Chapter 18
Chapter 18:
Tatiana froze, her blood running cold. The sheer urgency in his tone struck her like a thunderclap. Her grip on the phone faltered, and she barely caught it before it slipped from her hand.
Something had happened? What could that be?
Yelena surveyed the commotion with a faint, detached smirk, her expression a portrait of icy disdain. Her delicate features carried a whisper of sardonic amusement, as if savoring the Roberts family’s apparent misfortune from an untouchable perch.
Sonya tugged at Tatiana’s sleeve, her voice tinged with worry. “Mom, what’s going on p>
Tatiana hesitated, her usual composure unraveling. “Your father just called… Something serious has happened at home. We need to leave—now p>
Her words faltered, the tremor in her tone betraying the weight of Jonathan’s unusual fury. He had never sounded so enraged before.
What on earth had gone so catastrophically wrong?
Yelena’s mocking gaze swept over them, her words slicing through the tension like a blade. “Oh, I see. Can’t foot the bill, so you’re cutting and running?” Her tone dripped with venomous amusement, each syllable crafted to wound.
Tatiana’s head snapped toward her, her glare sharp as a dagger. “Running?” she snapped, her voice steady now, laced with defiance. “This amount is pocket change. Don’t mistake urgency for weakness p>
“Then pay! Or perhaps Sonya would prefer to get on her knees and bark like a dog? If you refuse to compensate me, I’ll have no choice but to involve the authorities. Damaging property worth over three thousand is enough to initiate legal action. And here we are discussing two hundred thousand—a clear case for a criminal charge,” Yelena said, her tone so calm it bordered on mocking, though her words carried an unmistakable menace.
Sonya’s defiance wavered, panic flickering in her eyes. Could Yelena truly be this ruthless?
gⲁ𝗅𝓝𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰0𝗺; 𝓜𝒐𝒓𝑒 novels
“Mom…” Sonya’s voice was a whisper.
“Fine! We’ll pay it!” Tatiana snapped, each syllable forced through clenched teeth.
With no other recourse, she reached for her phone, her pride splintering as she made the call.
A friend answered, confused by Tatiana’s urgent request.
Even so, they transferred a hundred thousand, though the hesitation on the other end of the line stung more than the borrowing itself.
Combining the borrowed amount with the balance on her card, Tatiana finally managed to scrape together the two hundred thousand. Her hand trembled slightly as she confirmed the transfer to Yelena.
A bitter taste filled her mouth as she handed over the money. Pride, once a cornerstone of her identity, now felt irrevocably shattered.
Tatiana grabbed Sonya’s arm, pulling her away. Fury burned in her eyes, her humiliation etched into every line of her face. She didn’t look back.
Yelena lingered, watching them retreat. Her gaze narrowed, and her lips curled into a lazy, satisfied grin.
Whatever awaited them at home promised to be even more dramatic—a pity she wouldn’t get to witness it firsthand.
Tatiana and Sonya sped home as quickly as they could. At the doorway, Jonathan paced like a caged animal, his agitation palpable.