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FEW MINUTES AGO...Nikolai had been waiting for Cassie to come down for a while now.He played with Emily until the little girl fell asleep. Yet, Cassie was still back.Nikolai frowned, not knowing what to do. Then, he gently lay his daughter in the backseat and got out of the car.He made sure to lock it before making his way up the cemetery. He just wanted to make sure that Cassie was okay. However, when he got nearer, he heard shouting. He quickened his steps, and his breath caught in his throat when he saw the scene in front of him."Let go of my wife, you asshole!"Nikolai stood tall, his chest heaving, every muscle coiled with rage. He looked like death incarnate.Raymond let go of Cassie and took a step back as if his body couldn't go against Nikolai's voice."Touch her again," Nikolai growled, his voice low, dangerous, "and I'll bury you right here."Nikolai's roar ripped through the quiet cemetery like a thunderclap, raw with fury. He rushed towards him and his fist flew be
"Why are you behaving as if my touch repulses you? Can't I touch you after all these years?" Raymond thundered, as if he had the right. “Raymond,” Cassie hissed, the name tasting like poison. “You dare touch me here? At their resting place? Aren't you afraid that they might send a thunderclap to strike your pathetic life?” Raymond’s smirk was faint, but his eyes betrayed something darker—anger, obsession, maybe even panic. “I didn’t think you’d actually come back here, Cassie,” he said, his voice low and sharp. “You disappeared for years. And now, suddenly, you’re back… with him of all people.” He said, completely ignoring all her warnings. Cassie’s jaw tightened, and she spat. “You investigated me, didn’t you?” His smirk faltered. He didn’t need to answer; his silence said it all. “I knew it,” Cassie spat. “You couldn’t stand not knowing. You hate that you don’t control me anymore, that you don’t even have a say in my life. I’m not your wife, Raymond. Not your possession. And y
EARLIER BEFORE THE CEMETERY... Cassie, Nikolai, and little Emily had their best morning routine as usual. But neither of them noticed the black sedan parked a few blocks down the street, its driver waiting. Inside sat Raymond. He had been camping near their penthouse for days, waiting, watching, festering in his own obsession. His eyes were bloodshot from sleepless nights, and his clothes were wrinkled, his tie undone. He had once been a polished man, a picture of confidence. Now, desperation clung to him like sweat. When he saw Cassie step out of the building, holding Emily's hand, his chest tightened. She looked radiant even in her simple white blouse and soft jeans. Her hair caught the early morning sun, a halo he didn't deserve to see. And there was Nikolai at her side, tall and composed, his hand resting briefly on Cassie's back as they walked toward the car. The sight filled Raymond with rage and envy. 'She should have been mine. She was mine.' Slamming his palm
Cassie woke up feeling refreshed and energetic. Today was a special day for her. A start to her new life and goals.For a moment, she lay still, listening to the quiet rhythm of Nikolai’s breathing. For some reason, she woke up in the middle of the night only to realize that she was actually in Nikolai’s bed instead of Emily’s bed.He wasn’t asleep—she could tell by the way his breathing evened out deliberately, a calm he wore like armor.Cassie smiled faintly at his little antics. For weeks now, she had noticed many bigger changes in him. It was strange how this “alliance marriage” was starting to feel less like an arrangement and more like… something real. Something she hadn’t dared to dream about since her world had crumbled under Raymond’s betrayal. But now...Cassie slipped out of bed and padded into the kitchen after washing up.She tiptoed, almost ceremonially, setting the kettle on the stove and preparing breakfast for Nikolai and Emily... her family. Cooking always calmed
Over the next few days, their interactions were filled with small, electrifying moments.A hand brushes against hers while passing a cup of tea.A finger lingering on her wrist longer than necessary.Shared laughter at a joke no one else would understand from Emily.Nikolai was no longer the unreachable man he used to be. He smiled when she caught his eye, chuckled at her wit, and occasionally leaned just a little closer than needed. Each action made Cassie’s pulse quicken.“You always make that face when I laugh,” he commented one evening, tilting his head.Cassie froze. “What face?”“That one. The one that says, ‘I can’t believe I’m enjoying this so much.’”Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away. “I’m not—”“You are,” he said, softer now, stepping closer to her. The space between them narrowed. His hand brushed her arm gently. “And I like it.” He whispered. Cassie’s breath hitched. That one sentence, one touch, set her mind spinning. She reminded herself that she shouldn't enjoy
The penthouse was unusually quiet for a Saturday evening. Cassie moved quietly in the kitchen as she arranged plates on the island. She hummed softly with a smile, though no one was around to hear her.“Dinner’s ready,” she called lightly, wiping her hands on a towel.Nikolai leaned against the doorway, watching her. The way she moved—the subtle sway of her shoulders, the focus in her eyes—made his chest tighten. He was no longer the cold, distant husband he’d always been; little cracks were beginning to show. Smiles, chuckles, and even playful remarks had started to escape him more than he liked to admit.“Now that you’re humming with that smile on your face,” he began, his voice low, almost hesitant, “what’s your plan?”Cassie turned, raising an eyebrow, leaning against the island. “My plan?” Her voice was calm, yet there was a spark in her eyes that made him pause.“Yes, your plan. Are you trying to catch my attention with that or what?" Nikolai snorted. Cassie’s lips quirked.