Chapter 2

"The princess has returned," Tony announced

As Tatiana pushed open the front door, the familiar aroma of the hallway immediately enveloped her – a faintly acrid scent that she had grown accustomed to.

Her eyes settled on the one person she had hoped to avoid this early morning – her uncle.

Tony sat nonchalantly in the center of the hall, his legs casually apart and his gaze fixed on her with an inscrutable smile.

Tiana felt her stomach churn at the mere sight of him, making her want to throw up.

"Well, well, look who decided to grace us with her presence. Aunty, your beloved daughter has finally returned," her cousin, Selena sneered, standing with her arms folded.

Her voice was steady, but Tiana could detect a hint of pretense and calculation in it.

Before she could say anything, her mother's sharp, cold voice cut through the tension.

"Where have you been, Tatiana?"

Her breath hitched, and her shoulders tensed instinctively.

Tony leaned back, shaking his head slightly with a smug expression on his face. In that moment, Tatiana knew that he had prepared the slaughter table for her.

"Mum, I need to tell you something..." she began.

"Sis, at least let her freshen up," her uncle interrupted. "Our princess is tired and needs something to eat first."

"Stop defending this good-for-nothing daughter of mine, Tony! It's your indulgence that has made your niece so useless! And now, she dares to go about frolicking with boys right under our nose!" Tatiana's mother hissed, turning on him like a blade.

Defending? If she didn't know her uncle so well, she might have mistaken his words for a defense. But they were just meant to add fuel to the fire in her mother's words.

Cassandra's eyes glared at Tatiana, and she took a step closer, speaking in a low voice laced with warning.

"I'm giving you just a minute to explain why you didn't come back with your uncle. Trust me, I won't be this patient when your time is up. "

Tiana could feel the rage in her mother's eyes.

"Mum, last night... Uncle drugged me. He wanted to take advantage of me. So... So I ..." Before Tatiana could finish her sentence, she was met with a stinging slap.

"Cassie..." Tony bellowed

"Stay quiet, Tony. I am addressing my daughter and I will not tolerate any interference from you!"

Tatiana's hand instinctively went to her burning cheek. Her eyes filled with tears. They shone crimson with both sorrow and suffering.

She lifted her head, only to be met with Tony's smug expression, mocking her mercilessly. Selena reveled in joy at her helplessness. How can she not have known. With her around, Tony needn't work up himself.

"You ungrateful little brat! You are utterly repulsive to utter such fabrications about your uncle! Shameless! Have you no shame? You prostitute yourself with men, and now you have the audacity to stand here and accuse your own uncle of such vile actions?!" Cassandra roared. Her eyes piercing into Tiana's.

Tatiana's heart sank.

"Mum, I am telling the truth... Uncle..."

"Princess, what are you saying? How can you utter such abhorrent words about me? Have I ever failed to fulfill your misguided desires? Tell me, and I will give you tenfold of what you ask for. But these lies you are spouting..." Tony pretended to defend himself, like a frail

"Mum, believe me. Uncle attempted to..."

"Shut up, Tatiana!" Cassandra was fuming. She did not believe a word Tatiana spoke. "How could I have given birth to someone like you? I'm so unlucky!"

Tiana's heart sank. Her mother was not willing to listen to her explanation; she had already judged her beforehand. How could she expect her to believe her? She was never enough. Nothing she ever did was sufficient for her mother.

In her mother's eyes, the reason her father lay comatose was solely her fault.

Tony's smirk deepened. His expression taunting Tiana.

"I regret your existence, Tatiana. I regret ever giving birth to you!"

Tiana felt her heart tearing apart at the hurtful words. Her mother's angry expression, the disdain in her tone, the smug look on her uncle's face, and Selena, she was no better.

"Cassie," he spoke smoothly, "cut her some slack. She's just eighteen. Lying comes naturally at her age. And if anyone is to blame, blame me. I allowed her to have the party at the hotel. I don't know where she learned such lies, but she is still my niece and my most beloved one at that. I will speak to her later, but for now, she is tired. Let her bathe and get something to eat."

Tears streamed down Tiana's cheeks.

The accusation stung, not because it was true, but because she knew exactly what Tony meant. He was playing the role of the good uncle now.

Tatiana suppressed the urge to laugh sadly. He was lying. Last night, he had tried to force himself on her, but she had managed to escape. She had told her mother, but she chose to believe her brother over her daughter.

What was painful was that her mother would never believe her, even if she explained.

"Go and get ready. You have to go to the Michelle Company," Cassandra waved a dismissive hand.

Tatiana furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?"

"Just shut up and get ready, you ungrateful child!" Cassandra's voice was sharp and final before turning to the doorway and called out, "Nanny! Make sure she is presentable and hide her obnoxious personality as much as possible for old Mr. Michelle."

"Old Michelle?..." Tony's eyes darkened. He stood up abruptly, his voice brimming with anger. "Why are you sending her there? Didn't you promise me you would forget about the deal?!"

"I changed my mind! I can't stand this girl any longer. If she stays here for one more minute, I will lose it!"

Tatiana's tears came faster at every word. Her nanny held her ushering her away. But Tony's words halted her steps.

"So you're going to sell her?!"

Tatiana stopped in her tracks, shocked by his statement. She glanced back and forth between them before calling out, "Mum..." but Cassandra turned away without a word.

Tatiana had no other option but to face the man she both feared and loathed.

"Uncle, what is mum talking about?"

Her breath caught, and tears blurred her vision.

"If selling her means she'll finally be useful for once..." Cassandra snapped back, " then fine, I agree. I'm selling her. Old Jacob's grandson has shown interest in her. After all the money I've invested in her education and upbringing, she should at least pay me back. Maybe you should be grateful they're even considering her."

Those words shattered something deep within Tatiana. Was she truly nothing more than a debt to be paid off?

"Susan, why are you standing there? Take that girl away!" Cassandra barked.

Tony stepped forward, raising his voice. "No, I won't allow it. Tiana will not marry that Alexander Michelle boy! Cassandra, you can't just sell her off like that. Who knows what kind of person he really is? He could be a violent abuser or rapist!

"And do I look like someone who cares about that? Well, I don't!" Cassandra had no remorse in her tone.

Tatiana stood there, weighed down by their words. These two people - who were supposed to be her mother and uncle - were fighting, not for her, but over her.

One's words broke her to the core while the other disgusted her to the core.

" Tatiana is not going anywhere..."Tony ordered.

But Tatiana had reached her last point.

"I'll go," She spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension in the room.

Everyone turned to look at her, shock etched on their faces. "I'll marry the old man's grandson." she said firmly.

Cassandra's eyes widened in surprise before slowly turning into a satisfied smile.

But Tony's face twisted in anger. "You're not stepping foot outside this house!" he shouted.

Tiana didn't flinch at his words. She looked at her mother with a wearied voice and a broken spirit.

"If this is what is expected of me to finally be of value, then I will marry him. I will marry Alexander Michelle."

Susan’s face softened with pity. Only she understood the truth—Tatiana wasn’t agreeing, she was escaping.

A tear slipped down Tatiana's cheek and she wiped it without care.