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It's always her fault. Always the scapegoat.Never Raymond’s.She had bitten her tongue until she nearly drew blood, refusing to fight back in the middle of the hospital corridor.She hated them, every last one of them. But most of all, she hated the ghost of Cassie that still haunted Raymond’s every breath.She had let them tear into her as Raymond lay unconscious, saying nothing, defending nothing.She had waited. Waited for him to wake, to at least explain, to at least acknowledge her.But now, three days later, here he was, scrolling through his phone like a sulking child, smirking at gossip about the ex-wife he had ruined.Now, watching him grin faintly at his phone screen, her chest burned.“What are you smiling at?” she snapped.But Raymond ignored her.“Raymond,” she hissed, “answer me!”Still nothing. His smirk deepened as if mocking her very existence.Her nails dug into her palms. What a waste of a man!"Raymond," she said tightly, "are you even listening to me?"Nothing. H
Raymond sat upright against a mound of pillows, his face still bruised but no longer swollen, his lip stitched neatly.It's been three days since he was admitted to the hospital after Nikolai nearly killed him.His jaw still ached from Nikolai's fists, and though the bruises had faded into dull purple, his pride was nowhere near healed.In his hand was his phone, and on its screen... her name.Cassie McCarthy.Every site, every trending tag, and every headline blared her scandal. Every gossip site...Cassie. Cassie. Cassie."Forgotten Princess No More: Cassie McCarthy's Secret Vanderbilt Marriage Exposed!""Country Princess Turned Screenwriter or Social Climber?""Rumors Swirl Around Rafael's Mysterious New Favorite.""Ex-Wife of Raymond Vanderbilt Resurfaces Under Rival Company."Comments flooded beneath each article, thousands of voices dissecting her looks, her past, her motives.Some mocked her. Some sympathized. Some called her names that Raymond wouldn't dare repeat aloud.Raymo
Veronica didn’t sleep that night. Instead, she sat cross-legged on the chaise lounge in her penthouse, a laptop glowing in front of her as she scrolled through records, old industry magazines, and gossip. A glass of wine remained untouched now, forgotten on the coffee table. Her fingers tapped against the keyboard rapidly. She had contacts everywhere... casting directors, journalists, and even assistants who owed her favors. And she had called them all. At first, nothing major came up on Cassie. She was like a ghost who had suddenly materialized in the entertainment world, beautiful and mysterious. Too mysterious. That only fueled Veronica’s determination. Finally, one of her sources sent her a scanned clipping from seven years ago. Veronica’s eyes narrowed as she leaned closer. Vanderbilt Heir Raymond Weds Longtime Girlfriend Cassie McCarthy. Her pulse spiked. She opened more files, more clippings. Pictures of Cassie in a wedding gown, smiling beside Raymond Vanderbilt. Anot
The moment Veronica stormed out of Rafael’s office, the smile she had forced onto her lips crumbled into nothing but a bitter snarl. Rage bubbled inside her like boiling water, threatening to spill over and burn Cassie’s body. People moved aside instinctively from her way, the staff and junior actors who had grown accustomed to reading her moods. No one dared meet her eyes. They knew better. She stopped near the stairwell, gripping the railing with such force her knuckles went white. Rafael’s words replayed in her mind like a broken record, each one cutting deeper. 'Cassie is under my protection. If you so much as breathe the wrong way around her, I will personally make sure you regret it.' And worst of all — Remember who her backer is. Nikolai Rosewood. She shivered under such a warning. That name again. That man. Nikolai. Even Veronica, for all her arrogance, knew better than to cross Nikolai Rosewood. His reputation in both the business and underworld was legendary. Dan
Her smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of coldness in her eyes. "Cassie?" she repeated, her tone dripping with disdain. "Yes, Cassie," Rafael said sharply. "Don't play dumb. You practically carved daggers into her with your eyes when we passed you in the corridor. Don't think I missed it." Veronica stiffened, her hands clenching at her sides. "And so what if I did? Who is she to deserve such special treatment from you, Rafael? You paraded her through the building like she was royalty. Took her into the VIP training room like it was her birthright. What about the rest of us? What about me?" Rafael's jaw tightened. "You're one of my top actresses, Veronica. You've already proven yourself. You get privileges because you've earned them. But don't you dare think that gives you the right to look down on her." Her eyes flared. "So you admit it. She's... someone special." Rafael's gaze turned icy. "She's under my protection. That's all you need to know. And Veronica, trust me... If y
Rafael's office was nothing like Cassie had expected. When he guided her through the double doors, she almost stopped in her tracks. The room wasn't just an office - it looked like something from a luxury magazine. Especially the massive windows that offered a view of the bustling city below. A glass desk sat in the center, flanked by tall shelves filled with books, scripts, and awards. Behind it was a painting of a stormy sea that commanded dramatic and fierce attention, much like the man sitting beneath it. Cassie's lips parted slightly. "This is... breathtaking. Rafael, you work here every day?" Rafael tossed his blazer onto the back of his chair and leaned against the desk casually, his grin wide. "Beautiful, isn't it? I figured, if I'm going to suffer through paperwork and endless meetings, I might as well do it in style. That way, when I hate my life, I can at least admire the view." Cassie chuckled, walking further into the office. "You're unbelievable." "Unbelievab