Chapter 7

“Mom... have you ever thought about being with Daddy Helton?”

Cassidy looked down.

Noel's head rested on her lap while Nardy sat curled against her other side.

The question caught her completely off guard.

“Where did that come from?”

Noel shrugged.

“Daddy Helton loves you.”

Cassidy's expression changed.

Nardy looked up at her.

“Mom, your whole life can't only be about me and Noel.”

Cassidy stared at her sons.

Sometimes she forgot they were only six years old.

“And besides,” Noel added, “we came back because we wanted to find our real dad.”

Cassidy immediately stiffened.

“Noel.”

“What?”

“We've talked about this.”

“But you never tell us anything about him.”

Cassidy looked away.

How could she?

How could she tell them that their father was Dylan Edwards?

That he had hated her when they separated?

That he had watched her beg for help and simply driven away?

No.

Her children didn't need that pain.

“When you're older,” she said softly, “I'll tell you everything.”

Noel frowned.

Nardy remained silent.

But the twins exchanged a look.

They didn't need to wait.

They had already started searching.

And tonight, they finally had an answer.

Noel suddenly sat up.

“Mommy, look.”

He handed Cassidy the tablet.

A news headline filled the screen.

EDWARDS CHARITY AUCTION ENDS IN CHAOS AS CEO'S FIANCÉE SUFFERS PUBLIC HUMILIATION

Below it was another headline.

RODEL HELTON RETURNS WITH DYLAN EDWARDS'S EX-WIFE

Cassidy stared at the words.

Ex-wife.

Six years had passed.

She had built a career.

Raised two children.

Created an entirely new life.

Yet after one night back in the city, she had become Dylan Edwards's ex-wife again.

“Mom?”

Cassidy blinked.

Noel was watching her.

“Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.”

“You don't look fine.”

Cassidy forced a smile.

“It's late. Both of you should be in bed.”

Neither boy moved.

“Go.”

Noel reluctantly stood.

Nardy followed him.

“Good night, Mommy.”

“Good night.”

They climbed the stairs.

The moment they reached their bedroom, Noel closed the door.

Then his expression changed.

“Nardy.”

“I know.”

Nardy opened his laptop.

Several windows were already waiting on the screen.

Old news articles.

Business records.

Archived photographs.

And one marriage announcement from years ago.

A younger Cassidy stood beside Dylan Edwards.

Noel stared at the photograph.

“Mom married him.”

“Yes.”

Nardy opened another article.

It reported their divorce six years earlier.

The date was only months before Noel and Nardy were born.

The twins went silent.

Noel slowly looked at his brother.

“Do you think...”

Nardy didn't answer immediately.

He opened the photograph he had taken of Dylan at the airport.

Then he placed it beside a picture of Noel.

The resemblance wasn't perfect.

But it was there.

The dark hair.

The eyes.

The shape of their faces.

Noel swallowed.

“Dylan Edwards is our dad?”

Nardy stared at the screen.

“I think so.”

Noel's little fists tightened.

The excitement he had expected to feel wasn't there.

Instead, he remembered the airport.

Dylan insulting Cassidy.

The way their mother had gone pale.

The sadness in her eyes.

“He doesn't like Mommy.”

Nardy's expression hardened.

“Then I don't like him.”

Noel nodded.

“But we need proof.”

Nardy looked at him.

For once, Noel wasn't smiling.

“We find out the truth first.”

Nardy slowly nodded.

Then they would decide what to do with Dylan Edwards.

Downstairs, Cassidy remained alone.

She searched her name online.

Article after article appeared.

Almost all of them connected her to Dylan or Rodel.

Nobody mentioned her work.

Nobody knew she was Queen.

Nobody knew what she had accomplished during those six years.

Cassidy looked toward the shelf.

Her first international design award sat there.

She stood and walked toward it.

Six years ago, she had arrived in another country broken and afraid.

She wasn't that woman anymore.

“Enough,” Cassidy whispered.

Tomorrow would be different.

She would stop hiding.

She would work again.

And she would build a life that belonged to Cassidy Williams.

Not Dylan Edwards's ex-wife.

Not Rodel Helton's rumored girlfriend.

Hers.

Across the city, Selena sat inside the Edwards estate with tears running down her cheeks.

“Someone set me up.”

Dylan stood nearby.

Selena's hands shook as she touched her stomach.

“I swear I didn't know what Harvey was going to do.”

“I know.”

“But everyone saw me like that.”

Her voice broke.

“The reporters won't stop talking about it.”

Dylan rubbed his temple.

“I'll handle the reporters.”

Selena looked at him.

“And Harvey?”

“Walter Group is finished with us.”

Selena lowered her head.

Harvey had begged her for access to more powerful people.

That was why she had asked Dylan to invite him.

But Harvey wouldn't deliberately humiliate her in front of the entire city.

Someone had caused that blackout.

Someone had planned what happened.

But who?

Then Cassidy's face entered her mind.

Selena slowly looked up.

“Dylan...”

“What?”

“Do you think Cassidy could have done it?”

His expression immediately changed.

“Why Cassidy?”

Selena hesitated.

“I don't want to accuse her.”

“Then don't.”

Selena's fingers tightened.

His response bothered her.

Six years ago, Dylan would have believed almost anything bad about Cassidy.

Tonight, he was questioning her.

Selena quickly lowered her eyes.

“She grabbed me earlier.”

Dylan looked at her.

“And everything started after she returned.”

Selena's eyes filled with tears again.

“Maybe she still hates me.”

Dylan said nothing.

“I'm probably being foolish,” Selena whispered. “Forget I said anything.”

She wiped her tears.

“I know Cassidy would never hurt me.”

The words sounded kind.

But they planted exactly the idea Selena wanted.

Dylan remembered the blackout.

Harvey falling.

Cassidy sitting beside Rodel.

And the little boy he had seen running upstairs.

His eyes narrowed.

Something didn't fit.

“If Cassidy didn't do it...” he murmured.

Selena looked at him.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Dylan took out his phone.

“David.”

A man's voice answered immediately.

“Yes, Mr. Edwards?”

“Find Cassidy's address.”

Selena's eyes flickered.

Dylan continued.

“And find out everything she's been doing for the last six years.”

He ended the call.

Selena stared at him.

“Why do you need to know that?”

Dylan looked at her.

For a second, he didn't have an answer.

Then his expression hardened.

“Because if she had anything to do with tonight, I'll find out.”

Selena smiled faintly.

But inside, unease began to grow.

She had wanted Dylan angry at Cassidy.

She hadn't expected him to become curious about her.

The next morning, Cassidy stood in front of the mirror.

She adjusted her clothes and took a deep breath.

Today was her first step forward.

Her phone rang.

Rodel.

“Good morning.”

“Have you decided?” he asked.

Cassidy smiled.

“Yes.”

There was a brief silence.

Then Rodel laughed.

“Should I be worried?”

“Probably.”

“Tell me.”

“I'll work with Helton Group.”

“Seriously?”

“But I have conditions.”

“I'll agree to all of them.”

“You haven't heard them yet.”

“Still agreeing.”

Cassidy laughed.

“Rodel.”

“Fine. Tell me when you arrive.”

Cassidy ended the call.

Behind her, Noel and Nardy exchanged smiles.

“Mommy's going to work!” Noel said.

Cassidy turned.

“Yes.”

She kissed Noel's cheek.

Then Nardy's.

“You two stay home until I come back for lunch.”

“Yes, Mommy.”

“No secret adventures.”

Both boys froze.

Cassidy narrowed her eyes.

“Why did you both make that face?”

“No reason,” Nardy answered.

“Absolutely no reason,” Noel added.

Cassidy stared at them suspiciously.

Then shook her head.

“I'll see you later.”

The door closed.

Silence.

Noel waited several seconds.

Then looked at Nardy.

“She's gone.”

Nardy grabbed his backpack.

“Good.”

They weren't going after Selena today.

They had something more important to do.

Find proof that Dylan Edwards was their father.

They quietly slipped out through the side door and headed toward the driver waiting nearby.

Meanwhile, Cassidy stood beside the road several blocks away.

She checked her phone.

Rodel called again.

“Do you want me to pick you up?”

“No. I'm waiting for the bus.”

“Cassidy, I can send a driver.”

“I survived six years without a private driver.”

Rodel laughed.

“Fine. Call me when you arrive.”

“I will.”

Cassidy smiled.

Then she noticed a dark van slowing beside her.

Her smile disappeared.

Something felt wrong.

She stepped backward.

The van suddenly stopped.

The side door flew open.

Two men jumped out.

Cassidy's eyes widened.

Before she could run, one grabbed her arm.

“Let go!”

Her phone slipped from her hand.

It hit the pavement.

“Cassidy?”

Rodel's voice came through the speaker.

“Cassidy, what's happening?”

She fought desperately.

“Let me go!”

Another man grabbed her.

“Cassidy!”

Rodel shot to his feet.

Her scream came through the phone.

“Who are you?!”

Then the men dragged her inside.

The van door slammed shut.

“Cassidy!”

Rodel ran from his office.

Inside the van, Cassidy kicked at one of the men.

“Let me go!”

They forced her hands behind her back.

A cloth covered her eyes.

Her heart hammered.

“Who sent you?”

Nobody answered.

“Tell me!”

“Be quiet.”

Cassidy struggled harder.

Then a man's hand struck her cheek.

Pain exploded across her face.

She froze.

Not because of the pain.

Because of the fear that followed it.

Noel.

Nardy.

Her children were waiting for her.

She had promised to come home.

Cassidy clenched her teeth.

She wouldn't let these men take her without a fight.

“Who sent you?” she demanded again.

The man beside her laughed.

“You'll find out soon enough.”

Cassidy went still.

At almost the same moment, Dylan stood inside his office looking at the information David had just sent him.

Cassidy's address.

Her phone number.

Her history abroad.

Or at least, part of it.

David's voice came through the phone.

“Mr. Edwards, there's something strange.”

Dylan frowned.

“What?”

“We can't find complete records for Cassidy's work overseas.”

Dylan looked toward the city below.

“Keep searching.”

“Yes, sir.”

Dylan ended the call.

His phone immediately rang again.

An unknown number.

He answered.

“Who is this?”

Silence.

Then a man's voice spoke.

“Mr. Edwards, we have the woman.”

Dylan's expression changed.

“What woman?”

A pause.

Then came the answer.

“Cassidy Williams.”

Dylan shot to his feet.