جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 19

Tatum’s POV ​"Don't handle me like that!" I snapped, my voice sharp as a blade. ​He ignored me, his fingers clamping firmly around my chin. I surged against him, trying to wrench myself free, but his hold was iron. ​"How dare you slap me?" he hissed, his tone dripping with cold rage. ​"Because I can!" I shot back defiantly. ​"You don't get to speak to me like that," he growled, his grip tightening painfully against my jaw. "I haven't even settled the score with you for hitting Brianna, and now you hit me? What right do you think you have?" ​" Neither have I, Let me go," I said through gritted teeth. ​"No, I won't." ​"I warned you," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous level. "I told you not to let her appear before me. I made myself very clear: I wouldn't guarantee her safety if she did." ​He stared at me for a long beat, his eyes searching mine, before he slowly loosened his grip. The moment I felt his fingers retreat, I didn't hesitate—I swung my hand and slap

Tatum’s POV The next morning, I woke up and began to freshen up for work. I chose a navy blue maxi dress made of a soft, ribbed jersey that draped elegantly to my ankles. It was professional yet comfortable, and I paired it with a thin leather belt to pull the look together. After a light touch of makeup—just enough to look awake—I walked to the dining area for breakfast.​Arden was already there, hunched over his plate. He didn’t look up; he simply ignored my presence as if I were a ghost.​"Good morning," I said, my voice sounding small in the large room.​The maid served me in silence. The quiet in the dining room was deafening, broken only by the sharp clink of my spoon against the ceramic mug as I stirred my tea. Once I finished eating, the maid returned to clear the table.​"Don't make dinner for me tonight," I announced, directed more at the room than at him. "I’ll be eating out."​"Okay, ma'am," she replied softly.​I left the house and hailed a taxi to work. I hadn't been ab

Tatum’s POV “Mr. Smith’s assistant called. He said he’ll be here soon,” Chloe announced. “Oh okay. When he brings the required documents, make sure to review them before taking them to Brianna’s manager. If anything seems suspicious, let me know,” I instructed. “Sure, no problem,” she said as she left my office. My phone rang. I looked up to see who it was. Surprisingly, it was my Dad. “Why is he calling?” I asked myself before answering. “Hello?” He paused for a while "Dad?" I called "I need you to do something important," he said. Dad's voice was lower than ever. "I'm actually kind of busy now" I said "The company is running at great loss, Tatum" I said "What do you mean the company is running at a loss?" I said, getting worked up. "If we're going to continue with this company, we need money" he said Of course, that's what he had always asked me for. Will he ever see me as a daughter again? "Where do you want me to see that amount of money? I'm struggling over here

Arden’s POVI cleared my throat, a sharp, deliberate sound to puncture the thick tension in the room and snap them out of whatever fantasy they were spinning. They sprang apart instantly. Amelia’s face was a frantic shade of crimson, her eyes darting around like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Damien, predictably, remained unruffled.“Sup, man,” he said, his voice smooth and entirely too casual.“What are you doing here?” Amelia blurted out.“I should be asking you that,” I countered, leaning against the doorframe. I let my gaze linger on the space between them. “If I hadn't walked in, just how far was this going to go?”“She’s not a child, Arden,” Damien interjected, his tone bordering on defensive.“I… I have to go.” Amelia didn’t wait for a rebuttal. She brushed past me, her head down, radiating a palpable sense of embarrassment.Damien watched her leave before turning his attention back to me. “You spoiled the fun.”“I suppose I did.”“You’re no fun at all,” he mut

Tatum’s POVThat crazy bastard.The moment the front door clicked shut behind him, the adrenaline draining from my system left me hollowed out and trembling. I leaned heavily against the wall, my legs barely able to support my own weight as I tried to force air back into my lungs. Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and blurring my vision, before spilling over my cheeks.I didn’t want this life.I grew up feeling entirely unloved, a ghost in my own family, and now I had somehow engineered my way into an utterly loveless, dangerous marriage. Was it really worth it? Had I made a catastrophic mistake by agreeing to this arrangement in a reckless fit of anger? If I had just walked away, if I had just swallowed my pride, Liam would be awake and here with me right now. And if Mom were still alive… she would never have let any of this happen to me. She would have protected me.The thoughts swirled in my head like a suffocating dark cloud, and for the first time in the years since my mother passe