“Stacy,” Salome called, her voice filled with amusement, disbelief, and disgust.
“Hey, bitch. How have you been?” Stacy tucked her trembling hands into her jeans to hide them.
Salome slowly removed her mask, a mocking grin spreading on her red lips.
“You look like shit, little sister. Has estado comiendo? (Have you been eating?)”
Stacy scoffed as she watched Salome step forward. Salome had always been like this-always full of ego. She loved to see people beneath her.
Salome and Stacy were the only daughters of Mr. Fernandez, a well-known and popular businessman in Spain.
Stacy was brilliant and a fast learner. She was a computer freak, which impressed Mr. Fernandez greatly, and when Salome saw this, she became jealous.
She found many ways to kick Stacy out of the mansion but failed because Mr. Fernandez always took Stacy’s side.
When Stacy found out about her father’s illegal business, she challenged him, but he never listened.
Unknown to her, Salome listened to their conversation and immediately plotted her scheme.
Soon, the military came to arrest Mr. Fernandez. It wasn’t easy for him to get himself out.
“It wasn’t me! How could I have done that?!” Stacy recalled how she yelled at her father, who accused her.
“Because you threatened to ruin me if I didn’t stop. Do you think it’s that easy to just get out of it? I fed you, clothed you, protected you, and did so many things for you. This is where I got the money and power to do it! You almost got me killed for your nonsense, you little bitch!” He hit her hard, and she crumpled to the floor.
That was the first time her father had ever yelled at her and called her names. That day, she was chased out of the house. Stacy could recall the excited grin on Salome’s face the day she was kicked out.
It was all Salome; she knew that, but her father wouldn’t believe her. She didn’t bother explaining and just left.
She was glad she left, and she was still glad.
Life after that wasn’t easy as Salome tried to kill her several times, so she left for Australia to start a new life. Serving men in brothels and working at strip clubs was how she tried to survive… until she met Tatiana, the woman who changed her life.
“Let me guess, you’re recalling our shitty days, aren’t you?” Salome giggled.
Fuck, Stacy hated that sound.
“So you’re doing this shitty business with Father. How cool of you,” Stacy mocked.
“Oh please, just tell me you’re jealous. The name Salome Fernandez is now feared here in Spain. Father picked me as his next successor. I showed him I was meant to be in charge,” Salome said, her grin growing wider. “And you, Stacy, are just a distant memory. A failed experiment. Father always said you were too weak, too soft. But me? I’m the one who gets things done.”
Stacy rolled her eyes, trying to hide the sting of Salome’s words. “You’re just a puppet, Salome. Father’s puppet. You think you’re in control, but you’re just doing his bidding.”
Salome laughed. “Oh, Stacy. You really don’t get it, do you? I’m not just doing his bidding. I’m the one calling the shots now. And soon, I’ll be the one running the entire operation.” Her face dropped cold as she stopped a few steps away.
She continued in a low, threatening voice. “And after that, I’ll kill you myself, little sister. I need to show you how successful I’ll be before ending you.”
Stacy smirked. “You can try.”
Salome chuckled. “Your lovely Tatiana just walked into a trap. I’m sure by now, she’s getting what she came for: suffering.”
Stacy’s eyes widened.
—
“Tatie. Tatie, hang on.”
Issabella worriedly stared at her bleeding sister, her hands trembling at the whole scene that had just unfolded.
Tristan was currently lying on the cold floor, unconscious with a little blood on his head. He was going to wake up soon, Issabella knew that.
Her heart shredded into pieces as she watched her sister struggle to catch her breath. She hated herself for not helping sooner, but Tristan had traumatized her over the months, making her know that she was just a sex toy-a thing men could play with however they wanted.
He wasn’t excluded; he was a fucking monster. She was terrified of him.
Issabella wondered why she had liked this psycho uncle years ago. The man had been like a fatherly figure to her-calm, gentle, and sweet.
Issabella shared everything with him right from her childhood.
Though Tatiana never liked him-she called him a pretender-Issabella would yell at her, telling her that Tristan was good. But now, she knew the truth. Tristan was no good man; he was a monster.
The man had played, betrayed, and traumatized her so much that she felt like ending him.
Tears streamed down her face, fear surging through every part of her.
She wished Tatiana had listened to her and left before Tristan arrived, but she knew Tatiana wouldn’t.
Guilt washed over Issabella as her eyes welled up. She gazed at Tatiana’s battered body, her movement and breathing slowing down.
“Please stay with me, Tatiana. Please don’t die.” Issabella immediately tapped Tatiana’s cheek as her head slowly fell.
“If not for me, for Dylan. Stay alive… please!” She knew mentioning Dylan would work, and it did, because Tatiana forced her head up and her eyes opened a little.
Issabella hated herself, knowing she had stood by and done nothing when Tristan unleashed his beastly side on Tatiana. She should have helped, but she had let fear paralyze her.
She looked back at her baby, whose wails had been going on for a while. She heard Tristan groan lightly.
Shit! He’s waking up.
Issabella quickly grabbed the second vase in the room and smashed it on his head. He fell back unconscious.
She would have smashed more on him until he was dead, but there was no vase left. She could have used the knife, but it was still in Tatiana’s stomach. Besides, they needed to leave fast!
Issabella tore the bedsheet, took her baby, and wrapped her tightly, trying to comfort her as she continued to wail. She rushed back to Tatiana and used the remaining bedsheet to create a makeshift sling. Carefully, she wrapped Tatiana’s arm around her neck and headed for the door.
She knew there was no escape from this place, but she had to try.
As soon as she opened the door, her heart sank at the sight of several guards who seemed to have been waiting for them.
Tatiana, on the other hand, fell unconscious.