Chapter One: The Woman They Wanted Gone

“I refuse to let an orphan give birth to the first Blackthorne heir.”

My hand froze inches from the living room door, and suddenly I couldn't breathe,the paper bag hanging from my wrist slipped, but I caught it just before the bottle of Cabernet could shatter against the floor and resting beside it was a small vanilla cake decorated with four tiny candles.

Today was my fourth wedding anniversary,I’d spent the entire afternoon convincing myself that this year would be different, but hope was a fragile, foolish thing.

Inside, my mother-in-law spoke again, her voice sharp and clinical. "Every time I introduce Aurelia as my daughter-in-law, people look at me with pity."

"Aunt Vivienne... please don't upset yourself," a gentle voice replied,Bianca.

Of course she was here,my stomach tightened as Vivienne gave a cold laugh.

"Tell me, Bianca, what has she actually brought into this family? She’s an orphan with no influential family and no connections and after four years of marriage..." Her tone turned icy. "Not even a child."

My fingers tightened around the paper bag until the brown paper crumpled under my grip,I had always known Vivienne disliked me, but hearing it laid bare felt like watching someone systematically peel away whatever dignity I had left.

"If Cassian had married you instead," Vivienne continued, "I'd probably be holding my grandson by now."

"I... I don't want to replace anyone," Bianca hesitated, though her modesty felt entirely practiced.

"So considerate," Vivienne sighed dramatically. "That's exactly why you should have been the woman standing beside my son."

My eyes burned,every instinct told me to turn around and leave, but I was rooted to the spot then, the one voice I had been waiting for finally cut through the room.

"Mother,that's enough."

The words brought a brief wave of relief. 

For a second, I remembered the man who had stood in front of his entire family four years ago, declaring he would marry me whether they approved or not,maybe that man was still in there.

"Am I wrong?" Vivienne challenged.

Silence followed,I held my breath, waiting for him to defend me, but Cassian merely exhaled. "Not today."

The warmth inside me vanished instantly,he wasn't defending me…he was just postponing the argument.

Vivienne hummed in satisfaction. "You're right,we'll deal with her soon."

Her, not his wife,not Aurelia, just an inconvenience to be managed.

Steeling myself, I put on the polite smile I’d spent four years perfecting and pushed the door open,the conversation died instantly.

Vivienne turned, surprise flashing across her features before dissolving into a graceful, superficial smile.

"Aurelia," she said, her voice dripping with unearned warmth. "We didn't hear you come home."

"I just arrived," I lied, stepping into the room,no one needed to know how long I'd been standing in the hallway.

Bianca hurried toward me, her eyes landing on the box. "Oh, Aurelia! You bought a cake. Is it for tonight?" She smiled apologetically. "I completely forgot today was your anniversary."

"It's all right," I replied with a tight, polite smile.

Cassian finally looked up, his gaze lingering on the cake before meeting my eyes. "You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble."

"It isn't trouble." Never for you.

He looked as though he wanted to say more, but his phone rang, shattering the fragile silence. 

Glancing at the screen, his expression immediately hardened into his corporate persona,he answered without hesitation. "This is Cassian... I'll be there in twenty minutes." Slipping the phone back into his pocket, he looked at me.

 "The board is waiting,there's an issue with the overseas acquisition."

Vivienne nodded approvingly. "I told you business couldn't wait."

"I'm sorry," Cassian said, his voice softening slightly as he stepped closer. "I know what today is,we'll celebrate tomorrow."

Tomorrow. It had become our anniversary tradition,last year had been tomorrow, and the year before that, the same.

"Of course," I said, smiling to keep from crying.

For a moment, I thought he might kiss my forehead the way he used to instead, he gave my shoulder a brief, professional squeeze. "I won't be long."

With that, the front door closed, leaving the house feeling suddenly massive and empty,Vivienne stood up gracefully, casting a dismissive look at the untouched cake. 

"What a shame. Anniversaries are sentimental luxuries,the Blackthorne family has more important things to worry about." She walked past me without another glance.

Bianca lingered for a second. "I'm sure he really wanted to stay," she said, offering a sympathetic smile before following Vivienne upstairs.

Alone in the dining room, I placed the cake in the center of the table.

Four candles,none of them would be lit tonight. One by one, I pulled them out of the frosting,it felt like I was giving up on our anniversary before it even had the chance to begin.

My gaze drifted to our framed wedding photograph on the cabinet,we both looked so genuinely happy then.

"When did we become strangers?" I whispered.

A knock interrupted my thoughts,one of the housekeepers stood in the doorway, holding a leather folder. "Mrs. Blackthorne? Mr. Blackthorne left these documents behind,his assistant has been trying to reach him, but he's already in the meeting."

Looking at the folder, then back at the cake, a stubborn spark of hope flared up again. Maybe I could surprise him and we could have dinner after his meeting, even if it was late.

"I'll take them to him," I said.

Blackthorne Global rose above the Manhattan skyline, its glass walls reflecting the fading light of the evening.

The receptionist greeted me with a warm smile and told me Mr. Blackthorne was still in his office,I  thanked her and stepped into the private elevator that led to the executive floor.

The hallway was unusually quiet,the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner,light spilled from beneath Cassian's office door, and relief swept through me. 

At least he was still here.

I smoothed my dress, tightened my grip on the leather folder, and took a deep breath, hoping the night wasn't completely ruined.

Just as I raised my hand to knock, the elevator chimed,I turned and saw Bianca step out, wearing a fitted cream dress and a confident smile.

"Oh," she said, looking pleasantly surprised. "Aurelia."

"I came to bring Cassian the documents he forgot.”

"What a coincidence." She held up a small gift bag. "I brought him some coffee,he's been working so hard lately."

Something about the way she said it made my chest tighten,she spoke as if she knew his daily routine better than I did.

"That was thoughtful," I managed to say.

Without waiting for a response, Bianca walked past me and knocked gently on the door.

"Cassian?”

"Come in," his voice called out immediately.

She slipped inside, and the door clicked shut behind her,I stayed where I was, staring at the closed door and telling myself they were only discussing business.

Five minutes passed then ten.

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, trying to ignore the growing urge to walk away.

I had almost talked myself out of my own anxiety when a woman's soft, genuine laugh drifted through the door and then, Cassian laughed too….a relaxed, easy sound I hadn't heard from him at home in years.

My hand slowly reached for the doorknob, then stopped then the laughter came again.

For four years, I'd never been afraid to walk into my husband's office.

But in that moment, I wasn't sure I wanted to see what was waiting on the other side of the door.