Masuk•Cassie POV•“Oh my goodness,” I gasped, my hand pressed to my chest. “How could Charles betray us like this? Your mother would be so pissed if she ever finds out.”Jerlad didn’t say a word. He kept typing on his laptop, his jaw still clenched, and the way his fingers tapped on the keyboard showed how much he was trying to restrain himself.“So you didn’t cheat on me?” I mumbled more to myself, my hand dropping to my side as a wave of ease crept into my chest, like sunshine after a storm.Jerlad was still focused on his laptop. He kept scrolling and typing hurriedly, then he picked up his phone and dialed a number.“Where is his current location?”He waited for the reply before he stood up and walked hastily to the door. I didn’t know what Jerlad was about to do, but the way he looked, it was like he was about to murder someone, and I didn’t want to think that the person was Scott.“My love, where are you going?” I asked, hurrying after him.“I’ll be right back soon, honey,” he answer
•Cassie POV•"Mommy, I don't like that man," Cara mumbled, resting her head on my thigh. Her little fingers played with a loose strand of my hair.But my mind wasn’t with her.I couldn’t stop thinking about Scott and how he kept showing up, always trying to get my attention. It was too much. Today, I didn’t even have the strength to argue.My thoughts were full of Jerlad. I kept hoping the photo was just my imagination. That the video was not real. That everything would disappear if I stopped thinking about it.The car door opening pulled me out of my thoughts. I scoffed when Scott’s words replayed in my head.>>"I’m not giving up on you. You can run, you can hide, but you’re mine. And I’ll be here when you’re ready to come home."’s face came into my mind again, and fear followed. What if my m
•Scott POV•"Are you sure she's going to fall for it?" I asked on the call as I pushed open the door to my apartment. I dropped my keys on the table and sank into the couch."Yes, Mr. Williams. You know I don't joke with jobs like this," Martha replied."Good. I trust you on that." A smile pulled at my lips as I ran a hand through my hair. "Now I just have to wait and watch as everything falls in my favor.""Alright, I have to go now, but I'll keep you updated if anything comes up," she said, about to end the call, but I stopped her."Any information about Layla’s whereabouts? Do you know if she's in New York?" I asked, a strange weight settling in my gut. I couldn't deny that the house had been too quiet since she left."No, Mr. Williams," Martha said. "But she posted a picture yesterday. She's engaged. She didn’t show the man’s face, but it’s clearly not New York from the background.""Someone engaged Layla?" I muttered to myself, my mind drifting. "Alright, Martha. Thanks for the h
•Cassie POV•"The little rabbit didn’t know what would happen next, but he trusted his gut that it would be good," I read softly as I closed the storybook and brushed my finger against Cara’s hair.Her lips curled into a smile. "Mommy, when will Daddy be back?"I tucked the strand obstructing her view as she lay on the bed, her little rabbit bunny clutched to her chest. "Sweetheart, your dad will be back tomorrow."Her eyes brightened with excitement and she shifted softly. "Can Daddy read a bedtime story to me tomorrow night? It’s been long since he read me a bedtime story."I took her little hand in mine, brushing my thumb against it. "Of course, my love. He will. I’ll let him know that you miss his deep storytelling voice.""Isn’t she a cutie, my little Cara," I mimicked Jerald’s manly voice and it made Cara chuckle. "Now sweetie, it’s time for you to go to bed. You have to go to school tomorrow.""Okay, Mommy," she muttered, and I watched as she closed her eyes. I stood up from th
•Cassie POV•“Promise me you won’t think about it again until Jerlad comes back,” Tamara said as we stepped out of the house and walked toward the gate where she would take a cab.“I don’t know if I can make that promise, Tammy,” I told her, pulling my hair into a messy ponytail with the band on my wrist. “My mind just keeps going back to it, thinking if it’s true or not.”Tamara gave me a soft look and took my hand. “I know. But I’m telling you, it can’t be true unless Jerlad has a twin brother he forgot to tell us about. And if he does, I will personally drag that twin to you and ask him why he is ruining your peace.”A small laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it.She squeezed my hand. “See? That’s the smile I like. Not that ‘I’m about to cry and pretend I’m not’ smile you’ve been wearing since morning.”I tried to roll my eyes, but she was right.The cab stopped in front of us. Tamara pulled me into a tight hug, rocking us side to side. “Don’t let your brain run a marathon
•Scott POV•I drove down the road, my heart beating so fast it almost matched my speed. I couldn’t believe I almost got into an accident. The way the driver had tried to hit my car clearly showed he was sending a warning.I shoved my hand through my hair and gripped the steering wheel with the other, steadying my breathing. I thought about going to the cops to report the incident, but with the recent claims and my time in jail, I didn’t think they would take me serious.I turned into the nearest lane to Charles’s house as I dialed his number. He picked on the second ring, his voice calm as he spoke.“Hey Scott.”“Are you at home?” I asked hastily, trying to catch my breath.“Yes. What happened? You sound like you’ve been chased by a cheetah for hours,” he said with a slight chuckle.“I’m heading to your house now,” I muttered, ignoring his teasing as I looked through the rearview mirror to make sure I wasn’t being followed.“Okay, can you get some pretzels when you’re coming?” Charles







