted to end this once and for all.
“Aren’t you going to hear it all, huh?” Nathan asked, with a small smirk on his face.
“Hear what?” she growled.
“How she died. The truth is, I never intended for her to die. I only wanted to teach her a lesson. Your father made it worse, prompting her to take her own life.”
BANG!!
The bullet flew straight into Nathan’s arm. He yelled in pain and shot her a confused and shocked look. She wasn’t kidding.
“What are you doing!!?” he exclaimed. His voice trembled as his second hand flew to his bleeding arm. He yelled in pain again.
His eyes widened, but as a thought stormed into his head, he laughed like a maniac.
“That’s right, kill me, Tatiana. Take my life and become a monster like me. I was there when they pulled Isabella’s body from the water. For a moment, I felt pity for her. Gosh… just how much had she suffered before coming to the conclusion to take her own miserable life!… Ahhh!!!”
Another bullet struck his second arm. Nathan’s painful scream rent the place sharply. Tatiana’s eyes remained dark.
Nathan continued, triggering her demon with his words.
“Where were you, Tatiana? Where were you while she roamed the streets seeking help? You were the closest to Isabella. I’m sure she would have found all means to contact you. Did you neglect her too? I wonder how Isabella feels right now in heaven, watching you breathe….”
Tatiana was very close to shooting Nathan’s forehead, but she was interrupted.
“Little Rebel.”
Tatiana’s bloodlust cleared at his voice. Her eyes widened at what she had done. She had shot him?
“Hey,” Cassius called softly behind her and reached for the gun she held, bringing it down slowly. She looked up at him, meeting his calm gaze.
“You don’t want to have blood on your hands. You don’t have to,” he said lightly, and she let out a soft sigh. She nodded.
Cassius drew her close and placed her head on his chest. His hand patted her head gently, calming her storm.
“Take the bastard back to the torture room. I’ll deal with him later. I’ve got a nice plan for him,” Cassius spoke and smirked darkly at Nathan.
As the men approached, Nathan screamed, “Wait! I’m not going back there. Just fucking kill me instead!”
Still hugging Tatiana, Cassius spoke again. “You’re not to die a plain death, Nathan. You’re not to die at all, even. You need to live and think of the lives you have ruined… until you grow gray hairs. Like I said, I’ve got a nice plan for you.”
“You monster!” Nathan spat. The men began to drag him away. “Tatiana! Tatiana, please don’t let them take me away. Take the gun and just end me! Tatiana!–”
Tatiana shut her eyes when Nathan’s voice trailed off. She inhaled Cassius’s cologne and let herself calm in his embrace.
Getting home, Dylan was already asleep. Cassius still had Tatiana wrapped around him. Her face held no emotion, and the only thing she could think of was her dear sister.
Only if her phone had been in good condition that day.
Only if she had talked to her.
Only if she had never left the country.
Her eighteen-year-old sister might still be alive. She’d probably be planning to get an award at the upcoming ceremony.
“Little Rebel,” Cassius called softly when they got to his room, which was now considered hers too.
She looked up at him, her expression lost. He held her face in his palm and whispered, “Everything will be alright.”
Tatiana shook her head. “Not until that monster who killed my sister dies.”
“We can’t go after him this way–”
“Can I be selfish and ask you to kill him? Just end that monster’s life. End the man who calls himself my father…”
“Hey, easy, alright. I know how you feel. Trust me, I do. The only thing I could think of was killing my best friend when I found out he was behind my mother’s accident just to spite me. I wanted to end him, but when it came to that stage, it was pointless. What is done is done. Ending their lives would make us like them–”
“But they deserve it.”
“You can’t let the desire for revenge consume you, or you’ll get killed. I’m not saying you should let him go. Of course, he’ll pay for his sins. He knew Nathan was going to spill everything to you. He didn’t help Nathan on purpose; he wanted to lure you back. You have to be smarter than that, Little Rebel.” He drew her close and kissed her forehead. “I believe in you.”
Tatiana shut her eyes and fell into his embrace. Everything Cassius said was true. Her father was tricky. A devil with many methods. As long as she was still a Wallington, he would come for her.
—
Back on the set, Gavin strictly avoided Tatiana and only talked to her for business. Each time he set his eyes on her, he recalled those cold blue eyes that made him shudder with fear.
Meadow hadn’t spoken to him ever since that day. He was a bit glad she didn’t cling to him.
However, the senior director visited the set and called for him.
As he stepped into the room, his eyes met Meadow, the senior director, and Director Felix.
“Have a seat, Mr. Gavin,” the senior director gestured.
Clearing his throat, Gavin sat before them. An awkward smile flashed on his lips.
“Meadow decided to make some changes. She had been working on it for quite a while, and when she showed it to me, it was really impressive.”
Gavin’s gaze fell on Meadow. Whatever the senior director was about to say, he knew it wouldn’t go in his favor, so he retorted.
“I don’t think changing the script is professional, sir.”
The senior director frowned at his words. “You are not in a position to teach me how to do my job. If I remember correctly, all of this started with you. Both of you,” he said, glancing at Meadow, who shrank in guilt.
The senior director continued. “The whole set agreed to it. Also, it should be a lesson for you, Gavin. Your scenes will be limited. This project will solely focus on the female lead. The male lead doesn’t need to do much. Here is the script.”
Gavin’s eyes widened as he took the script from the director. His eyes widened further at what they settled on. His character died? And the female lead, which was Tatiana, sought to find who killed him?
What was the point of him being the male lead?
“This is nonsense!” he roared at them.
“Watch the way you speak, Gavin. You haven’t done much and can be replaced,” even Director Felix, who adored him, warned this time.
Gavin had gone too far. Though the writer had her own punishment and had learned her lesson, they knew Gavin might act the same way again.
“This is Tatiana’s doing,” Gavin thought and stormed out of the room. The senior director looked at Meadow, who bit her lips.
“How did you manage to change the plot in a way that pleased us? Don’t lie to us,” the senior director remembered asking Meadow.
“It was with Tatiana’s help,” she had replied.