“Speak what?” Nathan asked inwardly. He tried to find his voice but couldn’t. He was traumatized. Cassius was a devil in disguise.
“Speak,” Tristan spat. His smile had disappeared, replaced by a hint of anger. Tristan didn’t have the gift of patience. He’s a psychopath.
Tristan’s fist flew to Nathan’s face, delivering a swift hit that forced a painful groan out of Nathan’s throat.
“Speak,” he demanded after Nathan forced himself to sit again. Blood stained his lips. When Nathan didn’t reply, Tristan struck him on the same cheek.
Nathan’s eyes blurred. The hit was harder than the first. He saw stars.
“Speak!” he demanded again and made to hit him once more.
“What do you think you’re doing!?” one of the other cellmates stood up. The other one joined as well.
Tristan looked at both of them. “What does it look like? I’m forcing him to speak.”
“If he doesn’t want to speak, then let it be. You can’t treat a crippled man like that…” the first one spoke.
Tristan raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you guys brutal criminals? When did you start giving a fuck about a cripple?”
“Maybe we’re a different kind. If you hurt or kill him, we’ll get into trouble too,” the second one spoke.
Tristan looked back at Nathan and sighed. “Fine.” He stood and faced the others. “Well-”
‘He might kill them,’ Nathan thought, but…
“I need some sleep,” Tristan said and approached the empty bed he had meant for himself. As he lay on it, Nathan’s face dropped. This asshole never let things slide. He’d definitely plan something.
One thing he knew: Tristan came into prison because of him.
This is bad.
—
Jolene jolted awake hearing the loud clash downstairs. She sprang up from her bed and rushed down, only to find her living room in a mess with her father pulling stuff out of the fridge.
“Rowan!” Jolene called out.
Rowan stopped searching the fridge and faced her. His eyes flashed with guilt.
“I’m… Sorry. I… I was just hungry,” he stuttered, avoiding eye contact.
“Well, you could have just asked instead of scattering the whole place, Rowan!” Jolene yelled.
“I’m so sorry… I’m really sorry.”
“Sorry? Sorry for what exactly?!” she yelled again and tried her best to calm her nerves.
“I’ll clean it up,” he said.
Jolene turned and left for her room without answering.
After a while, Jolene came downstairs, all prepared for work, and saw that her father had indeed cleaned up the mess.
“I’m sorry,” her father apologized again. Seriously, what had happened to him after he left?
Jolene decided to prepare breakfast for both of them. As they sat across from each other, Jolene couldn’t help but stare at the man from time to time.
“Why did you leave?” she couldn’t help but ask. Rowan slowly looked up at her. Guilt flashed across his weathered face.
“I didn’t… I didn’t mean to.”
“I asked why… Sigh… you know what, never mind.” Jolene shook her head and began to eat.
“Where is Melissa?” Rowan asked, and Jolene felt a pang of anger at the mention of her mother’s name.
“She’s dead,” she looked up at him, tears blurring her sight. “After you left us when I was six, she died four years later. And I had to live with my aunt, who hated me so much and mistreated me. I wouldn’t be what I am today if it weren’t for Tatiana. So whatever reason you have for why you left us that day won’t make me forgive you.”
Sadness blanketed his gaze, and Jolene cared less.
“I’m leaving,” Jolene said, eating more of her meal, and left while Rowan sighed in despair.
—
~THE RISE OF RUBY~
A tale of Ruby, the daughter of the most influential family. Her uncle betrayed her father. That night, Ruby watched her family be butchered. She then rose to fame and destroyed those who had hurt her.
The photoshoot for this movie blew the minds of Australia. It was captivating enough to make the latest news in the media.
The photoshoot spread like wildfire, and the anticipation among Netizens was obvious.
“Geez! A movie where Tatiana is the female lead!? I’ve been dying to see this for years!”
“She is back! I can’t wait to watch this. Tatiana is just so cool…”
“This is insane. I’m salivating already!”
“When is the trailer, please? I don’t think I’ll have a good night’s sleep thinking about this…”
The photoshoot won the hearts of many. Tatiana’s expressions, outfits, and poses portrayed the character so well. As if she was Ruby herself!
The couples shoot was released too. They also went haywire seeing Gavin as the male lead.
—
“Jolene Grey is Tatiana’s assistant?” Jaxon asked after researching Jolene. Hudson nodded.
“Tatiana Wallington?” Jaxon asked, his voice sounding displeased. “The Wallington second daughter.”
“Idol is a cool woman.”
“Right, your idol. She was the one I saw at the event. What was she doing there?”
“She’s Indigo’s friend,” Hudson replied.
“Hmm… where does she live? I mean the cute… Sorry, Jolene,” he corrected himself.
“Are you going to stalk her?” Hudson asked.
“No… pfft, why the heck would I stalk? I’m not a stalker. I just want to know where she stays.”
“Then ask her yourself,” Hudson replied, and Jaxon rolled his eyes. He stood up to leave.
“Fine, I shouldn’t have asked you in the first place.” As Jaxon left the office, he made a call.
“Jolene Grey. Find out her address.”
—
While the media was going crazy with Tatiana’s photoshoot, someone wasn’t pleased.
His blue eyes stared at the arms Gavin had circled around Tatiana’s waist. The affection in Gavin’s eyes and their closeness.
‘Ease up, Cassius. It’s just a shoot,’ his subconscious mind assured him.
He zoomed in on the picture just to check if Gavin really touched her.
“What are you doing?” Tatiana’s voice sounded at the entrance of his study room. “It’s late, Cash. What did I tell you about working so late?”
Cassius dropped his phone.
“Come here, little rebel,” he demanded, and she obliged.
Cassius made her sit on his lap and met her gaze. He tucked her hair behind her ear, and she smiled.
“Have you seen the photoshoots? What do you think?” she asked.
“Ending someone’s life.”
“Mr. King, are you jealous?” She tilted her head and asked cutely.
“Maybe.”
“He didn’t touch me, I promise,” she whispered and slowly kissed his forehead. A kiss that felt like it reached his soul.
Cassius’s mind drifted to how Jaxon challenged him about the Wallingtons. Tatiana still bore that monster’s surname, and there was only one way to clear her from that legacy.
Apart from that, he had wanted to say this for a long time.
“Rebel?” he called softly and pulled her closer.
“Hmm,” her arms remained wrapped around his neck.
“Let’s get married.”
Her fingers, which had been playing with his black jet hair, stopped abruptly, and she froze.
“What?” she muttered, her voice barely audible. Her eyes were tearing up; she was about to cry.
Cassius caressed her hair.
“How about you become Tatiana King? I want you to become my wife…”