Chapter 4 Four

WILSON'S MANSION

Leonardo sat in the living room, humming under his breath as he scooped another bite of his dinner into his mouth.

The golden chandelier above him cast a glow over the table piled high with expensive dishes he barely tasted.

He looked perfectly content, as if he hadn't just sold his daughter to a man who wanted her broken.

Tamara strode in without knocking, her steps loud, deliberate.

He glanced up lazily. His eyes narrowed.

"Useless daughter," Leonardo spat, his voice dripping disdain.

Tamara's lips curled into a cold smirk.

"Senseless father," she shot back, her tone mocking.

"So you have the guts to sit here and stuff your greedy mouth after everything you've done?"

She folded her arms across her chest, her stare blistering.

"Better pity yourself, old man. Because by the time I start with you, even your weak dick won't be able to bear it."

Leonardo's face darkened. He slammed his cutlery onto the table with a loud clatter.

"Watch your mouth. I am your father," he growled, voice vibrating with anger.

"Oops," Tamara said sweetly, her eyes gleaming with contempt.

"Did I just insult the almighty stingy Mr. Wilson?"

They glared at each other, the air between them crackling like a live wire. They looked so alike,same sharp cheekbones, same cold eyes,but with one difference.

Tamara didn't have an ounce of cruelty in her.

She took a step closer to the table, her voice dropping low, deadly calm.

"Listen to me," she said, each word slow and deliberate.

"If you touch a single strand of hair on my mother's head,a single strand and if you so much as breathe wrong in her direction,you will regret ever doing shit with me."

Leonardo opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Tamara tilted her head, her gaze unwavering.

"Don't step on my tail, Leonardo Wilson," she whispered.

For a moment, all he could do was stare at her. Speechless. Shocked.

He had always known she was fierce, but this...this was something else.

Tamara didn't wait for a reply. She turned on her heel and walked out, her steps echoing through the wide hall.

The door slammed behind her so hard the chandelier rattled.

Leonardo sat frozen for a beat, his face twisted in a scowl.

"I should put that girl in her place," he muttered under his breath.

But even as he said it, a sliver of unease wormed its way under his skin.

Because for the first time, he wondered if maybe,just maybe if he could stop her nonsense and put her in her place.

______

Tamara got on her bike, her fingers tightening around the handle. She had a package to pick up at the restaurant and deliver.

Right,she worked in a restaurant. It wasn't glamorous, but it was hers. Her independence. She'd rather hustle every day than touch a single penny of her foolish father's money.

She sped off, letting the cool night air slap against her cheeks, clearing her head for a moment.

(ZION'S MANSION)

Zion stood at the balcony of his room, impatience crawling all over him. He was starving-no, worse. He felt like if he didn't eat something in the next five minutes, he might actually collapse.

He ran back inside, rummaging through the kitchen. He didn't even bother with a glass,he grabbed a jug and drank straight from it, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

He sighed and walked to the door, his hand already in his pocket to pay.

The doorbell rang.

He didn't wait even a second before pulling it open.

A soft breeze drifted in, carrying the faint smell of her perfume,her hair fluttered around her face, brushing against her cheeks.

And just like that,time stopped and their eyes locked.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Neither of them looked away.

It was stupid how fast his hunger evaporated.

"Your package," Tamara said, her voice low.

He took the food from her hand, fingers brushing hers, and signed the delivery book she was holding out.

But he didn't give it back right away. He just,looked at her,really looked.

This time, she didn't drop her gaze. She didn't even blink.

"How are you?" Zion asked, his voice softer than he intended.

Tamara tilted her head, her eyes cold.

"You're not in any position to ask me."

She turned on her heel.

"When will you trash that pride of yours?" Zion said, his tone edged with something he couldn't hide.

She stopped.

Slowly, she turned back to face him, her eyes glinting.

"And when will you learn how to mind your business?" Tamara retorted, her voice sharp.

A smirk pulled at Zion's lips. He didn't say another word,he stepped back and closed the door quietly.

Tamara exhaled, her heart beating too fast, her hands a little unsteady.

She walked back to where she'd parked her bike, telling herself to breathe, to stop thinking about things she had buried.

But sometimes, no matter how much you bury the past, it claws its way back.

It's truly said, she thought, some bonds aren't strong enough to remain unbreakable,but the memories never really fade.

Her gaze drifted to the silver bracelet on her wrist. Her fingers traced it like they had a hundred times before.

And then the memories came back,uninvited, unstoppable.

(FLASHBACK STARTS)

It was Valentine's Day. The day that was supposed to be theirs. The day that ended it all,that shattered her.

"What's going on?" Tamara started, her voice shaking.

"I should ask you that question." Zion's jaw tightened.

"You barely give me your attention anymore."

"Don't say that, Zion. We both know you're the one lacking in this," Tamara said, her voice rising.

"How many times did I text you? Call you? You never even bothered to reply. Have you ever tried,just once,to understand how I'm feeling?"

Zion looked away, his lips pressed in a hard line.

"And you? Have you ever tried to understand how I feel? Have you, Mara?"

Tamara let out a bitter laugh, her eyes already stinging.

"Really? You knew what I was going through, but you chose to ignore me. Do you even love me? Because if you did, I'd be your first priority."

"Don't question my love," Zion said, his voice dangerously calm.

"You started it. I decided to show you how it feels."

"I apologized," she said, her tears finally falling.

"I told you I was going to change. Was it so hard to forgive me? Why get back at me, Zion? Why?"

"Because I don't think I can do this anymore."His voice broke, and for a second she saw all the hurt he was trying so hard to hide.

"I was heartbroken the moment you decided to give our relationship some space."

"Wow," she whispered, her voice cracking.

"So it's true. Is this really all you have to say? What about everything we shared? Everything you promised? Did you never mean any of it?"

"I loved you plenty, Mara." His eyes shimmered.

"But you just...messed it up."

She swallowed the sob rising in her throat.

"Let's break up," she said, each word shattering something inside her.

"That's good." He looked down, a single tear sliding down his cheek.

"We're not good for each other. And I don't feel anything for you."

"I can't take this shit anymore," Zion added hoarsely.

"Same here." Tamara wiped her tears with the back of her shaking hand.

(FLASHBACK ENDS)

Tamara opened her eyes slowly, willing the burn behind her eyelids to fade. She refused to cry again,not now,not ever.

He came into her life when she hadn't even been looking for anyone.

And he left when she had already given him everything.

She drew in a shaky breath, gripping her bike's handlebar so hard her knuckles whitened.

"Tamara," she whispered to herself, her voice low and firm.

"Focus."

And without a backward glance, she started the engine and drove away.