A Crown of Halos (book 1 of the Angel series)

CHAPTER ONE

“Six years of marriage, and my wife is still getting tested like some lab rat. No miracle yet. Happy anniversary to me, guys.”

Briar Welson laughed at his own joke, and his family quickly joined in.

Cassie sat beside him, gripping her napkin. Six years of doctors, painful tests, medicine, and hope, and this was how her husband spoke to her on their anniversary.

Briar patted her hand. “Oh, honey, I’m joking. You know I love you.” He grinned. “Even if you are defective.”

The table burst into laughter. Cassie forced a smile and looked down. Her own husband had just called her defective in front of his family.

Across the table, Fiona Ross, Briar’s assistant, covered her mouth, hiding a smile. “Briar, that’s terrible,” Fiona said softly, though her face showed she didn’t mean it.

Briar chuckled. “What? I’m joking. Cassie knows I love her.”

Cassie looked at him. “Do I?”

“It’s terrible, but true,” Briar said. “We’ve spent six years trying to fix you. Doctors, treatments, and millions of dollars. And what do we have?”

He gestured at her. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Except debt. But nobody talks about that.”

Erica Welson, Briar’s mother, nodded. “My son has been very patient. More patient than most men would be. We should appreciate that.”

“I’m a saint,” Briar said proudly. “My wife can’t give me children, and I still come home every night. Do I get a medal? No. We get another monthly test.”

Cassie’s throat tightened. She knew what was coming. She had taken these tests for six years.

Erica reached into her bag and placed a pregnancy test on the table. “You know the drill,” she said. “Time for your monthly test.”

The laughter stopped. Everyone looked at Cassie.

She had taken seventy-two tests in six years. Every one had been negative. Cassie stared at the test. “Really? Tonight? On our anniversary?”

Briar sighed. “Oh, don’t start. You’re always playing the victim.”

“I’m not,” Cassie said quietly. “I just wanted one night without talking about my body or whether I’m pregnant.”

“One night?” Briar scoffed. “I’d love that too. One night where I don’t have to think about how my wife can’t do the one thing she’s supposed to do.”

His voice carried across the table, making Cassie painfully aware of everyone watching her.

“I had an accident,” she said quietly. “I was nineteen. I didn’t choose—”

“I know about the accident,” Briar snapped. “Everyone does. It’s always the same story. Poor Cassie. Broken Cassie. Everyone should feel sorry for her.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Fair?” Briar laughed. “Fair is for people who can have children. It doesn’t apply to you.”

Erica cleared her throat. “Enough, Briar. You’re upsetting her.”

“I’m upsetting her?” Briar scoffed. “She’s upsetting me. Six years of patience and support, and she can’t even take a simple test without making a scene. Am I wrong?”

The family murmured in agreement.

“Take the test,” Erica said firmly. “Let’s get it over with.”

Cassie said nothing and walked to the bathroom.“Love you, honey!” Briar called after her. “Don’t take too long!”

A few minutes later, Cassie placed the test on the counter and waited, refusing to look at it. A strange warmth suddenly spread through her stomach.

She placed a hand over her abdomen, and for a split second, something flashed before her eyes.

[core…]

Cassie blinked, but it was gone. Slowly, she looked down at the test and froze. Two lines, Positive. Her eyes filled with tears. After six years, could this really be happening?

She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and hurried back into the dining room, clutching the pregnancy test tightly. Her steps were quick, and her heart was pounding with hope.

The moment she entered, Erica looked up from the table and raised an eyebrow. “Well?” she asked.

Cassie stopped beside the table. Her chest rose and fell as she caught her breath. Without saying anything, she slowly held out the test.

Erica took it from her and examined it, Her expression remained calm as she turned the test over in her hand. Then she lifted it slightly, making sure everyone could see it. “It’s negative.”

Cassie’s smile disappeared. “What?” Her eyebrows pulled together as she reached for the test. “No. That can’t be right.”

“There’s only one line,” Erica said, pointing at it. “Everyone can see it.”

Briar glanced at the test from across the table. A mocking smile appeared on his face. “Of course it is.”

Cassie quickly took the test back. Her fingers tightened around it as she stared at the small window.

One line.

Her stomach dropped. “But I saw two,” she whispered.

Erica gave her a sympathetic look, but there was something cold in her eyes.“You were mistaken, Cassie.”

Briar leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You were already imagining how useful you’d finally be, weren’t you?”

Cassie’s head snapped toward him. “I am useful,” she said, gripping the test tightly. “I helped build your company, Briar. When your business was failing, I used my family’s money to keep it alive.”

She stepped closer to the table, her voice becoming firmer. “You wouldn’t have this company without me.”

Briar rolled his eyes and waved his hand dismissively. “Here we go again.”

He turned away from Cassie and placed a hand gently on Fiona’s shoulder.“Why can’t you be more like Fiona?” he asked. “She doesn’t complain about everything. She understands me.”

Fiona lowered her eyes and nervously played with her fingers.

Erica smiled approvingly and nodded.“Fiona has always been thoughtful,” she said. “She knows how to make people feel comfortable.”

Briar’s expression softened as he looked at Fiona.“Fiona is the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said with a smile. “Sometimes I wish I had met her six years ago.”

Cassie froze. Her lips parted, but no words came out at first.Then she slowly looked at Briar. “I’m right here.”

Briar glanced at her and shrugged. “I know. I was joking.”

Cassie let out a small, bitter laugh and shook her head. “A joke?”

Her eyes filled with tears again, but this time she refused to wipe them away. “You just said you wished you had met Fiona instead of me. On our anniversary, Briar. You said that in front of everyone.”

Briar’s face hardened. “Oh, God. You’re so sensitive.”

“Don’t,” Cassie whispered. “Please don’t say anything else.”

Briar pushed his chair back and grabbed his jacket. “You know what? This anniversary dinner is ruined.”

He looked at Fiona. “Come on.”

Fiona hesitated. “Briar, maybe you should stay with Cassie.”

“No. I’ve had enough of her drama.” He slipped on his jacket. “Let’s go.”

Fiona quietly followed him.

Cassie watched them, unable to believe he was actually leaving. “Where are you going with your secretary?” she asked. “Tonight is still our anniversary.”

Briar turned around with an annoyed look. “You ruined tonight with your nagging and sensitivity. You’re always making everything into a drama.”

Cassie stared at him. “So you’re really leaving?”

“Yes. I need to make money for your next round of IVF, don’t I?” He glanced at Fiona. “Fiona and I have a multimillion-dollar deal to prepare for.”

Cassie watched them disappear through the door, trying to convince herself that it meant nothing. Fiona was his assistant. Briar was always friendly with people. There had to be an explanation.

Then Fiona turned at the doorway. Her eyes met Cassie’s, And for the first time, Cassie noticed the small smile on her face. It wasn’t a polite smile.

It was the smile of a woman who knew she had already won.