LOGINBy 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
Even as Sienna’s voice lingered in the air, fragile and desperate, Frederick’s attention never once drifted away from Cassie, his gaze locked onto her like she was the only thing anchoring him to reality, like everything else in the room had faded into background noise that didn’t matter anymore.His lips parted, ready to respond, but before he could even get a word out, Violet cut in smoothly, her voice calm, almost amused, like she had been waiting for the perfect moment to step in.“If a leopard can lose its spots,” she said lightly, tilting her head with that same effortless composure that always made people uneasy, “then maybe Sienna can change too.” Her lips curved faintly, something sharp hiding beneath the softness. “But since you’ve got the chance right now, run.”The room broke.Laughter rippled through the space, some quiet, some outright loud, the kind that didn’t even try to hide itself, and every single sound of it felt like a slap against Sienna’s skin, like she was bei
Franklin saw it happening in real time, the way Frederick’s words backed Cassie into a corner that wasn’t physical but emotional, the kind that forced answers out whether she wanted to give them or not, and even though he could have stepped in, could have cut it off before it went any further, he didn’t.Because a part of him needed to hear it too.That truth sat heavy in his chest, uncomfortable and unavoidable, because for all the strength he carried, for everything he had built and controlled in his life, there was one thing that had always unsettled him in ways he never openly admitted.Love.It wasn’t just the feeling itself, but the uncertainty that came with it, the lingering question of whether what he had fought so hard to earn could ever truly outweigh something that had once existed so naturally between two people.Franklin had worked for Cassie’s love, had put in the time, the patience, the effort, building something piece by piece unti
“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
Veronica leaned closer, cheeks pink with excitement. “Do you know him?” she whispered as if revealing a forbidden secret. “That’s Franklin Roth, the richest man in Atherton, CEO of Titan Capital Group.”Thelma paused mid-sip, her eyes widening the moment the name registered.“This isn’t even his kin
Cassie was mad, genuinely mad, but she had no idea how to tell him without sounding dramatic or ungrateful.Nathaniel wasn’t just her boyfriend-to-be; he was the one pouring hours he didn’t even have into creating the cure for Scarlet. He was helping her. He was choosing her.So how could she open
Everyone feared Franklin Roth. People trembled when he entered a room, executives stuttered, seasoned negotiators folded.So Tristan couldn’t understand it. Why Miss Munroe, of all people, stood there unbothered, arms crossed, not even blinking at his father’s presence.“Dad,” Tristan whispered lou
Franklin Roth was minutes away from leaving for Manhattan when something on the monthly report froze him in place.A blinking alert.A transfer of ten billion dollars.His brows pulled together instantly. He didn’t remember approving that. But the system showed his confirmation, which meant it had







