Chapter 1: The Accusation
“He attacked me!””
Tiana’s scream cracked through the penthouse like a gunshot.
One second, she was standing beside the glass coffee table, tears streaming down her face.
The next, she shoved Jordan hard in the chest.
Jordan stumbled backward, his black hoodie twisting around his shoulders as he nearly lost his balance. He caught himself against the edge of a leather sofa and immediately threw both hands into the air.
“I didn’t touch you!”” Jordan shouted.
Tiana pointed directly at his face.
“You pushed me first!””
“I did not!””
Marcus was already moving.
The forty-eight-year-old father crossed the living room in three heavy strides, his black tuxedo catching the warm light from the chandelier. His jaw was clenched so tightly that a muscle jumped beside his ear.
“Jordan!”” Marcus barked.
Denise rushed in at the same time, her elegant black dress brushing the marble floor.
“Enough!”” she shouted.
She grabbed Jordan by the arm.
Jordan looked at her with wet eyes.
“Mom, please—”
“Why would you put your hands on Tiana?”” Denise demanded.
“I didn’t!””
Jordan pulled his arm free.
The movement made Marcus step forward.
“Don't pull away from your mother.””
“I’m not attacking anybody!”” Jordan said, breathing hard.
“Dad, she’s lying!””
Tiana immediately ducked behind Denise.
Her long braids spilled over her shoulders as she covered her mouth with both hands.
“She scared me,” Tiana whispered.
Then louder:
“He scared me.””
Jordan stared at her.
“You literally shoved me!””
Tiana began sobbing harder.
Denise turned toward Jordan with a look he had never seen on her face before.
“Just stop.””
Jordan’s chest rose and fell.
“I’m telling you the truth.””
Marcus pointed toward the floor.
“Stand there.””
Jordan froze.
“Dad—”
“Stand there.””
Jordan slowly backed away.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city glittered thousands of feet below. Cars looked like tiny streams of white and red light. Inside, everything was expensive, polished, controlled.
Except the family.
Tiana pressed herself against Denise.
Marcus looked at his son.
“Tell me exactly what happened.””
Jordan swallowed.
“She came at me.””
Tiana shook her head violently.
“No.””
“She did!””
“No, I didn't!””
Jordan looked toward Marcus.
“She walked over and started yelling at me about the phone.””
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“What phone?””
Jordan hesitated.
Tiana stopped crying for half a second.
It was barely noticeable.
But Jordan saw it.
“She wanted to know who I was texting.””
Tiana's voice suddenly became sharp.
“That’s not what happened.””
Jordan pointed at her.
“Yes, it is.””
Marcus turned to Tiana.
“Tiana, what phone?””
She looked down.
“I don't know.””
Jordan laughed bitterly.
“You know exactly what phone.””
“Jordan,” Denise warned.
“No!”” Jordan snapped.
“Everybody keeps acting like I’m crazy.””
Silence fell.
Tiana slowly raised her eyes.
“You threatened me.””
Jordan stared at her.
“What?””
“You said you were going to ruin my life.””
“I never said that!””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Enough.””
Jordan's voice cracked.
“Dad, she’s lying.””
Marcus stared at his son for several seconds.
Then he said quietly, “Why would she lie about something like this?””
Jordan opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
That question hurt more than the accusation.
Because Jordan knew the answer.
But he also knew nobody was ready to hear it.
Tiana was Marcus’s stepdaughter.
For years, she had been the fragile one. The girl everyone protected. The girl Denise constantly defended.
Jordan had learned to swallow his complaints.
Tonight, however, something was different.
Tiana wasn’t just trying to get him in trouble.
She looked afraid.
Not afraid of Jordan.
Afraid of something else.
Jordan noticed her eyes shift toward the hallway.
Only for a moment.
Then she looked back at him.
Marcus followed Jordan’s stare.
“What are you looking at?””
“Nothing.””
Tiana wiped her cheeks.
“I just want to go upstairs.””
She started walking.
Jordan suddenly said, “Ask her why she was near the security camera.””
Tiana stopped.
Marcus turned.
“What security camera?””
Tiana slowly looked over her shoulder.
Jordan’s breathing stopped.
He had said too much.
Tiana’s face changed.
For the first time that night, the tears seemed to disappear completely.
Then the hallway door behind them moved.
Just an inch.
Nobody noticed.
Nobody except Tiana.
Her eyes locked onto the darkness beyond it.
And whoever was standing there whispered her name.
May you like
“Tiana.””
Her face went white.
