SIX

Chapter 6

Tatiana sat on the windowsill of her room, staring out at the view beyond the glass. Several Kensington employees were busy going about their respective tasks outside.

She had been confined to her room for two days now. She wasn’t allowed to go anywhere or see anyone. Her phone had been confiscated, leaving her with no way to ask anyone for help.

But who could she possibly ask for help anyway?

She had a good friend named Chiara, but the girl didn’t come from a powerful family. There was no way she could help Tatiana escape her father’s grip.

All Tatiana could do was accept her fate.

A knock on the door made her turn her head.

The servants?she wondered.

Impossible.

Ever since Clarisse had taken over as Mrs. Kensington, she had replaced every servant who had worked for the Kensington family with people loyal to her.

And not a single one of them treated Tatiana like their mistress.

“Miss, your breakfast.”

Sylvia’s voice made Tatiana turn around.

The middle-aged servant placed a tray on the table before slowly making her way toward Tatiana.

Her legs had grown weak with age, making it difficult for her to walk. Clarisse had kept her around because she was an excellent cook, but as far as Tatiana knew, Sylvia had never been allowed to leave the kitchen.

“What are you doing here?” Tatiana asked anxiously.

She was worried the older woman might be in pain.

“I missed you.”

Sylvia reached out, gently cupping Tatiana’s face and stroking her cheek.

“You’ve gotten so thin.”

Her words made Tatiana smile.

“Come on, Sylvia. I’m not the chubby-cheeked five-year-old Tatiana anymore,” she teased.

She asked Sylvia to sit down.

“I’ve always missed your cooking,” Tatiana said as she took a bite of the food.

“You’re getting married today.”

Sylvia gently played with Tatiana’s long hair.

Tatiana nodded.

“That man is in a coma.”

Tatiana wasn’t surprised that Sylvia knew about it, so she simply nodded again.

Then Sylvia slipped a hand into the pocket of her apron and pulled out a small, square card.

“Take this and run away.”

She placed the debit card into Tatiana’s hand.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard everything. That woman...” Sylvia drew a long breath. “She’s marrying you off in Oktavia’s place because she doesn’t want Oktavia to get into trouble. That man is in a coma, and his parents want Oktavia to give them a child. Oktavia refused, so she asked them to replace her with you.”

Tatiana fell silent.

She already knew all of that, and frankly, she didn’t care.

“Did you hear anything else?” Tatiana asked curiously.

Perhaps Clarisse or Oktavia had accidentally let another secret slip.

But Sylvia shook her head.

“I can’t accept this. I know these are all your savings. I have no right to take them.”

“I saved it because I never knew what else to do with the money. I’m old now. I can’t go anywhere. It isn’t much, but I think it’s enough to buy you a plane ticket and support you for a few months in a foreign country.”

Sylvia tried to persuade her, but Tatiana shook her head again.

“I can’t. I already signed a contract with Oliver. The moment I finish what I agreed to do, I’ll be free from this family. And when that happens, I’ll be the one to take you away from this gilded cage.”

“Sweetheart...”

“I need to get Mommy’s belongings back. I can’t run away.”

Tatiana’s voice was firm.

Another knock sounded at the door before it opened.

Matthew Caldwell appeared in the doorway with Oktavia beside him.

“I heard the news. Is it true that you’re going to marry Rafael Moreira?”

The question sounded more like an accusation than genuine concern.

Tatiana glanced at Oktavia.

She had no idea what the woman had whispered to Matthew, but whatever it was, it had clearly filled him with anger toward her.

And yet, Tatiana no longer cared.

“Are you really that desperate to escape the Kensington family?” Matthew continued. “Are you still angry with your father and your brothers? Do you hate Oktavia and her mother so much that you’re willing to go this far?”

Tatiana lifted one corner of her mouth.

She could already guess exactly what Oktavia had told Matthew.

“So what if I am?” Tatiana challenged. “Everyone has the right to pursue their own happiness, don’t they?”

“But do you really have to marry a man in a coma?” Matthew demanded. “Isn’t there anyone else more suitable?”

“Why are you asking me that? Why don’t you ask Oliver or Oktavia instead?”

Tatiana nodded toward the woman standing beside Matthew.

“I’m marrying that man in a coma to take her place. She has a future she needs to pursue, while I don’t.”

Tatiana’s voice was sharp and bitter.

Oktavia suddenly tightened her grip around Matthew’s arm, drawing his attention back to her.

“Oktavia doesn’t deserve to marry a man in a coma who might die soon.”

Tatiana’s lips curved into a faint, bitter smile.

“That’s why I’m more suitable for him.”

“That’s not what I meant, Tiana. That’s not what I was trying to say.”

“Enough, Matthew. We don’t have anything to do with each other anymore. You ended our engagement, remember? So take care of yourself and your new girlfriend.”

Tatiana cut him off.

Before Matthew could say another word, several people entered Tatiana’s room.

“Miss, we’ve been sent here to get you ready for the wedding,” one of the women said.

Tatiana set down her spoon and rose from her seat.

“You heard her, didn’t you? I have to get dressed. Wouldn’t want me to be late for my own wedding.”

With that, she dismissed them all with a cold, curt tone.