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I didn’t want to jinx everything given how well things were going, but as the night went on, I felt more at ease and a lot more confident in my work than I had been.

The showcase was everything I wanted and more…and to have my work not only acknowledged but also appreciated by the public was more rewarding than I ever could’ve imagined.

Everything was moving along as I hoped, and I was more than happy to see Val’s family there to support me so completely. Even if I never had that complete family unit for myself growing up, they wasted no time offering it to me, and I was beyond grateful.

Accepting it was difficult at first, but I was getting used to it, and it wasn’t so bad after all.

Then, I spotted him.

Moving through the crowd of people, Dad was there, dressed in a refined suit that spoke to a level of consideration that went beyond his usual particular habits.

At first, I wanted to be angry at the sight of him there during such an important night for me. But at the same time, I was pleasantly surprised he showed up at all.

Even if we hadn’t talked in some time, I still let him know the showcase was happening on a whim, not thinking much of it.

But there he was, approaching me with a rare fondness in his eyes.

Dad had always been an expert in masking his emotions, only showing what he wanted you to see, but there and then, it seemed he couldn’t hide it after all.

After the wedding, our relationship took a nosedive. After I learned the truth about his business empire, it was even worse.

But over the last few months, I had time to consider his role in everything—how he both lost my trust through his actions, but also managed to bring me the marriage I was learning to appreciate.

I would never downplay how much he hurt me by using me to wager a deal with Val, but at the same time, I didn’t want to be quite so hard on him.

Given how strained he and Mom were, I knew he didn’t have anyone else. I certainly didn’t have another father I could depend on, so I found myself preferring the idea of burying the hatchet, so long as he was genuine.

If I could work on things with Val, I struggled to see why we couldn’t do the same.

“You look lovely this evening, as does your work,” he said once in range, offering me a slight smile.

I expected myself to be full of rage and prepared to splinter things between us even further, but at that moment, a warmth washed over me. “Thank you, Dad…I put a lot of work into this.”

“It shows. You should be proud of yourself,” Dad continued, apparently not afraid to show me just how much he meant it. Then, he murmured, “Can I have a word with you, my dear?”

Despite the slight apprehension wrapped around my heart, I wanted to give him a chance. At the very least, hear him out.

With a nod, I gestured towards the far side of the venue where the displays ended.

Dad seemed grateful for the opportunity, and he walked with me out of earshot of the rest of the event.

Once we were alone, he took a deep breath and met my gaze, allowing me to see the remorse in his eyes.

“I know this is long overdue, Tatiana, but I wanted to apologize for how I handled things. I lost sight of what mattered in my selfishness, and while I thought I was doing what was best for you, I realize I was only hurting you, and stifling your dreams and desires,” Dad said with the most sincerity I had ever heard from him. “Seeing you as a means of securing more business rather than my daughter was my biggest mistake, but my first one was never being the father you deserved. For that especially, I’ll never be able to apologize enough.”

I didn’t expect his words to hit me quite as hard as they did, but at the same time, it was the closure I had always wanted. The admission vindicated everything I felt, not only growing up but also within the last few months.

“I’m used to getting what I want, and rarely does anyone push back against me. But in many ways, you always have, for better or worse. But even so, I should’ve taken the time to learn from that…to understand that while I might feel I’m right about something, that isn’t necessarily the case,” he continued with a self-deprecating smile, seemingly laying it all out for me. Then he sighed. “You’ve always been a bright girl, and I know you’re well aware of how things are between your mother and me. I’m afraid that’s something I’ll never be able to mend, but you, my dear…I don’t want the same for us. I’m immensely proud to have you as my daughter, and I don’t plan on taking that for granted anymore. All of that’s to say, I’m sorry, Tatiana. I hope you can find it within yourself to let me try again. To do better this time.”

Swallowing hard, I tried my best to hold my emotions in, but the weight of it all made it harder than I expected.

Finally, it felt like everything was fitting into place. Like there was hope for us, and the promise of having a genuine connection with my father was in the cards after all.

With a gentle yet decisive exhale, Dad gently reached for my hand and held it between both of his.

“I never intended to hurt you…But I know I did. I don’t expect you to forgive me, and I know there’s so much more I need to atone for, but your understanding is all I can ask for right now.”

While I had the feeling there was more he wanted to say, the weight of it seemed to hang on his shoulders. I wanted to ask what else was still on his chest, but before I could say anything, a sudden gust of cold air pulled me out of the moment.

Before I could register what was happening, shock flooded Dad’s face, and then the crushing feeling of a heavy arm wrapping around my midsection brought a sense of dread over me.

At once, a hand clamped over my mouth as I was pulled back and swept off my feet. My heart hammered against my ribs, wanting to cry out for help.

But at the same time, I watched as several figures rushed past me and reached for Dad, pinning his arms behind his back roughly while they yanked him, too, out of the space.

It all happened so quickly…in a blur, it all went downhill.

With every alarm blaring within me, I tried to thrash and kick my way out of my assailant’s arms, but it was no use.

That arm was like a vice around me, and I was handled like nothing more than a sack of flour.

I could hear my dad’s muffled protests through my own, but it wasn’t enough. None of our efforts were.

As more of that cold air pulsed around me, raw panic tore through me, and yet, it seemed there was nothing I could do.

Not when something was put over my head to block out the world, and a cold, hard surface registered beneath me.

With the sound of my ragged breaths and roaring pulse in my ears, everything felt hazy, and I could only think about one thing…

Val.

***

There was something terrifying about having your surroundings blotted out…of having to bear the feeling of not knowing where you were going, or what was about to happen.

Yet, I had no choice but to endure it.

With something covering my eyes and eventually feeling something tightly pinning my wrists together behind my back, I had no idea how much time had passed or what was going on.

But eventually, the blind was yanked off my head, and everything came rushing in so quickly, I could hardly process it all.

I was sitting on a tarmac somewhere, out in the open, the crisp air surrounding me. It was otherwise dark, but the place was lit up by tall lights that nearly burned my eyes from how harsh they seemed after not being able to see for so long.

That panic returned to me tenfold as I glanced around, finding Dad in a similar position to my left.

He looked just as afraid as I felt, but there was something even more pained within him…as if he had a better idea of what was going to happen than I did.

That only made my heart squeeze further.

“Tia…dear…” he murmured, unable to conceal the shaking of his voice.

“Shut up,” someone uttered from behind me before kicking at his back, causing Dad to bite back a pained yelp. “Useless old man.”

“Don’t touch him!” I snapped, looking up immediately at the person, only to feel myself physically recoiling within myself.

It was him…Tommaso.

The creep from the club that night. The one Val clearly didn’t like.

Tommaso sneered at me before letting a cruel grin crawl across his lips. “Or what, little bird? You're going to sic your dogs on me? Oh, that’s right…your husband and his bastard brothers aren’t here.”

Ice seemed to move through my veins, then at the mention of it, well aware that we weren’t surrounded by anyone related to Val, as bitter as it was to accept.

Tommaso…why was he there? What did he have to do with anything?

“What is this?” I asked him, managing the words despite how unsure I felt. “Why did you do this?”

Tommaso’s brows furrowed as he glanced between Dad and me, looking somewhat confused himself before the realization seeped into his features, turning them more amused. “You haven’t told her, have you?”

At that, Dad’s shoulders drooped, and a look of complete shame fell over him. With remorse and guilt, he shook his head. “No…I didn’t get there yet.”

Tommaso’s brows lifted at that, and he laughed before returning his focus to me. “Damn, Tia…you have it bad, don’t you? It seems everyone around you takes pleasure in lying to you.”

Concern and confusion flooded my features, not at his mocking tone, but the true meaning behind his words—whatever was still being hidden from me.

I looked at my dad, feeling my stomach twist. “Dad, what’s he talking about?”

“Yes, that’s it—why don’t you tell her all about it?” Tommaso encouraged with a dark gleam in his eyes while he stood over us.

Dad closed his eyes while he collected himself before meeting my gaze.

“Tatiana…before I struck the deal with your husband, we had discussed it, but Val refused my terms. He didn’t want to force you or himself into the arrangement, and he walked away from the deal. So, I took a similar offer to Tommaso’s father, Francesco. He was on board to have the two of you marry instead.”

My brows pulled together in disbelief and disgust at the idea, unable to even consider myself being with anyone but Val.

Before I could say anything, he continued.

“But after the charity gala, Val changed his mind, and I couldn’t refuse the offer.”

“So you…promised me to both of them?” I asked, unable to shake that pure disbelief coursing through me.

Regretfully, Dad nodded. “Yes…and now I’m afraid we both have to face the mistake I made.”

Again, he used me. He made a deal without my permission, and a promise he couldn’t keep on top of it all.

I could hardly stand the way my heart sank at the realization.

We were in that position all because of him.

“I’m sorry, Tatiana,” Dad murmured, not needing to force that regret for even a moment.

“How touching,” another voice added from behind us, Tommaso’s gaze trailing it. Then, another man who looked a similar age to my father moved to his side. It had to be Francesco. “But yes, your father screwed us over…especially my son.”

Another dose of panic hit me at once, and I wished more than anything that I would blink and find myself anywhere but there.

Francesco looked between the two of us before settling his eyes on me. A satisfied grin pulled on his lips.

“But now, my Tommaso is about to get everything that was promised to him. I hope you’re prepared for a bit of a trip, Tatiana.”

My stomach sank at his words. Dread sat heavily in my stomach, and at once, I couldn’t feel or register anything else.

While I didn’t know what they planned to do with me, it became incredibly clear to me how easy I had it before, how the treatment I received from the Novikovs seemed almost kind in comparison.

Feeling like the world was crumbling around me, I could only cling to the idea of Val somehow finding us…of taking me back home, where I wanted to be.