Chapter Three: The Unexpected

His brows tightened the moment the words left Cassienne’s mouth. The calmness he had worn just seconds ago vanished instantly. His expression darkened, his nostrils flared, and his lips twitched—not with confusion or concern, but with irritation and anger.

“Why are you suddenly talking about us having a baby?” he snapped.

His voice was sharp, cutting through the small courage Cassienne had gathered. She hadn’t meant them. She was referring to the other woman—the one carrying his child. But explaining it felt pointless. If he wasn’t willing to talk about Tina’s pregnancy, pressing him would only make him resent her more.

“You know what this marriage was about before you agreed to it,” he continued.

His tone grew harsher, cold enough to steal the air from her chest. Once again, she had no defense—not even a single word.

“Stop listening to my mother for once in your life. Don’t let her deceive you.” He didn’t stop there. “And may I remind you that the only thing you can get from this marriage is money, nothing else.”

The words struck her like a slap—hard and merciless.

Cassienne’s lips parted. She wanted to tell him she had seen him with Tina. She wanted to say she had heard the doctor. That she knew about the pregnancy. She wanted to say something—anything.

But her voice failed her.

That was who she had become—a woman who stayed silent, who swallowed every insult, the woman who endured cruelty because she didn’t know how to fight back. No… because she loved him.

Her eyes burned. Hot tears blurred her vision. No matter how much she blinked, they kept forming. They always came.

“That’s unfair,” she whispered. The words escaped before she could stop them. “You shouldn’t have said that to me.”

It was the first time in five years that her pain slipped through. The first time she spoke against him. A tiny part of her hoped he would soften, that he would understand she wasn’t heartless.

But his next words shattered her.

He stepped closer, standing directly in front of her, towering over her with zero gentleness in his eyes.

“Stop those tears and don’t make me the villain here. It’s not fair.”

His tone held no warmth. No softness, not even polite restraint.

“Try to see this from my point of view, Cassienne. I didn’t ask for this. And don’t bring this matter up in front of me again.”

Then he turned, walked past her, and climbed the stairs without looking back. Leaving her alone in the kitchen.

The tears fell freely now—hot and relentless. Cassienne pressed a hand over her mouth to muffle the sob that escaped her mouth. The pain was too sharp and too heavy for her to take. Her heart felt shredded, piece by piece.

His words were always final. To him, they were law.

Gathering the little dignity she had left, she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. She knew she was broken. She knew she had made foolish choices. But crying over spilled milk wouldn’t change anything.

She picked up her bag and the prescription paper from the table, then walked upstairs to her room—her lonely room.

Inside the spacious bedroom, she didn’t bother changing. She crawled straight into bed and curled up tightly. Her head throbbed with a painful ache. All she wanted was to rest and forget the conversation.

At some point, she fell asleep deeply, as though her body was trying to escape reality.

A soft knock at her door woke her up. Cassienne blinked in confusion, realizing she had overslept. She pushed herself up and opened the door.

Mrs. Rawlings, the housekeeper stood there, her gentle, motherly face full of concern.

“Good morning, Mrs. Tremont. How do you feel now?”

“Good morning, Mrs. Rawlings. I’m fine. Thank you.”

“I heard you weren’t feeling well,” she said. “Mr. Tremont instructed me to make some soup for you. Should I bring it inside, or will you come out?”

Cassienne let out a small scoff and shook her head. The familiar ache tugged at her chest. This—this tiny gesture—was what confused her every time. These small acts he delivered through others. These crumbs of concern she always mistaken for affection.

But now… she knew better not to fall for it again.

“I’ll come out in a few minutes. Thank you.”

Mrs. Rawlings nodded and left.

Cassienne went into the bathroom, took a quick shower, dressed for work, and then realized how late she was. Panic shot through her, because Peter—the development manager—would not take this lightly.

She grabbed the soup, drank as much as she could, and hurried out of the house.

The moment she arrived at the office, she understood from the looks on everyone’s faces that something was wrong, but couldn't tell exactly what.

“Good morning,” she greeted.

They replied politely, but their uneasy silence spoke louder than words could.

Everyone at Auralink System knew she was married to the CEO, but they also knew their relationship at work was strictly professional. No closeness. No special treatment. For two years she had lived this strange duality—wife at home, employee at work.

“Cassienne.”

Her stomach dropped at the sound of Peter Steel’s voice behind her. She turned slowly, expecting his usual stern expression—but surprisingly, his face was softer today.

“I didn’t expect you to come to work today,” he said. “I was told you were sick. The boss said you might not come in.”

So he had mentioned her.

“But since you’re here,” Peter continued, “come with me. I need to introduce you to the new Director of Engineering.”

So that was it.The reason for the look on her colleagues faces.

Cassienne felt a faint lift in her spirits. Maybe this new director would finally support fresh ideas. Maybe her proposal would finally get approval.

She followed Peter toward the grand office door, the one with the golden inscription:

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING

Peter knocked once. Cassienne straightened her posture, trying to push away her heaviness.

The door opened and they stepped inside the opulent office.

She wasn’t expecting the new director to be a woman.

“Miss Arcley,” Peter said.

Cassienne’s heart stopped.

Arcley?

Did he just say Arcley?

As in Tina Arcley?

Tina lifted her head from the documents she was reviewing and looked directly at Cassienne.

“Hello, Cassienne. It’s good to see you again.” She smiled—but Cassienne knew that smile. She knew the venom behind it.

Cassienne stood frozen as anger and humiliation rushed through her. So now Dreston had brought Tina here to the company? To her department? To stand above her?

Was this how much he despised her?

Tears threatened, but Cassienne blinked hard. Not here, not in front of Tina. She refused to break again.

“Is she my new PA?” Tina asked Peter casually.

The words hit Cassienne like a blow to the chest.

Her? Cassienne? As Tina’s assistant?

Her world shattered all over again.