Mag-log inBy the time Cassie arrived at the venue Nathaniel had chosen, he was already waiting.
He stood near the entrance, tall and composed, dressed in a tailored luxury suit that softened the sharpness usually associated with him.
Tonight, he looked less like a surgeon accustomed to blood and pressure and more like a corporate magnate, controlled, polished. The ambient lighting caught the fine lines of his jacket and the quiet confidence in his posture.
Before the valet could re
“Say that again.”Franklin’s voice dropped into something slow and controlled, but the tension beneath it stretched tight enough to snap at any moment as he moved forward, each step unhurried yet heavy with intent, the kind of presence that didn’t need raised volume to feel threatening because it was already written all over his posture, his gaze, the way his shoulders squared as if preparing for impact.Frederick didn’t retreat, didn’t even flinch, and instead allowed a faint smile to settle across his lips, one that carried no warmth, no trace of the brotherly bond they once shared, only the sharp edge of someone who had already accepted that whatever existed between them had long been destroyed beyond repair.That bond, the on
Franklin caught it before anyone else did, the faint shimmer gathering in Cassie’s eyes, the way her composure wavered just for a split second before she tried to lock it down again, and without hesitation, he stepped in, pulling her into his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world, like protecting her wasn’t even a decision he had to think about.His hand rested firmly against her back, grounding, steady, while his voice carried across the room with quiet authority.“Whether she forgives you or not isn’t the issue here,” he said, his tone calm but unmovable. “She wants custody of Rose.”The words hit Frederick like a physical blow. He stumbled back a step, his balance falter
Cassie didn’t say a word.She didn’t rush to correct anyone, didn’t step forward to explain, didn’t even bother to defend herself. Instead, she simply turned her gaze toward Franklin, calm and composed, like she already knew he would handle it exactly the way he wanted to.And just like that, Franklin broke into a slow, satisfied smile, the kind that carried both pride and quiet triumph.“Ever wondered why I refused to give you the retailer’s contact?” he asked casually, his tone almost playful, like he was about to tell a story everyone else should’ve figured out a long time ago.He didn’t even wait for an answer.“Because there was no retailer,” he continued, his voice sharpening just enough to land properly. “Cassie isn’t just involved, she’s the mind behind everything. The perfumes, the jewelry, the health restaurant, and CasRoe Wellness Center too.”The words dropped like a bomb.“I knew it!” Asher burst out, his voice loud enough to cut through the tension as Sienna stood there,
Sienna had always told herself she could take anything thrown at her, that nothing could outweigh the humiliation she had suffered tonight, but the moment her eyes landed on Violet standing there like she had walked straight out of some untouched, glowing dream, wearing that soft, effortless smile that made everything around her feel dim in comparison, something inside Sienna cracked so violently it almost felt audible.It wasn’t just jealousy, nor something simple she could brush off with bitterness or excuses. It was deeper, uglier, rooted in years of quiet resentment that had been building without her even realizing just how massive it had become.All her life, Sienna had questioned it over and over again, replaying the same unfair script in her head like it owed her an explanation. Why did Violet get everything that should have been hers? Why did the world seem to bend for her so easily, as if it recognized her as something rare, something worth protecting?Violet had beauty that
Sienna kept nodding like a child who had been caught red-handed and knew there was no escape left.The pressure closing in around her was suffocating, and she could feel it from every direction. One more lie right now might completely ruin whatever was left of her life, and for the first time, she understood that she had run out of room to manipulate her way out of anything.“She’s right,” Sienna said finally, her voice weak, almost breaking under the weight of everything. “Actually… they’re all right,” she added, her lips trembling as she forced the truth out. “I never wanted to marry you. I was scared of what you might do to me if I refused, so I faked the sickle cell results… and I set Cassie up.”For a brief moment, relief washed over Cassie like a quiet wave. After everything, after all the lies and schemes, Sienna was finally telling the truth without being dragged through every piece of evidenc
Pearl was the first to break the silence, her voice shaky but steady enough to carry across the room. “Mr. Jones, you need to understand something first. I wasn’t involved in any of it. I’m only going to repeat exactly what Sienna told me to do.”“You’re not saying anything,” Sienna snapped from where she stood, her voice sharp with panic, but the moment Frederick shot her a hard look, the words died in her throat and she clamped her mouth shut.“Go on,” Frederick said, his tone firm, leaving no room for interruptions.Pearl inhaled slowly, like she was gathering courage piece by piece, then began. “She told me to call Cassie and tell her about your affair,” she said, and the moment those words landed, something clicked inside Cassie’s head.Cassie’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Pearl. “So you’re the so-called whistleblower?”Pearl dropped her gaze, sh
Cassie stood there for a long moment after the shower, steam still clinging to her skin, the bathroom mirror fogged up like it was trying to hide her from herself, and she drew in a slow breath that did absolutely nothing to steady the storm rolling around in her chest.With Franklin and T
By the time Franklin’s jet finally touched down in Manhattan, a heavy kind of exhaustion had already settled deep into his chest, not the physical sort that came from long flights or lack of sleep, but the emotional weight that built up when a man carried too many memories, too many secrets, and
“Nathan… is it true?”Debbie’s voice trembled with fragile hope, her eyes searching his face as though the entire world might rearrange itself depending on what he said next.There was vulnerability there, raw and unguarded, and for a fraction of a second it almost looked like Nathan might falter u
“It is one of the men who helped us get home the other day. He introduced himself as Jonathan,” Victoria finally confessed, her gaze hovering between the everyone presence but avoiding that of Cassie.Cassie’s brows arched in interest, recognizing the significance behind the name and the courage it







