LOGIN“You know what’s really strange, Cassie?” Drake said slowly, his voice lowering as if he were sharing some dangerous secret. “It’s the way powerful billionaires seem to wrap themselves around your fingers like obedient little pets.”Cassie’s spine stiffened instantly. She lifted her gaze to him, sharp and cutting. “Are you one of them?” she asked coldly.Drake scoffed and shook his head. His lips curled into something close to a smirk. “For a moment, I honestly thought Sebastian would leave his wife for you. Then I wondered if it would be Mr. Roth instead.”Cassie blinked. “What are you talking about?” Confusion clouded her eyes, but beneath it was something darker, unease.“At the gentlemen’s club,” Drake continued casually, like he wasn’t detonating a bomb, “Franklin went completely berserk because of you. He even punched me.”Cassie’s heart stuttered. “Why?”“Because I made you drink too much,” Drake said, watching her closely, “and he was the one who carried you to the hospital.”
“Why can’t I be here?” Drake asked, like it was the most normal thing in the world for him to invade her personal space without warning.“Drake,” she said coolly, her voice tight but steady, “it’s polite to book an appointment before coming to see me.” She gestured vaguely around her office, the floor-to-ceiling windows, the polished desk, the unmistakable air of authority she now carried.“My schedule is packed today. If this is business, my assistant will handle it. If it’s personal…” she paused, locking eyes with him, “…then get. Out.”Drake stared at her, caught somewhere between irritation and admiration. She wasn’t the Cassie he remembered, the woman who would do went into great lengths to secure an investment from the Blackridge Maritime Group.This Cassie was sharper. Colder. Untouchable. And somehow, that only made him want her more.She’d changed since the launch. Everyone could see it. Success had wrapped itself around her spine and straightened it. And the more she played
“Nathan, I think I’m gonna have to call you back,” Cassie said, rubbing her temple as her thoughts tangled into a mess. “I need to figure out what all this is about.”“Please,” Nathan cut in quickly. “Just give me a minute. There’s something else.”Cassie exhaled slowly, still reeling from the shock of that insane investment amount. Ten billion didn’t even feel real. It felt like a typo that somehow slipped into her life. “Okay,” she said at last. “I’m listening.”“Good,” Nathan replied, sounding relieved. “I was hoping to ask if you’re free this weekend. I’ll be in Atherton, and I’d really like to have dinner with you.”Cassie smiled without realizing it. Franklin had already mentioned he’d be home over the weekend, which meant Tristan would be well taken care of. “Sure,” she said warmly. “I’ll look forward to it.”“But,” Nathan added quickly, stopping her before she could end the call, “there’s something else you should know.”Cassie’s smile faded slightly. “What is it?” she asked,
“Doctor Cross,” Franklin said calmly into the phone, his voice smooth and perfectly measured.On the other end of the line, Nathaniel answered just as casually, even a little amused.“Mr. Roth, your massive investment and the level of trust you’ve shown in my abilities honestly, it’s insane. I promise you, the returns are going to be phenomenal. And if I ever get the chance to meet you in person, dinner’s on me.”Franklin smiled slowly, the kind of smile that never reached his eyes. ‘If only you knew.’ he thought. If Nathaniel had any idea what kind of trap he was happily stepping into, he wouldn’t sound so confident.“I look forward to it, Dr. Cross,” Franklin replied smoothly.Nathaniel didn’t hesitate. “Then let’s make it this weekend.”“Yeah,” Franklin agreed. “This weekend works. I’ll send you the time and date.”There was a brief pause before Nathaniel added, “If you don’t mind, could we do it in Atherton? I have a few other business matters I need to handle there.”Franklin’s j
The moment Franklin landed in Chicago, he didn’t waste a second. Before he’d even fully settled into the car, he had Frederick on the phone.“Fred, where are you?” Franklin asked casually. “I’m in town. Short trip.”There was a brief pause on the other end before Frederick replied, sounding distracted. “Frank, I’m on my way to my parents’ place. I need to pick Rose up and get her ready for school. I’ll catch up with you later.”Franklin’s lips curved slightly. “No need. I’ll meet you there. I’ve got a gift for Rose.”Silence.Frederick frowned, trying to process that. “You… have a gift for Rose?”“Yeah,” Franklin said easily. “I’m like ten minutes away.”Frederick hung up feeling oddly unsettled, and by the time he pulled into his parents’ driveway, chaos had already erupted inside.“I’m not hungry! I won’t eat!” Rose’s little voice echoed through the house, sharp and stubborn.Frederick crouched in front of her, his heart sinking at the familiar scene. “Rose,” he said softly, trying
“You monster. You tricked me into this,” Cassie snapped, the words scraping out between clenched teeth as if she had to force every single one past her anger.The mask finally peeled off her face, raw and unfiltered, and she lunged for the contract on the table. Her fingers were already curling, ready to tear it into useless shreds, when Franklin calmly stepped in and plucked it away like he’d expected the move all along.“Come on,” he said lightly, as if they were discussing something harmless. “You can talk to him properly in the office. I just don’t like him calling you in the middle of the night.”His lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “After all, I’m responsible for you now. And do you have any idea how happy your adopted parents will be when they find out I’m taking such good care of you?”Cassie pushed herself up from the chair so fast it scraped loudly against the floor. Her jaw tightened until it ached, her hands curling into fists at her sides. “Monster,”







