Silence hung between the two figures, Jolene’s words lingering in the air, thick with tension. Tatiana’s gaze was filled with disbelief, her mind reeling from what she had just heard.
She stared at the woman before her, questioning if this was still the same person she once considered a sister-the girl she had helped when she had nowhere else to turn.
Tatiana had met Jolene at a function, where she was desperately trying to please a small-time artist who abused her. Though Jolene was more than capable, her efforts went unappreciated.
Tatiana saw potential in Jolene and immediately felt drawn to her. The small-time artist scoffed when Tatiana stepped in to help.
Tatiana vividly remembered the bruises on Jolene, the stench of sour milk clinging to her, and the defeated look in her eyes.
“I’ll take her as my assistant from now on,” Tatiana had declared.
“What? Are you crazy? Taking this good-for-nothing as your assistant? Maybe you’re not as smart as everyone says,” the artist sneered.
“Are you letting her go or not?” Tatiana had no time for idle chatter.
“She owes me money. I won’t release her until she pays.”
“How much?”
“Three hundred thousand dollars.”
Jolene’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s not true!”
“Shut up,” the artist snapped, turning back to Tatiana. “Are you paying or not?”
Tatiana’s response left everyone stunned. “I’ll double it. But if you come after her again, I’ll make sure you end up in jail.”
From that moment, Jolene became Tatiana’s assistant, and Tatiana’s instincts were right-Jolene was talented, cheerful, and fiercely loyal.
Tatiana had grown so accustomed to Jolene, trusting her as if she were her own sister. But now…
The pain surging through her was unbearable.
The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over. Her chest tightened, making it hard to breathe.
“Just do it, Tatie… please,” Jolene begged, and Tatiana’s grip on the gun loosened as she slowly lowered it.
Jolene’s eyes fluttered open. “What are you…?”
“Why should I shoot you?” Tatiana’s voice was cold.
“Because I’m a monster.”
“You should know by now-I’ve been close to you long enough to know when you’re lying.”
“Tatie…”
“Don’t,” Tatiana cut her off, her tone icy. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
“Jojo!” Rowen’s voice echoed behind them. Both women turned to see him approaching with Jaxon.
The look on Rowen’s face showed he had heard everything. Jolene’s heart sank at Jaxon’s expression. She had fired the gun at the bed and fled when Jaxon looked at her in shock.
The sound of sirens made her press her lips into a thin line. She gritted her teeth as the police approached.
“You’re under arrest for conspiring with a murderer,” one of the officers said.
Tatiana remained silent, watching as they cuffed Jolene’s hands.
“Hey!” Rowen shouted, running toward them. “Let her go!”
“Step back, sir,” the officer warned.
Rowen turned to Tatiana, pleading. “Stop them, Tatiana. This isn’t what you want.”
“I called the cops,” Jaxon announced from behind. Jolene glanced at him, unsurprised.
“Tatiana, please stop them. You said she’s like your sister… Tatiana…”
“Dad,” Jolene’s voice cracked as she looked up at her father. “Make sure you eat well, okay?”
Rowen shook his head. “No,” he whispered, watching as they led Jolene to the van. Her hair fell over most of her face.
As they left, Tatiana turned to get into the car. Cassius had been inside the whole time, his anger barely contained. He gave Tatiana a worried look, knowing all too well the pain of betrayal.
He had gone mad when he discovered that the person responsible for his mother’s accident was his best friend. Cassius remembered how hard it was to accept the truth, even when all the evidence was laid out before him.
He drove them home in silence. It was late, and Aurora and Dylan had already gone to bed.
Tatiana hadn’t said a word the entire time.
“Rebel,” Cassius called softly, and she looked up at him, her eyes filled with guilt.
“Do you hate me?” she asked suddenly, and Cassius frowned. “Because I hate myself.”
“Let it out, wife. Cry on my shoulder; you’ll feel better,” he whispered. Tatiana exhaled shakily, her lips trembling as tears welled up in her eyes.
Cassius pulled her into a hug, and she finally let go-her tears, her emotions, and her apologies.
Cassius couldn’t deny that all of this had caught him off guard. After that night, Hudson had mentioned that his phone had been acting up, possibly hacked, which was why he couldn’t confirm if the woman had come to his room.
Cassius had considered the incident with the woman a minor issue, especially since he still had Maximus to deal with. But after handling that, his mind wouldn’t rest, knowing he had slept with a stranger.
That’s why he searched for her, only to discover she was a Wallington-his enemy’s daughter.
Cassius had been furious when he learned her identity, but Tatiana’s character and past showed him she was nothing like her father.
He loved her, and he knew the risks of being with her. But he wasn’t going to let that stop him from being a good father to Dylan and a good husband to her.
Only death could tear them apart.
___
“Is Aunt Jojo coming today? She promised to tell me a lot of stories,” Dylan’s voice beamed at the dining table.
Tatiana, who had been eating slowly, paused. Cassius looked at his mother and noticed the suspicious look on her face. Nothing passed his mother’s eyes.
When Tatiana didn’t reply, Cassius did.
“Jojo is busy. She has some assignments to do.”
Dylan’s face fell with disappointment. “Oh, will you play with me then? Uncle Conrad complains about his back, so he can’t play for long.”
“Finish eating, and we’ll play in the garden,” Cassius smirked, and Dylan’s face brightened.
“And we’ll eat some cookies,” Dylan squealed, prompting Tatiana’s lips to curl up.
After they were done eating, Cassius kissed Tatiana’s head and Aurora’s. Dylan insisted he wanted to do the same, so Cassius carried him and let him kiss the two women’s cheeks.
Cassius carried Dylan onto his shoulder.
“I’m beating you just like I did the last time,” Dylan boasted.
“Oh, you can try, little man.”
As they left, Tatiana’s smile slowly disappeared. She turned to Aurora. “I’ll be upstairs.”
“Jolene turned out to be the little bird, huh?” Aurora asked, and Tatiana’s face paled. She slowly nodded. “Do you know the reason why she did that?”
“No,” Tatiana whispered.
“Hmm… All I can say is you know Jolene better than anyone. You should know what she can or cannot do,” Aurora said, and Tatiana thought for a moment.
“Thanks, Mother,” she whispered.
“Do you know why your father keeps targeting you? Do you know why this war is taking longer than expected?” Aurora asked, and the room turned serious. She leaned forward with a smile.
“Your father is doing what he does best to get to you. His cunning nature, his strength-he’s not going after Cassius, but after you to reach him. You’re a strong woman, Tatiana. Cassius has told me a lot about you… From a woman with a tarnished image to an actress who won the best acting award with just one movie.”
Tatiana felt herself come alive from her mother-in-law’s words.
“Use that same strength against your father.”