Chapter 2

•Cassie POV•

I could hear the thumping of my heart in my ears as I stared at Scott in shock. His eyes widened, but surprisingly, he didn’t push Layla’s hand away like a man who had just been caught cheating would.

“Cassie… what are you doing here?” His voice was low, careful, like he was trying not to wake a sleeping monster.

My throat tightened, my eyes already stinging. No. This couldn’t be what I was thinking. “I should be the one asking you. Why aren’t you in your meeting with the investors?”

He looked away, his jaw working, guilt stamped across his face. He didn’t speak. Before he could even try, Layla let go of his hand and walked toward me. Her heels clicked against the floor, her perfume sharp in the air. A smug smile tugged at her lips, like she’d been waiting for this moment.

“What took you so long?” she muttered. “My fiancé and I were about leaving… and it seems you two already knew each other.”

The word slammed into me. “Your fiancé?” My voice cracked as it slipped out.

“Yes, Cassie.” Layla chuckled, tilting her head like she was amused. “Why are you acting all weird? Is this some new thing for wedding planners?” She rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with poison.

My knees wobbled. I took a shaky step closer, my voice trembling. “Scott… what is she talking about?”

Scott finally looked at me, his eyes darting nervously around the store. He swallowed hard. “Cassie, can we… can we talk about this at home? Please, don’t create a scene here.”

I froze. Home? As if I could still go back with him. As if home hadn’t just crumbled under my feet.

Before I could speak, Layla brushed past me, her shoulder bumping mine. She clutched Scott’s hand like a prize and leaned into him. He didn’t even flinch. Worse—he laced his fingers with hers. My eyes locked on their hands, the same ones that had held me hours ago. Pain shot through me like a live wire.

“My love, is she the one you told me about?” Layla asked sweetly, though her eyes cut to me like knives. “I thought you said you were going to divorce her. Why haven’t you?”

A sob tore at my throat, spilling into words. “Scott… is this a prank? Tell me this is some kind of sick joke.”

Layla scoffed, her laugh sharp. “Aren’t you stupid, Cassie? Your husband is my fiancé, and you’re still saying it’s a prank?”

Her words sliced into me. My fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms. I wanted answers, not her mocking voice. I wanted Scott to fight for me, to say it wasn’t true. But he just stood there, silent.

“Okay… fine.” Scott’s voice cut through the noise. He gently pushed Layla aside and stepped closer to me. His shoulders slumped. “I wanted to tell you, Cassie. I didn’t intend for you to find out like this.”

The room spun. “Wanted to tell me?” I repeated, my voice thin, almost breaking.

He nodded, fumbling for words. “You see… Layla and I have been together since before I met you. She was the one I intended to marry, but she traveled. And when I needed my father’s inheritance, I had to marry you so I could get it. But after Layla came back… I just had to continue from where I stopped.”

My stomach churned. The floor tilted. He reached for my hand, but I slapped his away like his touch burned.

Whispers rippled through the store. Heads turned. Phones lifted, recording, snapping pictures. They were feeding on my heartbreak like it was entertainment.

“I swear, Cassie, I didn’t know you were the wedding planner. I wouldn’t have allowed it. I’m sorry,” Scott stammered, his words desperate, but they only made me want to scream.

“Sorry?” My voice cracked open. “Do you even know how many nights I stayed awake, waiting for you to come home? How many times I convinced myself you were just working late? I let you leave me alone every single time because I wanted to be the understanding wife. I gave up my peace so you could chase your dreams, and all the while, you were chasing her.”

My chest rose and fell heavily, the truth cutting me open. “I spent hours planning this wedding, making sure every detail was perfect. And the whole time, it was yours.” My voice broke completely. “Yours and hers.”

“Cassie, please—”

Before he could finish, my palm connected with his cheek. The sharp crack echoed across the store. His head snapped to the side, his jaw tightening.

“How dare you?” Layla gasped. Her smug smile vanished, replaced by fury. She rushed at me, her hand raised. Instinct kicked in. I caught her wrist midair, yanked it hard, and she stumbled to the floor with a loud thud.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some laughed, others cheered, but the cameras didn’t stop flashing.

“Cassie!” Scott shouted, dropping to Layla’s side as she whimpered dramatically. His glare seared into me. “What the hell is wrong with you? How dare you try to hurt her?” His voice cracked with rage. “I never loved you. You should’ve known! But you were too blind to see it!”

The words tore through me. My chest tightened so hard I couldn’t breathe. My legs threatened to give out.

I looked around, the flashing cameras, the hungry eyes. No pity. No kindness. Just people waiting to spread my shame.

I couldn’t give them more.

Swallowing my sobs, I turned and rushed out, pushing through the crowd. Tears blurred everything as sunlight smacked my face. My heels clattered against the pavement as I stumbled toward my car.

I yanked the door open and collapsed inside, slamming it shut. My hands shook as I gripped the steering wheel. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks, soaking into my lap. My chest heaved, every breath jagged and uneven.

Scott’s sweet words from that morning replayed in my head, cruel and hollow now. His touch, his kisses, his “always” echoing like a curse.

I pressed my forehead against the steering wheel, muffling my sobs. My body trembled as if grief itself had wrapped around me.

Five years. Five damn years I thought I’d built something real. I believed his excuses, his late nights, his sweet lies. I gave him my loyalty, my heart, my youth.

And in return, he gave me betrayal.