When Tara woke up, it was already 10 a.m. She wasted no time getting out of bed and preparing herself to leave the hotel. Once she was done, she didn't even bother with breakfast. She left immediately and took a taxi back home.
The taxi stopped at the gate of the estate. From there, Tara walked for a full six minutes before reaching the mansion.
As soon as she stepped inside, she noticed that everyone was already gathered in the living room, sitting as if they had been waiting for her.
"Wow, look who finally decided to come home after disgracing us," Mrs. Logan said coldly.
Tara instantly sensed that something was wrong. She had suspected there was a possibility that they knew what had happened, but she had wanted to believe that her best friend hadn't told anyone.
Trying to remain calm, she said the first thing that came to her mind.
"Mom, what do you mean by that?"
"Oh, drop the act, Tara. We all know what happened after you disappeared. The fact that you made a ruckus in the entire hotel just to find some guy you don't even know… or maybe you do," Ananya said, her voice dripping with venom and fake disappointment.
Tara was stunned by the way the people she cared about were treating her.
She turned to Vanessa, looking at her questioningly, hoping she would explain how they found out.
"Oh… I'm so sorry, Tara. I don't know how things got to this stage. I just found myself spilling the beans," Vanessa said, pretending to look guilty.
Tara didn't respond.
She simply observed the people she had once called her family and loved ones.
"After what happened, what are we supposed to do about the engagement with the Wanskins? We can't cancel it," Mr. Logan said sternly.
"Tara, I want to hear it from you. Did you really sleep with some random guy?" Frank asked as he walked toward her aggressively.
Tara was hurting, but she forced herself to stay calm. Instead of answering, she simply looked away.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue after cheating?" Frank said with contempt.
This time Tara couldn't stay silent.
She lifted her head and looked straight into his eyes.
"I did not cheat. And as for the engagement, it can be canceled between us. You can always form another one with my older sister. After all, the engagement was originally meant for her. But since she was abroad at the time, I had no choice but to take her place."
Her voice was completely monotone.
"What a shameless woman!" Frank shouted. "How dare you say you didn't cheat and then try to push me onto your sister? Do you think you can get rid of me that easily?"
Suddenly he grabbed her arms tightly.
"Not happening."
Tara looked at him coldly.
"Why are you trying to act like a saint here?" she said calmly. "Do you think I don't know what you've been up to?"
Frank immediately loosened his grip.
For a brief moment, panic flashed in his eyes.
"What do you mean by that, Tara?" Ananya asked lazily.
"Your so-called perfect match here has been cheating since the day our alliance was formed three years ago," Tara said expressionlessly while looking directly at Frank.
"W-who… who's the girl?" Vanessa asked, trying to sound calm.
"Yeah, who is she?" Ananya added quickly.
"I don't know," Tara replied coldly. "Because I never bothered wasting my time finding out about someone who would be discarded once he got married."
"So what?" Mr. Logan said dismissively. "He's a man. It's normal for men to have other women."
Everyone else nodded in agreement.
Tara stared at them in disbelief. She suddenly felt exhausted, as if the entire situation had drained her.
"What exactly is your point?" she asked.
"Since you've slept with someone and your chastity is gone," Mrs. Logan said greedily, "you will marry Cone Brade as his second wife. Your older sister will take over the company since you've become a disgrace."
Tara froze.
"What… did you just say?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"You heard your mother," Mr. Logan replied indifferently.
Tara took a deep breath.
"What disgrace are you talking about exactly? I want to understand where I'm wrong."
"You slept with an unknown man while being engaged to Frank. Isn't that a disgrace?" Mrs. Logan snapped.
Suddenly Tara started laughing.
The sound echoed strangely in the room.
"What's so funny?" Ananya asked irritably.
"I'm laughing at how naive all of you are," Tara replied.
Everyone looked confused.
"What do you mean?" Vanessa asked.
"I mean this man cheated on me from the moment we got the alliance until now. Nobody condemned him. But when it comes to me, suddenly it's a problem. So much so that you want to take everything I've worked for and marry me off to some old man who's old enough to be my father just for business."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then Mrs. Logan spoke again.
"We raised you to be better than this. But since you're useless now, why don't you at least be useful one last time for the family?"
"Useful… huh?" Tara said slowly as she walked over and sat down on the couch.
"Have you all forgotten who made this company successful? Or maybe you've forgotten who actually holds the real power here. Just because I smile and show my teeth doesn't mean am an easy target or easy to manipulate."
"Why are you talking like this, Tara?" Vanessa said with fake concern. "They're your family. Your loved ones. This is how you atone for your mistake."
"Exactly," Ananya added. "You're spoiled goods now. No man in high society will want you after losing your chastity before marriage."
Tara looked around the room slowly.
Then she spoke.
"I don't know what game you people are playing or what your real goal is. But let me make a few things clear."
She stood up.
"First, I have the freedom in this house to sleep with whoever I want, do whatever I want, and act however I want—as long as it doesn't affect the family name. And if it does, I fix it. Just like I always have."
"Second, I've been the CEO of Logan Company since I was eighteen. Grandpa gave me that position, and I worked my ass off to earn it. If any of you want that seat, you'll have to defeat me or earn it."
Her gaze fell on Mr. Logan, Mrs. Logan, and Ananya.
"Third, I don't need anyone here to validate my worth. So if you think you can set me up with scumbags"—she glanced at Frank—"think again."
Then she turned to Vanessa.
"Fourth, this is for you. You've been overstepping your boundaries lately. I suggest you take a step back before I deal with it myself."
The room became deathly silent.
"And lastly," Tara continued coldly, "you never raised me. We've only known each other for three years. You abandoned me with Grandma and Grandpa just so you could focus on your first daughter".
She glanced at Ananya.
"That never bothered me. Because I lacked parental love. But don't mistaken that for weakness."
Her eyes turned icy.
"I'm not a pushover you can take advantage of. So stop trying to get rid of me in such an obvious way."
With that, Tara turned and walked up the stairs toward her room.
Behind her, the living room remained silent—filled with people who resented and despised her deeply, because despite everything they tried, Tara still held the power.