“Bye-bye. ” A coldness radiated from my chest to consume me whole. I barely felt someone drag me off Nadia. “No, Dyadya,” Kat complained. “Things were just getting good.” My feet dangled off the floor as Ronan held me by my waist. He was usually so warm, but now, his arm burned like an icy shackle. Sharp words were being exchanged, but the ringing in my ears drowned them out. My chest heaved from the exertion, though the anger was gone, leaving a cold detachment behind. Nadia stood and wiped porridge from her face, her eyes glittering with malice. “She did not know,” she laughed, then a small pout appeared. “I hope it was not supposed to be a surprise.” Ronan seethed, the fury vibrating in his chest. Nadia stared daggers at me. “I should have known you would be just like your mother.” She caught a glint of uncertainty in my eyes and laughed. “You do not know about your dear ol’ mother?” “Zatknis’,” Ronan growled at her. Shut up. “No,” I returned. “I want to hear what she has to say.” Nadia raised an amused brow. “Where does one even start?” As Ronan turned to carry me out of the room, a volcano erupted in my chest at the unanswered questions and the need to know the truth. I struggled violently, cursed him, and when I told him to never touch me again, he finally released me. Nadia watched the scene with a venomous expression and finally turned her gaze to mine. “Should I start with the bad news or the slightly less bad news?” “Just spit it out, Nadia,” Ronan snapped. “Well...” She looked at her nails. “There was that rumor Tatianna was a whore who liked it rough. And when I say ‘rough,’ I mean like knives and animals involved.” She scrunched her nose. “But I suppose what she is really known for is what she did for your papa. She saw a cute girl on the street, charmed her into her Bugatti and—poof!—the girl was never seen again.” I stared at her. My heart raced, but my mind was numb. “Those are the rumors . . . though they do say in every rumor there is a grain of truth.” Nadia feigned a sympathetic look. “Unfortunately, in your