Chapter 2

POV Tatyana

Samuel drags me to the car, and the ride is silent. Both men keep an eye on me through the rearview mirrors until we arrive at Samuel's property. As soon as we stop at the gate, my heart races. The house is massive and stunning. It has a Victorian architecture resembling grand old palaces. The walls are gray like concrete, and the warm yellow lights give it an air of sophistication. Samuel parks the car, and I step out, following him while admiring the luxurious details of the mansion.

As we enter the house, a woman appears in the main hall, her sharp heels clicking against the cold marble floor. She’s tall, with light blue eyes, a slender face, perfectly shaped lips, a sculpted body, and an elegant walk. Her expression hardens as soon as she sees me.

"Who is she? I hope she’s not some whore you decided to bring home," she says, her voice sharp and harsh.

Her words enrage me, and I immediately respond.

"I’m not a whore!" The woman becomes furious, but Samuel interrupts her abruptly.

"She’ll be our surrogate. We need an heir. She’s beautiful and healthy, exactly what we were looking for. Our family remains in control because of our legacy, so we will have a child. Understood, Luara?"

The woman looks at me with anger and disdain, clearly feeling threatened by my appearance. I’ve always been vain, and even though I’m petite, my figure is delicate and attractive.

"Tatyana, this is Luara Colt, my wife and the future mother of your baby!" My stomach churns at his statement.

"I can’t believe this is really happening to me," I think to myself.

Luara seems cold, calculating, and narcissistic. I can tell by the menacing glare she gives me. The couple exchanges looks, and her cheeks turn red, seemingly burning with hatred. The housekeeper approaches, and Luara points her finger at me, her voice authoritative as she gives a tense, sarcastic smile.

"Maria, take this decrepit girl to the back room!" There’s clear venom in Luara’s tone as she insults me.

"No, take her to the room next to ours, right now!" Samuel interrupts, asserting his authority with a new order to the housekeeper, who promptly agrees.

"Yes, Mr. Colt!" Maria heads toward the staircase.

The woman appears to be around 50 years old, with mature skin, shoulder-length gray hair neatly combed, and wearing an impeccable navy-blue uniform. She gestures for me to follow, and I trail behind her to the room. Slowly, I climb the enormous staircase made of aged oak while keeping my ears attentive to their conversation.

John seems less ruthless and somewhat more flexible, judging by his tone with Samuel.

"She seems like a good person. She’s extremely beautiful, Sam. Don’t mistreat her. You’re used to dealing with our men, but she’s different—she’s here for another purpose and still has feelings."

"I’ll mistreat whoever I want. Besides, she’ll do what I say. She’ll get pregnant and have the best care until the child is born," Samuel retorts.

"Why are you even angrier than usual, Samuel? Was she the right choice? After all, Adam mentioned during our conversation that she has a difficult temperament."

Samuel remains silent, thoughtful. Luara huffs, looking shaken and utterly offended. It’s understandable, given her frustration.

"This is humiliating!" the blonde emphasizes, shaking her head firmly.

"If you can’t have children, I need someone who can. If I had known about your infertility, we would have planned things differently. I might have married your sister instead," Samuel replies sarcastically.

Reaching the top of the stairs, I catch a glimpse of Luara storming out of the hall and disappearing down the vast side corridor. The housekeeper leads me to the room, and as soon as I enter, my eyes scan the space. The walls are light-colored, and a gigantic crystal chandelier adds a luxurious touch. The room is beautiful, cozy, and the bedding is of the highest quality.

Maria smiles before walking toward the door.

"This room is yours. There are clothes in the wardrobe and a private bathroom to the left." She leaves, closing the door, while I remain lost in thought.

The people in this house behave strangely. I’m still nervous and trying to understand the Colt family.

"Why did Samuel choose me as his surrogate? Could it be that he has something against me, forcing me to accept his terms? Why is Samuel so arrogant, while his brother seems more flexible?" I wonder.

The room is cozy, but the feeling of being here against my will leaves me uneasy. I sit on the bed, releasing a shaky breath. I’m sad to realize that this house will now be my home. I just hope this sacrifice truly saves my father—I can’t imagine life without him.

Shortly after, a soft knock echoes through the room. I go to the door, and when I open it, I find John standing there.

"Can I come in?" John looks serious, waiting for my permission.

"Do I have another choice?" I ask, annoyed.

"No!" He offers a gentle, calm smile.

"Come in."

The man crosses his arms and looks at me seriously.

"What’s your father’s name?" John slowly walks to the center of the room.

"Damn, why does he want to know my father’s name?" I wonder.

"Olavo Petrova."

"Olavo has a significant debt. Unfortunately, life works that way—when you have an addiction, you pay the price. He’ll stay alive and well until you have this baby and the debt is cleared."

John turns to leave, but I quickly grab his arm. He looks confused, waiting for me to explain my instant reaction.

"Thank you. I’ll have this baby, and the debt will be paid!" My cheeks flush as I feel his intense gaze analyzing me.

"Good. That way, no one will lose," John says, smoothing his suit as he heads for the door.

"I’ll lose, but I’ll do this for my father’s life," I mention, catching his attention as he questions me, intrigued.

"Who are you?" John looks serious, waiting for answers. "We’re not used to situations like this. Our family is closed off, but you’re different from the women I’ve met."

"How can you tell I’m different? I’m just a girl determined to save my father without worrying about the consequences. After all, he’s my only family."

John seems calm, unlike Samuel Colt, who exudes ruthlessness and authority.

"It’s simple. Your determination to sacrifice your principles to save someone else caught my attention. You seem to always be on the defensive and don’t easily intimidate. We’re used to submissive women who don’t talk back. While we were returning from the bar, I noticed that every time my brother glared at you angrily, you challenged him with a fearless look. You might push him out of control, and knowing him, I can tell he won’t like that. On the other hand, I won’t deny it, Tatyana—I like your personality," he admits, opening the door.

"I don’t like being controlled. Your brother triggered my rebellious side," I say.

"I foresee problems. Good luck, Tatyana," he replies with a smile before disappearing down the corridors, leaving me no chance to respond.

My thoughts wander as I internally question if these men are involved in illegal activities. They probably live their lives accustomed to giving orders.

"What are the dark secrets surrounding this family? How far does their power extend?" I wonder.

Ignoring my internal questions, I lie on the bed and fall asleep shortly after.