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Raymond sat at the head of the dining table, dressed sharply even though the day had barely begun. His mother, Regina, poured herself tea with the same rigid grace that defined her, while his sister, Mabel, sat beside her, flipping through her phone with a smug, boredom. “Can you believe that woman dared to humiliate us like that?” Regina’s voice was cold, sharp as the silver knife in her hand. “After everything that happened, after what she caused…” She shook her head, her lips curling. “She should have stayed gone. We should have gotten rid of her a long time ago when she was under our roof.” Mabel scoffed, setting down her cup. “You mean Cassie? Please. The only reason she’s still breathing is because we allow it. Or she thinks th Rosewoods would help her against us.” Raymond chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “You two talk too much about a woman who’s already going to come beneath us. Cassie can bark all she wants, but she’s got nothing. But she will still be under my hands
By the time the gates closed behind them, she could barely feel her legs. She turned to Nikolai. “What if the cameras—” He raised a brow, his lips twitching slightly. “Woman,” he said quietly, “you’re married to me. Do you really think I’d let something as small as a camera ruin tonight?” She stared at him for a long moment, then burst out laughing. “You’re incredibly full of yours.” “And you’re dangerous,” he countered softly, brushing his thumb over her lips. “Perfect combination.” “You did well,” Nikolai murmured. “You did this for me,” she said, her voice a ragged thing that held both accusation and gratitude. “We did it,” he corrected, and the word wrapped around them like a shield. Cassie’s pulse still thundered in her ears now that the adrenaline was wearing off. She could feel it in her fingertips, in the cold space beneath her ribs. For a moment, she didn’t know whether she wanted to scream or sob. Her body shook. Adrenaline, fear, and relief she couldn’t
"You shouldn't have come here alone without telling me. What's your plan, huh? What if something happened to you on the road? What will happen to me? What will happen to Emily?" Nikolai said, feeling a little bit frustrated. Cassie pulled away from his embrace and looked at him with teary eyes. “I can’t forgive them, Nik,” she whispered the same words, her voice cracking. “Didn’t you hear me? I don’t know what to do… but I have to do something. They killed my parents. My parents! They ruin everything. I need them to feel it, the same pain, the same loss. The same damn anguish I'm feeling right now.” Her words dissolved into a sob before she could stop herself. She turned away, pressing her palms against her face, her shoulders trembling. Nikolai didn’t stop her. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his warmth grounding her against the cold night. “That’s why I'm here with you, my love. We will let them pay if that's what you want,” he murmured into her
The night air was cold, slicing through the open window as Cassie’s car sped down the highway. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, and her gaze never left the road to her destination. Her thoughts were louder than the engine. And they were persistent and relentless. Every memory, every whispered insult, every cruel smirk from the Vanderbilts replayed in her mind like broken film reels. Their faces, the smug confidence of Raymond, the cold disdain of his mother, the mocking laughter of his sister, flashed one after another. And then came the image that made her chest ache: her parents’ faces, fading, broken, taken from her because of them. Cassie’s jaw clenched. “They deserve it,” she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling with both pain and fury. “They deserve everything that’s coming.” The GPS had long stopped guiding her; she didn’t need directions. She knew the Vanderbilt mansion too well, the winding road, the vast hedges, the gold-lettered nameplate a
In the evening Cassie prepared something for them to eat despite Nikolai’s protest. They ate quietly, barely exchanging words. When the plates were cleared and the lights dimmed, they retreated to bed. It was almost midnight when Cassie woke with a sharp breath. For a moment, she didn’t know why. Then she turned, and her heart tightened. Nikolai wasn’t in bed. The sheets beside her were cold, untouched for hours. She sat up slowly, her mind racing, the silence of the night pressing on her. For a brief moment, she wondered if he’d gone for air, or maybe he couldn’t sleep after everything that happened. But deep down, she knew this wasn’t about restlessness. This was about pain. Her gaze fell on the nightstand, where a small black mask rested. Its presence was both comforting and suffocating. She had placed it three hours before going to bed. She didn't want to forget it. Cassie exhaled shakily. The decision she’d been holding back all evening now solidified like ice in her
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Cassie stepped out first, slipping off her heels with a sigh. The penthouse felt unusually quiet today. No Emily’s laughter and babbling. No soft jazz playing from the speaker Nikolai always left on, just the silence pressing on them. She glanced over her shoulder. Nikolai followed behind her as he also entered. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. His silence screamed louder than anything he could have said. Cassie watched him head straight to the minibar. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid catching the dim light, and sank into the couch without even removing his jacket. She hated seeing him like this, so guarded, so broken behind that flawless composure. “You’re drinking?” she asked softly, crossing her arms as she stood by the doorway. “Just one,” he muttered. “It helps me think.” Cassie raised an eyebrow. “Or forget?” He didn’t answer. Just took another slow sip. She walked closer, her voice gentler







