Page 5

“Dad, there's something that I need to discuss with you. It's urgent, and I need you to listen,” I said, looking in the mirror, my voice devoid of courage. “No.” I shook my head, shoulders slumping in dismay. “That won't cut it.” I paced around my room, biting and chewing on my fingernails.

I'd been doing this for hours, prepping for the supposed conversation that I had made up my mind to have with Dad. Despite the amount of time I'd put into rehearsing my speech, I still hadn't been able to come up with a rational plan.

“I'm sick and tired of being treated like Liam's understudy—no, I shouldn't start this way.” I slapped my forehead, letting out a deep groan, as frustration crept into my tone.

Both hands flew to my hair, smoothing it backward as I stared at the woman in the mirror. “You can do this, girl,” I said, trying to encourage myself, but I couldn't even convince myself, let alone someone else.

My hands dropped, and I drew in a deep breath, my chest heaving as I reminded myself of the reason why I was doing this in the first place.

I could no longer sit idly by in my father's house and let my dreams, goals, and aspirations go to waste. Clearly, no matter how much I tried to prove my worth, I would always remain in my brother's shadow.

It had been a few days since I won the long-awaited poker game for the entire family. So far, neither Liam nor Dad have appreciated my effort. Not even a bloody “thank you.” So, why continue to waste my time trying to prove myself to people who didn't even give a shit?

My life shouldn't revolve around Liam and Dad; my future and my success shouldn't be tied to them. They were the two most important men in my life, but I wouldn't starve my dream to feed theirs.

The fact that there was no place for me in this world of theirs didn't mean that there wasn't any spot for me out in the real world. If I wanted my freedom, I'd have to grab the bull by the horns.

Step one was making up my mind to venture into the clothing and fashion business. Step two was actually getting off my ass and doing my research. I spent hours studying the market and analyzing the perfect location to start.

After cataloging a number of different cities and considering the supply and demand problem, I decided to settle for New York. The city, with its thriving fashion industry and network of great designers, was the perfect choice.

Now, down to step three, the most important aspect of my plan. I had not a single penny to my name, no capital to start my business, and as independent as I wanted to be, I knew I couldn't do anything without my father's permission.

For this to be a success, I needed my dad's approval and financial support. Therefore, I wouldn't begin with the complaints always being treated like a last resort. That would be unwise. Instead, I'd tender my proposal and business idea.

“Yeah, that's a lot better,” I muttered under my breath, nodding my head in affirmation. I caught my reflection in the mirror and heaved a sigh, bracing myself for the challenge that lay ahead.

I strolled out of the room and headed straight to Dad's study, my heart racing with anticipation. How could something so simple be so difficult at the same time?

Outside his door, I paused, my hand suspended in the air for a moment before I knocked. My gaze fell on the hinges, and I noticed that the door was slightly ajar. Soft light from the room filtered through the opening.

I could hear Dad and Liam talking, but their voices were low and hushed, so I couldn't make out what they were saying. Gently, I pushed the door open, my gaze settling on Dad, nestled in his armchair, his face pale and weary.

Liam, who was seated in the visitor's chair, turned to face me, his eyes mirroring the forlorn expression he wore.

The air was electric with tension, and my heart skipped a beat as I wondered why the long faces. Did I interrupt something? Was there someone else behind me, or was I the one they were looking at like that? I shot a quick glance toward the door and then back at them.

My eyes squinted ever so slightly, and my feet sank soundlessly against the fine wooden floor as I glided into the study. The smell of aged paper and the harsh scent of whiskey wafted through the air, blending with the tension hovering around me.

Dad's laptop was flipped open on his rich mahogany table; a bottle of whiskey and two half-filled glasses towered beside it.

Neither of them took their eyes off me, and the sudden silence in the room was both awkward and deafening at the same time.

“Okay…” I drawled lazily, halting in front of Dad's desk, holding his gaze. “What's going on here?” I asked, my voice laced with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

As inquisitive as I was at the moment, I couldn't shake the feeling that I might not want to get the answer to my question. Besides, ignorance was bliss.

“You, uh….” Liam cleared his throat, gesturing at the vacant chair next to him. “You might wanna sit down.”

My breath ceased for a moment, watching my brother and Dad exchange hidden glances. Oh, no, this is not going to be good , I thought, my heartbeat escalating immediately.

I took a seat, my eyes pinned on my father. “This is weird, and I'm not sure what's going on, but just so you know, I have an important announcement to make.”

“As do I,” he replied, the solemnity in his voice sending shivers down my spine. Dad edged closer, his elbows on the table. “Tessa, we need to talk.”

I swallowed, realizing the gravity of the situation. It was worse than I thought, and I could almost hear the sound of my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. This suspense was killing me, especially because I had no clue what the hell was happening.

“Should I be worried?” I asked, my eyes narrowing, a hint of anxiety creeping into my tone.

“You're aware of the conflict between our organization and the Tarasov Bratva?” he asked, his words more of a statement than a question.

“Yes,” I replied, satisfying his expectation. “But what has that got to do with anything?”

He stole another glance at my brother before continuing to explain. “There's so much bloodshed, and it has impacted the business and our family's survival.”

I tilted my head to the side, curious as to where he was going with this, but he left me hanging, his pause stretching out like an eternity.

Just get to the bloody point already! I snapped internally, but I maintained my composure on the outside.

Dad's voice trailed off, his words hanging like a scepter in the air. “However, the Bratva leaders have reached out to us, and they're proposing an alliance….” He cleared his throat, looked me dead in the eyes, and blurted out, “One that would be sealed by marriage.”

My brows arched in disbelief, my heart racing in my chest, but before I could speak, I was interrupted.

“Liam will be engaged to Artem Tarasov's niece, Zoya,” he added.

I basked in the fleeting moment of relief, thinking I had dodged a bullet, but just as I was about to let out a subtle sigh, my anxiety returned with double the intensity.

Dad's announcement cut deeper than a bloody knife when he said, “You, on the other hand, will get married to Erik Tarasov as soon as possible”

“What?” The word fell out of my mouth as my body shot forward in my chair, eyes shining with defiance. “Why do I have to marry that ruthless, honorless, arrogant, condescending asshole?” My voice rose with each sentence, up until the point that I was nearly shouting.

In my head, the brief encounter with Erik Tarasov came flashing back. The man was everything I said he was, and in that moment, I couldn't picture spending the rest of my life with such a person. His arrogance, his cutting remarks, and his dominance still lingered on the fringes of my mind, as did his cold, menacing threats.

My hands flew around in frustration, my voice continuing to rise in indignation. “You said it yourself; Liam will be engaged to some girl from their twisted, demented, and completely dysfunctional family. Why do I have to marry Erik Tarasov?” I demanded.

“Because Zoya, the girl arranged for Liam, just turned 18. She’s not of age, and because of that, her marriage to your brother will not be formalized for another two years,” he explained, maintaining his composure.

Reflexively, I sprang to my feet. My fingers combed through my hair as a surge of annoyance jolted across my body.

“Tessa, will you just calm down?” Liam's soft, tender voice cut through my thoughts.

I shot him a glare, my scowl deepening. “That's easy for you to say—it's not your life— your passion and career—that's on the line here!” I snapped, the words bursting out in an angry rush. “Damn it!” The low whisper escaped my lips as I rubbed my aching eyes.

Dad's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze soft with a glint of emotion, but he didn't speak; he just watched me in silence.

“So, I'm the sacrificial lamb?” I asked, my eyes shifting across the two of them. “ I'm the one who has to sacrifice her future for the family. Is that it?” An unbelieving scoff came forth. “You're willing to give me away to a man I barely know, a monster, just for what…? A business alliance?” A hint of disappointment tinged my tone, but I kept my eyes fixed on Dad.

“Tessa, it's not as easy as you think,” Liam said, shooting a quick look in my direction.

“Oh, it looks pretty easy to me.” I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “If you wanted to, you'd reject the offer. We don't need their alliance.”

“That's the problem, Tessa. I can't,” Dad said, his voice rising subtly. His patience was wearing thinner by the second.

“You can't, or you won't?” I pressed on, my insistence fueling his rage.

“I can't, alright?!” He slammed his hands on the table, his chest heaving rapidly as he glared at me. “I can't, Tessa. I can't!” The tension in his tone hinted at something far more sinister.

My eyes squinted, sensing that there was more to all of this madness.

He let out a sharp exhale and met my gaze. “Look, I wish that there was another way to get out of this disaster, but there isn't.”

I narrowed my brows, confused. “Disaster? What disaster?”

“We're broke, Tessa,” Liam said, his eyes flying up to meet mine.

That was a statement I never thought I'd hear in this household—ever. My brows arched instantly, my anger dissipating by the second.

Dad further explained, his voice low and laced with emotion, “The O'Brian empire is in deep trouble. We're facing extinction.” He paused, as if allowing the weight of his words to sink in first. “Our profit margins have been steadily declining, and we're burdened by significant debt.”

I could no longer find it in me to stay mad because this was a crucial period for the entire family.

Dad rose to his feet and walked over to stand in front of me. “Tessa, that alliance is our one-way ticket outta of this mess.” His eyes bore into mine. “Without it, we might not survive another year.”

Unshed tears stung my eyes as I struggled to blink them all back inside. This wasn't just about me anymore. The whole family was at stake: our name, our reputation, and the empire Dad worked so hard to build.

I couldn't, in good conscience, choose my own dreams and aspirations over those of my family. It would be foolish and selfish.

Where would I get that financial support from now that Dad was going bankrupt? He’d been my only hope, and now that was out the window.

My initial anger was replaced by a heavy resignation that left me breathless, a myriad of thoughts overlapping in my mind. This was out of my control, and my family's survival depended on me.

What kind of a daughter would I be if I let them down?

My heart shattered into a million tiny pieces when I realized that I could no longer pursue my dreams. It hurt so much, but I didn't exactly have a choice.

“We need you, Tessa.” Dad placed his palm on my shoulder, holding my gaze. “Now more than ever.”

I steeled myself for what the future may hold in this path that had been carved out for me. However, the image of Erik Tarasov still lingered in my mind, a reminder of the storm I was about to face.

Yep, I'm doomed.