TWO

Chapter 2

“Can’t ruin her future? How would marrying a rich man ruin her future? Isn’t that a good thing? Then she wouldn’t have to work so hard manipulating other people just to get what she wants.”

Tatiana’s sharp remark was immediately met with a hard slap from Ethan.

A hot sting spread across her cheek, all the way to the bridge of her nose. Tatiana glared at Ethan, her eyes blazing with fury.

Her eldest brother, the man who had once spoiled her endlessly, had become a cruel and heartless man.

But Tatiana wasn’t surprised.

He had done far worse to her than simply slap her.

“Ethan, why did you do that?” Oktavia cried out in her sweet, delicate voice. “Tiana, you can hate me and curse me all you want, but please don’t do this. They don’t mean any harm. They’re only thinking about what’s best for both of us.”

She put on a frightened expression, but Tatiana could clearly see the faint, satisfied smile playing at the corner of her lips.

“Oktavia’s right,” Dylan chimed in, taking her side.

Tatiana merely looked at him with an empty expression.

“Oktavia has a bright future ahead of her. We just came back from her friend’s fashion show. She’s going to become an international model. And you?”

Dylan stepped closer, looking down at Tatiana with undisguised contempt.

“Get a grip, Tiana. You’re spoiled and stupid. You’ll never be able to survive a hard life. There’s no point in going to college when you won’t be able to do anything with your life anyway.”

His voice dripped with disdain.

“You’d be better off marrying into the Moreira family and getting your luxurious life back than pretending to work hard just to get our attention!”

Tatiana clenched both hands tightly at her sides.

Pretending to work hard?

Stupid?

Unable to do anything?

Did Dylan really have to tear her apart with every insult he could think of, all in a single breath?

Her eyes burned, but she forced herself to hold back her tears. She refused to let them see her cry.

“Dylan is right, Tiana,” Clarisse added coldly. “Marry into the Moreira family, and you can live comfortably like you used to. At least you won’t have to see Oktavia and me anymore.”

“Even now, I’m perfectly happy not having to see any of you.”

Tatiana’s voice was every bit as cold.

“You ungrateful child!” Oliver roared furiously. “Can’t you just be a good, obedient daughter for once? I’m not asking you to thank us! We’re doing all of this because we’re thinking about your future, too. Even though Rafael Moreira is currently in a coma, you can still enjoy his wealth!”

In a coma? So that’s why?

“So you want me to marry a living corpse?” Tatiana asked quietly.

“Watch your mouth!” Oliver snarled. “If the Moreira family hears you say that, they could have your tongue cut out!”

“How can a man in a coma even get married? Can he sign the marriage documents? You’re sacrificing me because you don’t want your precious daughter to become his caretaker, aren’t you?”

Tatiana looked from Oliver to Clarisse, then to Oktavia, before finally turning her gaze toward Ethan and Dylan.

“And you two... You agree that I should marry that man too?” she asked hoarsely.

For a moment, Tatiana had allowed herself to believe that there was still a little love left in her brothers’ hearts.

But when Ethan and Dylan deliberately looked away, Tatiana finally understood.

She truly meant nothing to them anymore.

“You don’t have a future anymore, Tiana. You can’t dance. And even if you finish college, what could you possibly become?” Ethan said, trying to justify what they had done to her.

Tatiana gave a bitter smile.

“Who do you think made it impossible for me to dance again?”

Silence instantly descended over the room.

The color drained from Ethan and Dylan’s faces. Neither brother could utter a single word in 

response.