Chapter 4: Don't you think you've run enough?

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 news and ask the cops to conclude it was suicide? How could you?"

"I have no power, Tatiana. How am I supposed to face Father?"

Tatiana knew she was right; there was nothing Maya could do even if she wanted to. Tatiana decided to find out the truth herself and avenge Isabella's death.

"Let it go, Tatie," Maya muttered, and Tatiana slowly looked at her, her eyes reddened with anger.

"Are you seriously kidding me? This is our little sister we are talking about. I should let go?" Tatiana asked, and Maya swallowed.

"I'm hurt too, and I badly want to make them pay, but I... I can't lose you too," Maya made to touch her, but Tatiana shifted back.

"Don't ever cross paths with me. You can stay low while I catch those bastards," Tatiana said as she walked towards Jolene, who was waiting for her.

Maya tried to hold her tears. She pulled up her sleeve, and her gaze settled on the red bruise on her wrist. She took a deep breath and watched Tatiana's car leave.

---

"She really said that?" Jolene asked in disbelief.

"I don't need her help anyway," Tatiana mumbled, shutting her eyes. Dylan and Catelyn would be coming to the country soon. She needed to find a good place before they returned.

They both settled in a coffee shop where they could discuss.

"I've checked the CCTV footage around Isabella's area, but they were all malfunctioning. A man told me it wasn't working for a long time. I'm sure the person behind Isabella's incident knows her, but I can't pinpoint who," Jolene explained.

"Those bastards behind it are sure to be in the entertainment industry, and the only way to get them is to be in the same world as them," Tatiana's eyes burned with determination.

"Are you saying..."

"Yes, I'm going back to acting," Tatiana stated firmly.

As they left the coffee shop, Tatiana spotted many reporters swarming around a large building, wanting to take a glimpse of a figure.

"Oh my, that's Mr. King," Jolene squealed, also trying to peek. A man emerged from the building with several guards, his suit screaming wealth.

His chiseled features illuminated by the sunlight—thick eyebrows, sharp nose, full lips, and a muscular figure that would make any woman drool. His hair was styled backward, with a few strands dangling to one side of his face. He carried each step with power, catching the onlookers' breaths, even Tatiana's.

Damn, what a beauty.

Though the reporters were wild at the sight of him, they dared not come closer than six feet. That's if they loved their reputation.

The word mercy wasn't in his dictionary.

"Mr. King?" Tatiana raised a brow.

"They call him 'King of the entertainment industry.' His full name is Cassius King. I heard he is a ruthless type, but fuck, he is so hot," Jolene said, and Tatiana gave her a look. "Sorry."

Returning her gaze to the imposing man called Cassius, Tatiana was stunned to meet his gaze. Even though she was seeing him from a distance, she felt those piercing gazes prickling her skin.

For some reason, his look reminded her of her little boy.

Though it was just for a moment, she couldn't help but wonder how a man held so much intimidating aura. Even after he entered his Rolls-Royce Boat Tail, Tatiana didn't stop staring until he drove out of sight.

"Are you crushing on him?" Jolene's voice snapped her back to reality.

Tatiana cleared her throat. "No way. I don't think he is any different from those powerful men I've met. They're all the same."

One of the female reporters spotted Tatiana and quickly took a picture before she left.

She looked down at the picture and frowned. "Isn't this Isabella's sister? Tatiana Wallington, a famous actress years ago who tarnished her marriage?" she mumbled in disbelief, but then her lips curved up.

---

Getting to her lodge, Tatiana stepped into her dimly lit room tiredly. Jolene would search for a company to get her signed with.

It wouldn't be easy due to her past and also Isabella's incident, but she wanted to give it a try. She wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted.

She went to take a shower, letting the warm water calm her tense muscles and relax her mind. After a few minutes, she emerged with a white towel draped around her chest and barely reaching her knee.

She went to her drawer to pull out nightwear for the night, oblivious to the figure in the room with his intense gaze on her.

Turning to wear it, her eyes settled on a man sitting on the couch around the corner, and she gasped in shock.

"What the fu..." She wanted to curse but recognized him and blinked several times just to make sure he was the one.

"Mr.... K-King?" she stuttered, gripping her towel tightly, afraid it might fall and reveal her forbidden treasure to him.

What the hell is he doing in her room?

His piercing gaze observed her body, face, and down to her smooth thighs.

"Excuse me," Tatiana snapped when the man said nothing.

"Why are you so surprised?" he asked in a deep, rich voice laced with power. He slowly stood and approached her, each step making her skin crawl.

"You barged into my room just like this, years ago," he stated, still stepping forward. Tatiana made to step backward, but her back touched the wall. Shit! She cursed inwardly.

As his height hovered over her, Tatiana got mesmerized by his blue charming eyes, which reminded her of her son.

Why does this man look so much like Dylan? She had asked herself that question when she saw him swarmed with so many reporters. There's no way he is the one, is he?

But his scent... no, it can't be.

He is scary; what is he here for? To kill her? She can't trust powerful men like him. They are devious.

She did the best thing she could think of. Run.

But her luck wasn't on her side as the man caught her and pinned her hands just above her head and glared at her.

"And where do you think you're going, woman? Don't you think you've run enough?" he sneered.