"What's with the long face, darling?" Nathan, Tatiana's fiancé, whispered as he placed a stunning silver necklace around her neck that matched her wedding gown.
"Nervous?" he asked, and she nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, me too. I can't believe you'll be my wife in the next hour. It means the world to me, my love." Tatiana chuckled at Nathan's words, her happiness clear in her voice. But as soon as he excused himself and left the room, her smile faded, replaced by a mix of emotions. It was her wedding day, yet she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been growing inside her. Nathan's suspicious behavior lately had left her puzzled, and part of her felt that something was off. Despite being bound to Nathan, the CEO of Stardust Entertainment Company, by her overbearing tycoon father for the past five years, Tatiana had genuinely grown to love Nathan's sweet and charming side. However, the doubts lingering in her mind refused to dissipate, casting a shadow over her joy. Her phone buzzed; it was a message from Jolene, her assistant. *You were right, Tatiana,* the message read. Tatiana clicked on the video attached to the message, and her heart sank to her feet. It showed Nathan kissing another woman, with the camera angle only revealing his face. The woman seemed somewhat familiar. With shaky breath, Tatiana stormed out of the room and spotted Nathan's assistant, Flynn. "Where's Nathan?" her voice cold. "Over there," Flynn gestured to the other side of the hall, but his expression turned concerned upon seeing Tatiana's distressed look. "Ma'am," he called after her, but Tatiana was already walking away. As she made her way through the hallway, her head spun, and her chest tightened at the sound of moaning. She recognized the voices and couldn't believe it was happening on her wedding day! "Ma'am, you need to come. The guests are waiting!" Flynn called again and Tatiana quickened her step. She reached the door and forcefully pushed it open. Her world shattered as she witnessed Nathan slamming himself into one of his artists, Paisley. Not only was Paisley Nathan's artist, but she was also Tatiana's rival. Tatiana stood frozen as the two ignored her completely. Her face paled, and her lips parted in disbelief. She had suspected something was going on between them, but she never imagined it would be this extreme. Nathan groaned at his release, and Paisley laughed sarcastically. Both totally ignoring her! "It felt amazing," Nathan whispered. Tatiana felt a chill down her spine as the reality of Nathan's words hit her. Tears streamed down her face like a waterfall, and bile rose in her throat, making it hard for her to breathe. After they dressed, Nathan's gaze met with her. Those eyes showed no sign of remorse. "What is this?" Tatiana's voice trembled. "I've given you everything, even sacrificed my dreams to please you. How could you do this to me?!" Nathan approached her and sighed. "Don't take it to heart, darling. I'm marrying you, not her. Forget what you just saw," he said shamelessly. "It was just a mistake." Tatiana's hand flew to Nathan's face, delivering a swift slap. She was shocked by her own actions, but she couldn't contain her anger. She realized that this man had never treated her well, always treating her like trash and then begging for her forgiveness. And naive as she was, she would always come back to him. She saw the shocked look on Paisley's face, and Nathan's face reddened with anger. She winced as he forcefully grabbed her neck, slamming her back against the wall, his jaw clenched. "How dare a bitch like you lay your filthy hand on me? Have you forgotten who I am? I'm your fucking husband, and you should listen to me. Forget what you just saw and go to the hall where our guests are waiting for us to get married." Even in pain, Tatiana's face remained cold. Normally, she would have begged him to stop hurting her, but not this time. She had had enough of his senseless actions. "Screw you, Nathan." "Don't tell me you're planning to break up with me on our wedding day, Tatiana. You'll be humiliated in front of the guests. This wedding is going to bring a lot of resources to your father's company. Are you planning to disappoint him?" Tatiana bit her lip, knowing how angry her father would be if the wedding didn't happen. She resented the fact that she, as a woman, was expected to bow at the feet of a man like Nathan. "Well, screw him too," Tatiana's jaw clenched as Nathan let out a mocking laugh. He released her, and she gasped for air. Her lungs burned from the lack of oxygen. "Very well then. Let's see how you handle the humiliation you brought upon yourself. I can't wait to see it," he said, glancing over at Paisley, who smiled at him before leaving the room. "Prepare the car. We are leaving," Tatiana overheard Nathan ordering his assistant. "But sir, the--" "It's not happening. My fiancée just broke up with me on our wedding day, so I should drown my sorrows with a drink, don't you think?" Nathan replied sarcastically. Tatiana eyes locked onto Paisley, her anger boiling. "How stupid of you to let such a man slip through your grasp. If I were you, I wouldn't have let him go," Paisley sneered. "Just get your whore ass out of here," Tatiana uttered. "You know, I should thank you, selfish bitch. First, you got out of my way in the industry, helping Nathan rise to his position, and foolishly thinking that Nathan would appreciate your sacrifice. And now, you've given me the opportunity to have him all to myself. I never wanted him to marry you anyway. Have fun with the humiliation. Don't worry, I'll make sure everyone sympathizes," Paisley said. Paisley was a famous actress with millions of followers. If she manipulated the media, Tatiana would be even more humiliated, despite being the victim. With heavy heart, Tatiana stormed out, still in her wedding dress, and headed to the nearest bar. Bottle after bottle, she sought oblivion in its depths. Jolene, her assistant finally found her, concern etched on her face. With Jolene's help, Tatiana stumbled into the car, and eventually passed out in the hotel room Jolene had prepared. When she woke up, still intoxicated, she found herself in different clothes, Jolene gone. "Jojo?" she slurred, staggering out of the room, going wherever her feet took her. __ The next morning, Tatiana woke up with a throbbing head, her eyes meeting the strange luxurious room. The only memories she had were of Nathan's betrayal and Jolene's help. "Ouch," she winced at the pain in her head as she tried to get up. The quilt slipped and her exposed breasts bounced out. She gasped and quickly covered up with a frown, realizing she was naked. "Did Jolene undress me?" she mumbled and heard the sound of running water, indicating someone else was in the room. She spotted some clothes on the couch and went to check, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets upon seeing that they were a man's clothes. 'Yes... harder, baby... Fuck me... yes!' Her hand flew to her lips, as her words echoed in her head. She ended up sleeping with a strange man! The term 'strange man' could mean anything. An old man, a crippled, a man who has an infection. He could be anyone. “I’m so dead” She mumbled, and as mind pondered on what she had done, the bathroom's door opened and he stepped out...Tatiana quickly lay on the bed, pretending to be asleep. Her heart racing, threatening to jump out of its ribcage. "What are you talking about?" The man’s deep, rich voice sounded, and Tatiana felt a chill run down her spine. Oh heavens, what is she going to do? She peeked at him just to see how he looked but only saw his back view. A tall, imposing figure, definitely not old or crippled, but incredibly hot. He was speaking with someone on the phone. "I thought you promised to send someone. What the fuck am I supposed to tell her when she wakes?" he asked the person on the other side. Tatiana frowned. He had been expecting someone to sleep with last night. He was probably one of those rich men who paid to sleep with women. She clenched her jaw. ‘I’m not a whore,’ she thought to herself. He ended the call, and Tatiana shut her eyes again. She heard his footsteps fading and the door shutting. He had entered his dressing room. Tatiana sprang up from the bed, put on her clothes, and
The room fell silent; one could hear a pin drop. Tatiana forgot how to use her mouth and only stared at her son."Is Father a bad man?" Dylan asked innocently. He didn't look upset but worried."Dylan," Catelyn cut in."No, he is not a bad man. He is a wonderful man that you'll meet someday. But now is not the right time, dear, but I promise, you'll meet your father," Tatiana answered, and Dylan's smile returned."I bet he is as handsome as me," he chuckled."He sure is," Tatiana agreed, and the room returned to its cheerful atmosphere.After putting Dylan to sleep, Tatiana went to grab a glass of water, trying to control her breathing."Tatie," Catelyn called behind her."I just promised him that he'll meet his father soon when I don't even know who he is, what he looks like, or what kind of personality he has. What if he hates me and Dylan? What if Dylan hates me? What if...""Relax, Tatie, it's not the end of the world," Catelyn held her hand."I don't know what to do," Tatiana whi
As Tatiana stood before Isabella's grave, it felt like a nightmare. A nightmare she didn't want to believe. Her desperate voice over her voicemail echoed in her head.She blamed herself for not being there when Isabella needed her help. She hated herself for leaving this monster den of a country in the first place.Tatiana wished she had tried to stop Isabella from going into the entertainment industry, but her sister was determined, just like her.She would find whoever was behind this and make them wish for death. She would destroy each and every one of them."Tatiana," a familiar voice snapped her back to reality. She turned to see her older sister Maya. She was dressed in black, just like her.Only a few people attended Isabella's burial; their father, stepmother, and stepbrother were not among them.Maya walked to stand beside her, sadness swirling in her gaze. "I'm so sorry."Tatiana scoffed. "Isabella would never kill herself, you know that. And yet you let Father suppress the
"Huh?" She raised her brow."You think you can just leave without a trace after what happened that night?" His hands still pinned hers above her head, his piercing blue eyes boring into hers."W-what do you mean?" she stuttered, his scent reminding her of that night—the night that changed her life completely."What do I mean? Are you seriously asking me that, woman? If your brain can't recall how we burned together on that bed, how about I remind you right here?" His face was dangerously close as he growled into her ear.Her eyes widened. He meant it. Every single word. He was the king of the entertainment world, after all."Let me go," she demanded stubbornly, her voice barely audible. He let out a low, dark chuckle that sent a chill down her spine."Let you go? Oh, I'll let you go, Tatiana. But not until you understand the consequences of crossing paths with me."Her pupils dilated as she remained frozen, not scared but shocked with the realization that Mr. King was the man she had
That night, Maya stared at her husband's handle on social media. He had posted a picture of them smiling at each other. Maya was wearing a long-sleeved yellow gown, and her husband was in a suit.Fans wished they could have a marriage like hers. The post had millions of likes and thousands of comments.As she checked out his old posts, Maya heard the return of her husband, Mason, and quickly headed downstairs to welcome him."You're back," she smiled and took the bag from him. He didn't reply; it was something she was used to.Mason headed straight to his room to freshen up, and Maya went to the kitchen to serve his meal. Her nightwear covered almost every part of her body except her face.After serving, Maya waited for Mason until he returned. He entered the dining room, still not uttering a word to her. Opening the meal, his gaze darkened."Honey, what is this?" Mason asked, his voice laced with anger as he gazed at the dinner table. "I specifically asked for the famous chicken parm
An invitation from two men that defined her past!It took a while before Tatiana could digest Jolene's words. The King's Entertainment Company invited her? That is a huge shock!Nathan definitely sent a contract just to remind her that he is still superior and that she will forever remain under him. Accepting such an offer from him would give her a chance to dig out his secret, but knowing what kind of devil Nathan is, that would be a death wish, especially when she has no one backing her.As for Mr. King, that would be a huge blow. Every netizen would definitely throw insults at her and try to dig out how she managed to get herself in.They'll find out about Dylan, and that would cause an uproar. She doesn't want to drag Dylan into this; she wanted him out of this war she is about to face. Also, she doesn't know Cassius's intention towards her.He is engaged, he despises her, and yet he wants her under him as his artist. It was just so confusing."Tatie?" Jolene's voice snapped her
"As he ran through the dark forest, he could hear nothing but his fast beating heart, the harsh wind that blew past him, and the stomping of his feet against the dry grasses. He could hear those crazy cries of theirs and boom! Out of nowhere, one of the rogue demons ate his head!" Jolene narrated and waited for Dylan's scared reaction, but the boy only stared blankly at her, eating cookies."What, that didn't scare you too? That was my best horror story, and it's scary. How could you still have a straight face?" Jolene asked with a disappointed look."Because it's not scary. That's just a story," Dylan replied, and Jolene scoffed, crossing her arms."What scares you then?" Jolene asked, raising a brow. Dylan raised one of the cookies to her. "Cookies?""What I'm scared of is cookies disappearing completely. That will be the end of the world," Dylan replied, taking a bite."You're impossible," Jolene shook her head. "You do not talk like a five-year-old kid.""People say that all the t
Tatiana sat frozen in the car, her face turning red as a tomato, and her lips sealed shut. The image of Cassius carrying her replayed in her mind, causing her heart to race uncontrollably.Regaining her senses, she shot a glare at the man driving. "What was that? Why did you carry me?" she snapped."I needed to talk to you privately. Resist again, and I'll do more than that. I hate disobedience," he replied, his voice cold. But Tatiana couldn't care less."Why should I obey you?" she questioned."You don't need a reason. No one does," he responded, his gaze still fixed on the road.Tatiana scoffed. "You're used to people obeying you, aren't you? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not that kind. I do what I want.""Not with me," he turned his head towards her, his emotionless blue eyes piercing through her. "I told you I would show you the consequences of crossing paths with me, little rebel," he added before returning his attention to the road."What's with the nickname?" Tatia
Milena blinked in shock, still frozen in place as her limbs refused to listen to her.Finally met her? Why would the great Tatiana Wallington be anticipating meeting her?As if reading her thoughts, Tatiana spoke again in that smooth voice.“We've heard about you, dear.”Milena’s legs wobbled. “Good things, I hope,” she muttered under her breath. She glanced at Cassius, who still had his sharp gaze fixed on her.Then she bowed deeply, her head almost touching her knees.“Nice to really meet you too, Mr. and Mrs. King,” she straightened up and flashed them a nervous smile as Cassius gave her an acknowledging nod.“Rafeal told me about you guys too,” Milena added.The Ward's door slid open, and Zade walked in as well, standing beside her. Milena flashed him a glare as if asking, *Why didn't you tell me they were here?*Zade gave her a replying look too. *You didn't give me a chance; how am I supposed to do that?*Milena sighed defeatedly, knowing he was right. Tatiana offered the empty
Milena snapped awake with a gasp, her eyes meeting an unfamiliar room. She was surrounded by white walls—too bright, too sterile. The ceiling spun above her for a moment before everything began to settle.Her heart pounded in her chest as she pushed herself up, the hospital sheets sliding off her trembling body. Her hands instinctively clutched the fabric at her chest, panic crawling up her throat as her eyes darted around the place.“Rafeal…”Her voice came out as a whisper, hoarse and broken.Memories surged in—his limp body in her arms, the flatline sound, the doctors shouting.She swung her legs off the bed, nearly collapsing from the dizziness that hit her. But she didn’t care. Her feet touched the cold floor, and she forced herself up, dragging her weak body to the door.She yanked it open.A nurse turned at the sound, startled. “Ma’am, please—you need to lie down, you’re not—”“Where is he?” Milena demanded, voice trembling but full of desperation. “Where is Rafeal?”"Ma’am, yo
While Milena cradled Rafael's unconscious body, Angie ran to Rosa's side and saw the scene. Just like Rosa, her body froze in place, but she quickly recovered, pulling out an injection from her gear and running towards them.She shoved it onto Rafael's lap and injected him, then checked on his state."He is not breathing," Milena sobbed, her whole body trembling. "Rafael is not breathing!"Angie immediately lifted him despite the exhaustion from searching for the antidote clouding her senses. She carried him out, and Milena struggled to follow.She was drained, her bones threatening to give up, darkness slipping into her mind, and she almost fell, but Rosa caught her.Zade appeared too, shocked at the scene. He was covered in blood and sweat; it seemed they had been fighting off the men outside.He rushed to help Milena, taking her from Rosa and leading her out.However, Rosa paused and glanced at unconscious Leonard, her eyes dangerously cold as deadly intent rose within them.Angie
Milena watched them clash like two storms colliding.No hesitation. No holding back.Rafael was a blur—faster than Leonard remembered. Every strike was brutal, precise, like he’d been waiting for this fight his entire life.Their fists met, their bones cracked, and their snarls echoed like monsters in a cage.Both were skilled; no one would know who was stronger among the brothers.Leonard went for Rafael’s throat with a wild hook, but Rafael ducked and slammed his elbow into Leonard’s ribs, sending him staggering back and coughing blood.Leonard smirked, wiping the blood off his face with the back of his hand. “That all you’ve got, little brother?”Rafael didn’t answer. He spun low and swept Leonard’s legs, sending him crashing to the floor. Rafael pounced, fists flying, hammering into Leonard’s jaw over and over.Blood splattered across the floor, warm and slick. Leonard twisted, caught Rafael’s arm, and flipped him—hard.Rafael slammed onto his back with a groan but rolled to his f
Oxford’s fingers flew over his keyboard, trying to find a way to connect with his allies. He needed someone to back him up.Gunshots echoed everywhere. It was no longer just one man with a sniper—more had come to attack them.He already sensed that Leonard and his men were cornered. But no matter how many times Oxford tried, he couldn’t get through.He had another method of connecting with his allies and requesting help, but access kept being denied. Were his allies under attack too?Each time he tried to reach them, someone—or something—kept blocking him out. A hacker? Fuck. He wasn’t that good at this stuff.“Where’s Zinnia?!” Oxford barked at X. Zinnia was the head of hacking.“She—” That was the only word X could manage before the van door swung open—no, it was ripped open.Before X could react, a dire wolf pounced on him. X shot aimlessly, hitting even the equipment in the van, as the wolf tore off his arm.Oxford cursed under his breath, watching X fight for his life. A large fi
Oxford’s van arrived at the port first. The ship was ready, and his men had already begun unloading the illegal drugs, weapons, and poison into it.He knew staying in a country dominated by Silence was a deadly risk, but he had to come. After all, one can't defeat an enemy without getting a little close.More importantly, there was his little daughter—she might have something that could help him bring Silence down. Once he got what he wanted from her, he would kill her… and if she insisted on keeping quiet, she would be tortured until death.Oxford snickered as he took a drag from his cigarette. Who would’ve thought he’d manage to break into the territory of the most dangerous man in the mafia world?And even kill one of his best men…Ha! Silence is getting old, after all. It was bound to happen. No one stays king forever.If it hadn’t been for Silence, he and Maximus would have had the entire world beneath their feet.“Rest well, brother,” Oxford muttered. That was one of the reasons
"Boss, the ship is ready," one of the men came to inform Oxford as he cleared up his equipment. "Good. Have you informed Leonard? Ask him to take the girl so we can leave immediately." The longer they stayed, the more risk they were in of getting found by Silence. That devil was unpredictable, and even though Oxford had his plans laid out and prepared, he still couldn't shake the unsettled feeling in his mind. As the door shut behind the man, Oxford went to his safe hidden behind a painting. He punched in the passcode, and the door opened, revealing a small file. Oxford took it and kept it safe in a box. After that, he stepped out of the room. Milena's breath was ragged as she darted through the dark hallway, her bare feet barely making a sound against the cold tiles. The dim lights flickered, casting eerie shadows along the walls. Her heart pounded, each beat a frantic reminder that she had little time. She didn't know the layout of the building, but that didn’t matter. Th
Milena's breath was slowly becoming uncomfortable. She had been trying to endure the pain ever since she got here.Now it was becoming unbearable. In her mouth, her tongue brushed against one of her molars, recalling how Zade had installed a tracking chip there.It was on Rafael's orders. The device was made by Rosa.At least they believed she wasn't the culprit. And probably needed her to be here. Zade had told her to rest assure and not panic no matter what.Hold on to the pain, Milena; Rafael is coming.Milena almost flinched when the door opened, Leonard stepping in, slightly disheveled. A smirk danced on his face."Hello, baby," he breathed, removing his jacket. "Take your clothes off."Milena's mind went blank. "What?""I said take your clothes off. Don't make me repeat that."Milena shook her head. "Go away."Leonard scoffed, stepping forward and pulling out a knife that glittered under the dim light of the room.Milena's heart skipped a beat."Strip, or it will stop being funn
Milena couldn't deny the fact that she was scared. Concern was etched into every nerve, but she knew one thing.He was coming for her.Rafael was coming.The space here was suffocating, and each hour that passed only made her more anxious. But she did her best to keep herself calm.Then the door of the room creaked open, revealing Rafael's brother, dressed in a white shirt and dark trousers."Being like this isn't going to help you. Either way, we're going to get information from you—hard or easy," he said, leaning against the threshold of the door, his arms crossing his broad chest."If you think I'm going to tell you about Rafael, you're wasting your time. You won't hear a word," she assured him.Leonard chuckled. "Let me guess—you think he's going to come for you, right?" He sighed and began approaching her. "I've known Rafael for years. He's a weak idiot I love to bully. He cries like a baby whenever I hit him or say something harsh."Leonard clicked his tongue as he stopped right