Nikon:After I was done with the whole day’s work, I finally had some “me time.” Sitting in my armchair and looking outside the window, I poured myself a shot of vodka. I deserve some peace.But my choice of comfort and peace meant reading or getting information on my enemies. In my hand was a small, vintage-style, red-covered diary. It had slipped out of the bags when the maids were packing them.I opened the diary and read the first sentence: “Today was a weird day. Uncle Ron made me take an extra shift even after I had returned from transferring blood.”I sighed as I realized Lavender was talking about giving blood to my fiancé.I kept reading and realized how hectic her life was—or how she made it to be.“My mom slapped me today because Normani didn’t like the fact that I looked better than her in the old dress that I bought myself. I didn’t even waste a good money on it. But they were angry that I was spending my money on my comfort, which isn’t true. I don’t do that. They know,
Lavender:After Igor left, I took a temporary shift at a café. It was my first day when I noticed the disturbing behavior from the customers.“The evening shifts are messy. Get used to it and don’t resist. The most they’ll do is bite your ass, slap it, or just grope your breasts. That’s all,” another waitress said, as if that wouldn’t be too bad at all.I was left stunned when one of the waitresses came back in with an empty tray and a bite mark on her cheek. She was rubbing it and pulling her skirt down to hide her butt.The skirts were short, but I wore safety shorts underneath. However, I had no clue how long before these people would grope me.I won’t hold back. I’ll fight.As I walked out with a tray, I watched the table I was approaching. There were five men sitting there. They were talking until I arrived, and then they began to smirk.“So, new meat,” one of the big men said, smirking even wider.“She’s the bastard one. Dicks go in and out of her every night,” so these were the
Lavender:"No, I'm not going anywhere with you. You are not dragging me back to that cage," I refused to let him take me back to that horrible place. Sure, this place wasn’t any better. But at least I could fight or have a moment of peace."I don't remember allowing you to say no," he tilted his head, making my eyes land on the blood on his shirt. He sighed when he realized what I was looking at.He had put his coat back on after he probably killed those men. I wouldn’t put it past him.He looked so casual that it was scary.The tall man in a black suit with a white shirt covered in blood was towering over me with a gun sticking out of his pants—it felt like a scene from a horror movie.“Allowing me? I’m sorry, what am I, a child?” I hissed, though deep down, there was always this fear that I’d make him so mad he’d point the gun at me.Again.“I am going back to my home, and I’m saying this again—you will not drag me back to that place, your palace,” I said since he just kept staring
Lavender:I had rushed downstairs after finding all my belongings in the attic. It wasn’t hard to figure out that the casserole, specially served to me on my plate, was drugged.I noticed the maids looking at me and then rolling their eyes, because let’s be honest—they weren’t happy that I was back either."I don’t understand why you’re so interested in that island?" Nikon, the devil who lied to me yet again, was standing outside the mansion with his car, his phone glued to his ear.He was always in a black suit, rings on his fingers, a silver chain on his neck, and a perfectly expensive watch around his wrist.All in all, he was always on the move. As I softly skipped through the door and reached him, he noticed me."I’ll call you back in a minute," he hung up, moistening his lips before raising his brow and leaning down to hear me out."What am I doing here? You said you wouldn’t drag me back," I hissed, reminding him of his promise—or at least his word. Aren’t mafia bosses supposed
Lavender:“Mom, what is this?” I asked my mother when she stormed upstairs to the attic. It was her first time being in my room. I was slightly hoping she came to see if I was being taken care of. But from the looks of it, I could tell that wasn’t the case. She was holding some papers in her hands that seemed to be the reason she had come to my attic.“Your brother filled these forms for you and submitted them,” she muttered, looking upset. I noticed someone else standing right next to the door.Nikon had fixed the lock for my attic bedroom door. He said he would give me privacy, so I was hopeful he wouldn’t bother me again like he had before.And now that my mother was telling me he had even filled out the forms for me, I was kind of looking forward to becoming a doctor. I had been saving so much, but my family would drain me completely. I had eventually stopped thinking about spending money on my education and lost the desire to achieve my dreams.I felt selfish for taking help from
Lavender:“But I am his stepsister. Look, it’s urgent. I need to speak with him and stop him from doing something,” I said. I had never been to such a luxury corporation before, so I didn’t even know what to say when trying to talk to the CEO.“Ugh, it’s such a good morning for some girl to ruin it for me,” she muttered under her breath and then called him again.“She’s saying she needs to stop you from doing something, boss,” there was a warning hidden in her voice.I guess I chose the right words, because they caught their attention.“Okay,” she hung up and then pointed to the guard, then at me. “Take her to the boss’s office.”I instantly straightened my back as I was led to the elevator. The guard was so bulky, holding a long gun. I don’t even know what those are called. I had only started seeing guns after being introduced to Nikon. He was the only one who waved them around so much.I was taken to the top floor where only one office stood, with two lounges on either side of it. T
Lavender:“And he—he always says things that make me feel so disgusted with myself,” I whimpered, hiccuping while trying to finish a sentence.I don’t know what made me break down, because I never do that in front of anyone. Even for my age, I always try to keep it together and act mature. But somehow, Easton walking me to an empty street next to a café made me feel like I could finally cry in front of someone.Not just anyone—Easton.I knew the minute he made me sit down on the stairs of a locked house that he didn’t mean to insult me.“Why did you even go to his office in the first place?” he asked, sitting on the step below mine, still somehow looking taller than me.“I wanted to tell him that I don’t want to continue my studies,” I said, wiping my tears, feeling annoyed with myself for acting like a baby.Usually, I handle my own problems. I comfort myself. But in front of Easton, I felt vulnerable—I wanted him to take care of me.Pathetic?After all, I’m just a human being with a
Lavender:The crowd was heavy that day. First my stepsisters, and then Igor. And from the looks of it, no one seemed too happy to see me with Easton.I sprinted into the mansion while the two followed me inside.“What were you doing with Easton?” Normani ran until she passed me and stood face to face with me.“He was only giving me a ride,” I replied, trying to sidestep, but Sabrina stood on the side, blocking my path.I don’t know where Easton went—probably went back to check on Nikon.“Oh really? How come he only saw you but never saw us?” Normani moved her head a lot when talking. It was intimidating at times.“Ask Mom. She would tell you where I went and why he might have spotted me.” I tried to get past them, but when they stood tightly together, I realized I needed to put up some kind of fight.“Why can’t you tell us?” Sabrina hissed, arms crossed over her chest.“Because I don’t owe you any explanation.” The look on their faces when I spoke up for myself for the first time shoc
Lavender:Igor had been a great help. But I wouldn’t base my opinion of him on just this one incident. People around me had a tendency to change like the weather in no time.He made sure to hold my hand to help me walk without falling to my knees as we headed to the living room.I didn’t want to go anywhere with them. The issue should have been resolved once they punished me. Or were they planning on punishing me every few hours?I didn’t understand the purpose behind being presented before Nikon now.Standing in the living room with my sister smirking at me was so hard to swallow. Igor had walked me in and sat me down on a sofa facing everyone. Easton stayed beside me the whole time.Sabrina was visibly smirking. I had been informed that Valerie claimed to be an eyewitness and basically told the same story as Normani.Normani was sitting on a couch with my mother, who was constantly checking on her. Now that Normani had cleaned up, I noticed my wounds were much worse than hers. Yet m
Lavender:Everything happened so fast that I couldn’t even react properly. I couldn’t defend myself. But even if time were reversed and I got another chance, I still wouldn’t be able to protect myself against such big and dangerous men attacking me.I woke up in Igor’s bedroom, his soft mattress bringing a little comfort to my wounds. I had bandages everywhere, and some bruises were left uncovered but had been treated well.The door opened—this time, it wasn’t the doctors or nurses, but Easton. I immediately held onto my blanket and pulled it over my chest.“Lavender!” He tried his best to sound like he was on my side, but right then, I didn’t want him around me.“Where is Igor?” I don’t know why his name slipped from my lips like that, but the moment it did, Igor stormed out from behind Easton.He rushed past his brother to get to me first.I might have still been in a daze, but I remembered the arms that saved me.If Igor hadn’t shown up when he did, I wouldn’t be alive now.“What i
Igor:“Valerie—why did you lie in there?” After Valerie gave her statement, I couldn’t sit in the same living room. The others celebrated like it was suddenly just about proving Lavender wrong.“I didn’t,” Valerie stopped right when she was near her car. “I didn’t like how you doubted my words back in there. Why did you bring me here if you didn’t even believe what I said?” She started raising her voice after she realized I really was doubting her.“Valerie—” I grimaced, grinding my teeth because I just had a bad feeling.“Why is it so hard for you to believe Lavender could do something bad?” she asked me, putting her body weight on one leg.“It doesn’t matter, Valerie. The thing is that them beating her up is still assault.” I raised my voice and clenched my fists, which she noticed.I knew she would be offended now.“So first, it was that she didn’t lie to go to the club where her stepsister got attacked because of her. And now that it’s confirmed it really was her, she’s the victim
Igor:“What’s going on in your manor?” Valerie asked, jogging to keep up with me. “Let me be honest with you—ever since this new family moved in, it’s been one issue after another. And that girl Lavender... now I get why everyone dislikes her. She brings trouble wherever she goes. Remember Bora Island?”Valerie was gossiping like we weren’t dealing with someone who had just been brutally beaten—like Lavender’s pain didn’t matter.And yet, I couldn’t help wondering... why did this affect me so much?It’s not like I hadn’t seen worse.Since I was a kid, I’d grown up surrounded by torture and murder. Hell, I’d committed my fair share too.So why did she, the girl I thought I’d care least about, suddenly feel so important to me?“Valerie, it’s this perception people have of her—that she’s alone, that no one will stand up for her. That’s why they feel entitled to violate her rights,” I told her as we reached the main entrance. “At Bora, Raymond thought she had no one, so he attacked her. S
Igor:I took her to my own bedroom, all while my father kept calling after me. Once inside my wing, I sat her down on the bed and noticed how she refused to let go of my shirt.“Hey, hey,” I said softly, placing my fingers gently under her chin to make her look up.She wasn’t fully aware. I could tell. She was bleeding from her head too. They had punched and hit her without caring where they struck.I had a bad feeling she had a concussion.“I’m here,” I reminded her, to let her know I wouldn’t hurt her.There was no way—absolutely no way—Lavender got Normani assaulted. If anything, it had to be the other way around. Did they think we were stupid?“Calm down, you’re safe,” I repeated gently, taking out my handkerchief to clean her eyes.The blood from her forehead had run down into them. As I cleaned her face, she finally let go of my shirt and sat there, her eyes staring into nothing.She would start crying uncontrollably, then suddenly go numb.“I’ve called the doctors and nurses. T
Igor:“Sure, I’ll meet you tomorrow then,” I tried to hang up the call with Valerie for the fifth time, but she was in a great mood. She wouldn’t stop talking or let me end the call.“Wait, wait—I’m not done yet,” she almost yelled, causing me to sigh quietly as I arrived home.“Okay, what else?” I sighed, getting out of the car.“Ohhh! I was at a club tonight and some girl went crazy,” she laughed. Of course she did. Valerie loved a good gossip. But I didn’t know what made her think I wanted to hear her talk about some drama.I wasn’t really the type to talk a lot or listen to people. I liked peace and quiet.“Oh,” I replied because I had to, or else she would complain that I don’t listen to her.“And then—she started hitting her boyfriend when she caught him cheating on her. He took it for a while before he started hitting her back and oh my God, the drama—she started crying. Like, girl! If you can’t take hits, don’t hit someone either. Like come on—,” she laughed loudly, making me
Lavender:I had been crying for the last two hours. Ever since we came home, things had gone downhill fast.Everyone yelled at me. By everyone, I mean my mother, Sabrina, and even Mister Volkov. He kept raising his hand, showing me that he could slap me if he lost his temper.Normani was comforted by them, while I was treated like something dirty. Not even once did they ask me if what Normani said was true.The first slap Normani gave me had left me biting my tongue, bleeding in my mouth. I tried to tell them she was lying.But there was no proof that it was her idea to go out.The maids who had been cleaning the house earlier said they saw me ask Nikon for permission to go out.And then it all turned into a complete mess. I was questioned about why I lied—why I said I was going to the library but ended up at the club.Normani, through her hiccupping tears, claimed that I had dragged her along and made her wait outside while I went in. She said she heard some noise and came in to chec
Lavender:“I had a feeling he would allow you,” said Normani. Had she not been listening, I would have lied to her and told her Nikon didn’t allow me. But now I was caught with her. We left around 6 p.m., and something just didn’t feel right to me.“I can carry this gift for you,” I said to her as we stepped into the car. Mister Volkov had gifted my mother a car and a driver.This was the first time I was sitting in my mom’s car. My mother must have known Normani was taking her car.“No need,” Normani replied, keeping the gift in her lap. She wore a very plain and dull-colored dress.However, her makeup was all glittery and in a completely different tone than her dress.Well, what do I know about fashion?With that, I pushed away the thoughts of concern. But I did notice that the gift box was much lighter than it looked.I couldn’t focus on all that for too long since my worries shifted when I was taken to the club instead of the library.“I’m not going inside with you,” I warned her
Lavender:“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips that made me clench my fists in frustration.“You know what I’m talking about. Christine isn’t Levi,” I hissed, stomping my foot in annoyance.She tilted her head slightly, pretending to think it through, and then nodded slowly. “So… does that mean you’ve been having an affair with your stepbrother? Or should I say—you tricked your stepbrother into a forbidden relationship?”The way she worded it shook my confidence. I knew this whole stepbrother thing would come back to haunt me.“You know it’s considered disgusting—but if it’s Christine, nobody will care. And it’s not like you can prove to Easton that it was you,” she flashed a smile before sighing and lowering her feet from the table.“Now, if you’re done complaining, can we get to business?” she asked in a bored tone, like my pain didn’t matter.“So—I want to sneak out of the house tonight. But my stepbrothers—you know how they are—they