LOGINThe name lingered in Cassie’s mind long after Corrine said it, echoing louder with every passing second until it became impossible to ignore.The Blackridge Maritime Group.It wasn’t just some distant company she had vaguely heard about. It was one of those names that carried weight everywhere, the kind that came up in business conversations with a tone of respect and caution, the kind that didn’t just exist but dominated. And she remembered something else too, something that made her chest tighten as the realization tried to form.There had never been a confirmed CEO, only an acting one.Drake Conner, the assistant CEO who had been running things in place of someone who had never stepped forward to claim the position.Her thoughts spiraled quickly after that, questions piling over each other faster than she could organize them.Was Drake her brother?Her cousin?The weight of it all pressed down on her, heavy
Corrine’s lips curved into a gentle smile as she looked at Adrian, her voice soft but filled with quiet pride as she explained what had happened.“It was Cassie,” she said warmly. “She’s the one who brought Doctor Nathaniel Cross here to perform your surgery.”Adrian’s expression shifted immediately, something deeper than relief settling into his features as his eyes searched the room instinctively.“And where is she?” he asked, his voice still weak but carrying urgency.Corrine didn’t hesitate as she turned to go get her, but before she could take more than a few steps, Frederick moved as well, falling in behind her without asking.Sebastian noticed immediately, his expression tightening as he moved as if to block him, but before he could act, Cassie gave a small shake of her head.“It’s his father too,” she said quietly, her tone calm but final.Sebastian
Cassie didn’t hesitate this time.When Sebastian took her hand, she let him, her fingers relaxing into his grasp as he lifted it slightly, angling it just enough for the light to catch the ring resting on her finger. The gesture wasn’t loud or aggressive, but it didn’t need to be, because the meaning behind it was clear enough on its own.Both Asher and Lucien went quiet almost immediately, the expressions on their faces dimming as the reality they had been trying to ignore settled in fully. Whatever curiosity or interest they had been entertaining moments ago disappeared just as quickly, replaced by something far more restrained.Sebastian’s lips curved with satisfaction as he watched their reactions.“That’s more like it,” he said, clearly pleased, before releasing her hand and walking over to Rose.He crouched down in front of her, his expression softening again in that easy, familiar way as he looked at
A faint smile curved Cassie’s lips as she read the message on her phone, subtle but unmistakable, and that single expression was enough to send a ripple of discomfort through Frederick as he watched her from where he stood.There was something about that smile that didn’t belong to the moment, something private, something meant for someone else, and the realization sat heavily in his chest before he could stop it.Who was making her smile like that? Could it be her husband?The thought didn’t sit right with him, not in any way that made sense, because no matter how much time had passed, no matter how much had changed, there was still a part of him that resisted the idea of Cassie belonging to another man.Cassie’s fingers moved across the screen with ease as she typed her response, her expression calm, untouched by the tension still lingering around her.I’m handling things just fine, she replied. Mom and
Cassie eased out of the embrace slowly, her arms lingering around Rose for a brief moment before she finally straightened, her gaze sweeping across the room with quiet confusion as though she genuinely expected to find someone else nearby who could possibly be the one Frederick was calling.But there wasn’t anyone, not a single person.Which meant, without question, he had been talking to her.“Fred, why exactly would you want to talk to her?” Sienna’s voice came quickly, laced with unease that she couldn’t quite hide as something unpleasant twisted in her stomach, her instincts already warning her that this situation was slipping beyond her control. She turned sharply to Rose as if redirecting things might help. “Rose, come here and stay with me.”But Rose didn’t move.Instead, her small hands tightened around Cassie’s clothes as she pressed herself closer, clinging in a way that carried
“Nat, thank God you’re here,” Cassie said the moment he pulled her into a quick, familiar embrace, her voice carrying a mix of relief and quiet authority that came from knowing exactly what she was doing.“I wanted to go through the proper channel, and I’m glad I did. Debbie told me to make sure you get enough rest, so the second you’re done, I’m taking you straight home.”Nathan pulled back with a small smile, like her words amused him more than anything, and without wasting another second, he lowered himself in front of Rose, his entire demeanor softening, making it obvious he had a completely different side to him outside the operating room.“Well, look at you,” he said warmly, his eyes lighting up as he took her in. “You look more and more like your mom every single day, and I’m telling you right now, one day, I want you to grow up and become a surgeon just like me.”Rose&rs
Cassie didn’t waste her time trying to figure out how Franklin had wriggled his way out of telling Frederick who he’d been talking to on the phone.That was his problem. Her focus was on the perfume samples, and she threw herself into them like she always with her wellness company.She worked with
“Uncle Frank! Did you buy me more princess dresses?” Rose’s voice rang through the house from upstairs, bright and unrestrained, carrying the innocent excitement only a child could possess.She came racing down the steps a second later, her laughter unguarded, two tiny gaps in her smile where baby
Franklin understood business well enough to recognize a gold mine the moment it crossed his path.If Cassie’s perfume company ever went public, a fragrance like this wouldn’t just dominate the market, it would redefine it.The bottle alone was a statement piece, jewel-encrusted and unapologetically
“Are you really going to sleep like that?” Cassie asked as she stepped out of the bathroom, her hair still damp from the shower.With no decent lingerie available, she had settled for a short, casual dress, soft, loose, and practical. It was the kind of thing she normally slept in without thinking t







