CHAPTER SIX: FRACTURES

Tatiana woke up with the feeling that something had shifted.

Not outside.

Inside.

The room was still the same—wide, quiet, wrapped in soft luxury that didn’t belong to her. The curtains filtered in pale morning light, the kind that should have felt warm but didn’t.

Nothing here ever felt warm.

She sat up slowly, her fingers tightening around the edge of the sheets.

For a moment, she didn’t move.

Didn’t think.

Just listened.

Silence.

Too perfect.

Too controlled.

Tatiana exhaled softly and swung her legs over the bed.

Her feet touched the cold marble floor, grounding her instantly.

Real.

She needed something real.

Her first thought wasn’t about Lucien.

It was about Kathy and Sean.

Tatiana moved quickly, pulling on a loose sweater before stepping out into the hallway.

The penthouse felt different in the morning.

Less intimidating.

But not safer.

Just… quieter in a way that made everything easier to notice.

She walked faster.

Past the long corridor.

Down the staircase.

Toward the living area.

And then she heard it.

Laughter.

Soft.

Uncertain.

But real.

Tatiana stopped.

Her chest tightened.

Then she moved again, faster this time.

Kathy sat curled up on the couch, a cartoon playing quietly in front of her. Sean was beside her, more alert, more watchful—but still… calmer than yesterday.

Alive.

Safe.

Tatiana didn’t realize she was holding her breath until she reached them.

“Kathy.”

The girl turned instantly.

“Tati!”

She jumped off the couch and ran straight into her arms.

Tatiana dropped to her knees, pulling her close, her hands moving over her back, her shoulders, her hair—checking.

Always checking.

“You’re okay?” she whispered.

Kathy nodded quickly. “They gave us pancakes.”

Tatiana blinked.

“…pancakes?”

Sean spoke this time, quieter.

“And juice.”

Tatiana let out a breath that felt like it had been trapped in her chest for days.

She pulled them both closer.

For a moment—just one—everything else disappeared.

No Lucien.

No contract.

No past.

Just this.

Then Sean spoke again.

“There are guards outside.”

Tatiana froze slightly.

“…what?”

Sean’s expression shifted—older than it should have been.

“I saw them,” he said. “Two by the door. And one downstairs.”

Tatiana’s stomach tightened.

Of course there were.

Protection.

That word again.

She pulled back slowly, forcing a smile.

“It’s okay,” she said gently. “They’re just making sure no one gets in.”

Sean didn’t look convinced.

Neither did she.

⸻

Later that morning—

Tatiana found herself back in the hallway she wasn’t supposed to wander.

The same one.

The same place.

Where she had seen the file.

She didn’t know why she came back.

Actually, she did.

She just didn’t want to admit it.

Tatiana slowed her steps as she approached the table.

Empty.

The document was gone.

Of course it was.

Her jaw tightened slightly.

She wasn’t surprised.

But the absence made it worse.

Because now she knew—

It had been real.

Not something she imagined.

Not paranoia.

Proof.

Tatiana turned slowly, her eyes scanning the space more carefully this time.

Clean.

Too clean.

Like nothing had ever been there.

Like someone had made sure of it.

A quiet voice spoke behind her.

“You’re looking for something.”

Tatiana didn’t flinch this time.

She turned calmly.

Oscar leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her like he had been there for a while.

“I was walking,” she said.

Oscar smiled faintly.

“People who are just walking don’t look like that.”

Tatiana folded her arms.

“And how do I look?”

“Like you’re starting to ask the right questions.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“And you think you have the answers?”

Oscar tilted his head slightly.

“I think I know which ones matter.”

Tatiana took a step closer.

“Then say it.”

Oscar’s eyes flickered briefly—something calculating.

“Lucien won’t tell you the truth,” he said.

Tatiana didn’t react immediately.

She held his gaze.

“About what?”

Oscar smiled again.

“That’s the interesting part.”

Tatiana’s patience snapped slightly.

“Stop talking in circles.”

Oscar pushed off the wall slowly.

“I’m not,” he said calmly. “I’m deciding how much you can handle.”

Tatiana’s voice dropped.

“Try me.”

A pause.

Then Oscar stepped closer.

Not too close.

Just enough to lower his voice.

“Your mother didn’t just die,” he said quietly.

Tatiana’s heart skipped.

“What does that mean?”

Oscar studied her face carefully.

Like he was watching the impact.

“Accidents don’t leave that many missing pieces,” he added.

Tatiana’s breath slowed.

“What missing pieces?”

Oscar didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he reached into his pocket.

Pulled something out.

A small photograph.

Old.

Slightly worn.

He held it between his fingers.

Tatiana hesitated before taking it.

Her hands tightened slightly as she looked down.

It was a picture of a car.

Wrecked.

Destroyed.

Metal twisted beyond recognition.

Her chest tightened instantly.

She didn’t need to be told.

She knew.

“That’s—”

“Your mother’s accident,” Oscar finished.

Tatiana’s fingers trembled slightly.

“This… this wasn’t in the reports,” she said quietly.

Oscar’s expression didn’t change.

“No,” he said. “It wasn’t.”

Tatiana looked up sharply.

“Where did you get this?”

Oscar’s smile faded just a little.

“I was there.”

Silence.

Everything stopped.

Tatiana blinked.

“…what?”

Oscar held her gaze.

“I said,” he repeated calmly, “I was there.”

Her mind struggled to catch up.

“That doesn’t make sense,” she said quickly. “Lucien said—”

“Lucien says a lot of things,” Oscar cut in.

Tatiana’s chest rose and fell faster now.

“What are you saying?” she demanded.

Oscar stepped back slightly.

“I’m saying,” he replied, “you married into something you don’t understand.”

Tatiana shook her head.

“No. You’re lying.”

Oscar didn’t argue.

“That’s one option,” he said lightly.

Her grip tightened on the photo.

“Then tell me the truth.”

Oscar watched her for a long moment.

Then—

“Ask Lucien,” he said.

Tatiana’s frustration snapped.

“You think I haven’t tried?!”

Oscar’s voice lowered again.

“Then ask him the right question.”

Before she could respond—

A voice cut through the air.

“Oscar.”

Both of them turned.

Lucien stood at the end of the hallway.

Still.

Controlled.

Watching.

But something about his presence felt… different.

Sharper.

More dangerous.

Oscar smiled faintly.

“Perfect timing.”

Lucien didn’t move.

“Give it back.”

Tatiana looked between them.

Her heart was racing now.

“No,” she said quietly.

Lucien’s gaze shifted to her.

“Tatia—”

“What happened that night?” she asked.

The question landed.

Heavy.

Direct.

For the first time—

Lucien didn’t respond immediately.

Tatiana saw it.

That hesitation.

That crack.

And everything inside her shifted.

“Answer me,” she said.

Lucien stepped forward slowly.

“Not like this.”

Tatiana shook her head.

“Then when?”

Silence.

Oscar watched everything with quiet interest.

Lucien’s jaw tightened.

“That photo isn’t the full story,” he said.

Tatiana’s voice rose slightly.

“Then tell me the full story!”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Then Lucien said something that made her stomach drop.

“I wasn’t the only one in that car.”

Tatiana froze.

“…what?”

Her grip on the photo tightened.

“You said you caused it,” she whispered.

Lucien’s voice lowered.

“I said I was responsible.”

“That’s not the same thing,” she shot back.

Lucien didn’t deny it.

Tatiana’s heart pounded harder now.

“Who else was there?” she demanded.

Silence.

And then—

Oscar spoke.

“You’re asking the wrong person.”

Tatiana turned sharply.

“What does that mean?”

Oscar’s gaze flicked briefly toward Lucien.

Then back to her.

“It means,” he said quietly, “the truth doesn’t belong to him.”

Lucien’s voice dropped.

“Enough.”

But it was too late.

Because Tatiana understood something now.

Something terrifying.

This wasn’t just about guilt.

This wasn’t just about protection.

This was about something bigger.

Something buried.

And both of them were hiding it.

Tatiana took a slow step back.

Her voice steadier now.

Colder.

“I want the truth,” she said.

Lucien held her gaze.

“You’re not ready for it.”

Tatiana shook her head.

“You don’t get to decide that.”

A long silence passed between them.

Then Lucien said quietly—

“You’ll regret knowing.”

Tatiana’s answer came without hesitation.

“I already regret not knowing.”

That landed.

Lucien didn’t respond.

Oscar smiled slightly.

And in that moment—

Tatiana realized something she hadn’t before.

She wasn’t just trapped in a contract.

She was trapped between two men—

One who controlled the truth.

And one who wanted to expose it.

And she didn’t know which one was more dangerous.