Tatiana was busy preparing for her next scene when Gavin approached her. Her calm gaze settled on him. Though his eyes were filled with anger, his movements were hesitant.
The director must have delivered the news.
“How may I help you?” she acted oblivious.
“I thought we were done with this. And yet,” he slammed the paper before her, “you went too far cutting off my role.”
“Huh?” Tatiana pouted, acting innocently. “I only made the project more alluring. Shouldn’t you be happy for the set?”
“Happy, my ass. You–” He wanted to curse but paused. He should watch his words; those piercing blue eyes might haunt him again.
“Go on,” Tatiana gave a cue.
Gavin groaned and swept his hair backward with frustration.
“This isn’t entirely my doing. You broke your promise, and I helped her fulfill her wish. It was amazing working with you, Mr. Gavin. Would you like to have a drink?” she asked sarcastically.
Gavin shook his head, his breath ragged. “Please talk to the director.”
“You’re asking the wrong person. Besides, it’s too late. What is done is done,” Tatiana replied and watched him leave in anger.
Jolene sighed in front of Tatiana. She was staring at her phone with a wide grin.
“What are you doing?” Tatiana asked.
“I was capturing his reaction. The poor boy was about to shit himself,” Jolene giggled.
“Let me see,” Tatiana gestured, and Jolene showed it to her. They both laughed at the video. Jolene then showed her the one she took the day Cassius tormented him. Tatiana laughed harder.
As they settled back into their seats, Jolene’s face turned serious.
“Are you alright?” Jolene asked.
Tatiana still had a small smile on her lips. “I’d be lying if I said yes. I can’t stop thinking about it, but I’m partially good. I just need more strength. I’ll get there soon.”
Jolene nodded. She had also gone crazy after Tatiana told her Isabella’s real killer. Jolene cried a lot and felt guilt coursing through her. It took a lot of consolation from Tatiana before she calmed down.
Nathan Redmond lost all his fingers and toes. He was crippled and tormented until he was traumatized before being released onto the street. Since he was wanted, the military was quick to apprehend him.
They tried to find out who treated Nathan that way but couldn’t uncover anything.
He reaped what he sowed.
However, Mr. Wallington was still on his fucking high seat, weaving his way around his luxurious life.
It wouldn’t be for long.
Tatiana clenched her jaw. Cassius was right; patience was all she needed to bring this man down.
She’d start by cutting his wings, one after the other.
—
[CASSIUS MANSION]
Laughter filled the garden, reaching Tatiana as she studied her script. She glanced at the father and son playing like little kids.
Dylan was on top of Cassius, whose hands were busy tickling his waist. Dylan’s high-pitched laughter filled the air, prompting Cassius’s own laughter. Tatiana smiled at the scene and then shook her head.
She needed to focus. The project would be ending soon. The slight changes in the script needed to be studied before tomorrow.
She got engrossed for a moment, oblivious to the figure approaching her. Cassius snatched the file from her.
“What are you doing?” She stood and tried to reach for it, but he lifted it higher. “Stop, I need to study!”
“You deserve a break,” Cassius grinned and swiftly pecked her lips.
Tatiana’s eyes went wide. She glanced back at the tiny figure behind Cassius.
Dylan had his lips parted, his round, adorable eyes blinking repeatedly.
Cassius looked at him too and smiled. This would be the first time he’d act affectionate toward Tatiana in front of him.
“Pervert,” Tatiana whispered to Cassius, and her smile slowly turned awkward. They both waited for Dylan to speak.
“Have you guys had a wedding without me?”
Tatiana almost burst into laughter, and Cassius grinned.
“What do you mean?” Cassius asked.
“Miss Jojo mentioned you aren’t married yet. I was just wondering.”
“You are too smart for your age, little man,” Cassius sighed.
“I get that all the time. I’m going to eat cookies,” he said and carried his little feet to the mansion.
“No,” Cassius wanted to chase him. “He sure knows how to hit my spot. I’m definitely buying a cookie company.”
By the time Cassius looked back at Tatiana, she was laughing so hard she was holding her stomach. Cassius waited for her to finish.
“Why are you both the same? Geez, you’re planning to buy a cookie company?” She burst into laughter while the man only stared at her.
Tatiana took the glass of water on the table and drank from it to calm herself. Recalling what just happened, she laughed again but was cut short when Cassius swiftly carried her over his shoulder.
“Hey! What are… you doing?” Her eyes went wide.
“I’ve realized I don’t need any cookie company. You’re here. You taste way better,” Cassius responded and carried her into the mansion.
Gladly, Dylan was with Butler Conrad in the kitchen. He didn’t witness the silly moment.
“Cash, I need to study my script,” Tatiana swung her legs.
Cassius got her inside the room and made her lie on the bed. He crashed his lips onto hers, shutting her up from her whining.
“Cash, I… oh,” Tatiana gave in when he gently squeezed her breast. Her body ignited at his touch, and she welcomed his tongue when he thrust it into her mouth.
Cassius groaned and swiftly reached for her panties, removing them so he could reach her folds.
In the next moment, Cassius was thrusting into her while her moans of ecstasy filled the room.
—
“And then Zeus came out of nowhere with his dragon and crushed them all,” Dylan concluded his story at the dining table. Tatiana chuckled while Cassius frowned.
“Your teacher told you that?” Cassius asked.
“It’s just fiction, Cash. Just some crazy fictional ideas,” Tatiana laughed, but her smile slowly dropped. The air felt strange… so strange it choked her.
“Mother, is everything alright?” Dylan asked, but his voice sounded distant.
“Hey, you alright?” Cassius asked, reaching to hold her hand.
And that was it…
The door was smashed open. A man covered in all black with bloodstains on him barged in, a huge gun in his hand. All parts of his body were covered, even his face.
Tatiana spotted the dead men lying outside the mansion behind him. They had been killed. The man in black raised his gun.
The first shot went straight into Dylan’s chest, and Tatiana’s eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets.
“Dylan!!!!” She yelled insanely and rushed to catch him. The man pointed the gun at her, ready to shoot.
“Rebel!” Cassius yelled and shielded her with his body.
Several gunshots were heard, striking Cassius’s back multiple times. He spat out blood and groaned in pain.
“Re__bel,” he rasped and slowly closed his eyes.
“Cash!!” Tatiana yelled again as he fell beside her. Her eyes traveled from Dylan, who lay motionless on the floor, to Cassius, who had stopped moving too.
“Noooo!!!!!!!!” She clutched them both tightly. Tears streamed down her face freely. Her trembling hands and body were stained with their blood.
No. This can’t be real!
What in the world just happened?
What the actual fuck is going on?!!!
Dylan?? … Cassius?
The mysterious man in black raised his gun and aimed it at Tatiana’s head. She shut her eyes tightly.
A gunshot sounded.
BANG!!!