All Chapters of Wanted By Josh Carter: His Father, My Lover : Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

Cassie POVThe days flew by after the dress fitting, and suddenly it was the night of the bridal shower, or bachelorette party, depending on what you wanted to call it.Beckie and I had spent the whole week planning, chasing every detail, and now everything was ready in my old apartment, that cozy little place in Chicago’s rougher side. It was so different from Josh’s fancy apartment, where I’d been living lately, with its huge windows and magazine-worthy furniture.Here, the walls were a bit faded, the sofa was old but comfy, and the dining table creaked if you leaned too hard. Still, I loved this place. It was where I’d been myself before Josh, before the pregnancy, before everything changed. Bringing the shower here felt right, a way to connect with who I was while celebrating who I was becoming.I was in the living room, checking the guest list in my notebook, heart beating a little fast. I’d invited a bunch of people: my mom, obviously, who wouldn’t miss it for the world; Venus,

Cassie’s POVThe apartment was a beautiful disaster. Empty bottles of rosé and champagne lined the kitchen counter like trophies. Cupcake wrappers littered every surface. Fairy lights twinkled lazily from the ceiling, half of them already starting to droop. The playlist had moved into the slow, sexy zone, songs you only play when everyone is a little drunk and a lot happy.I was curled up on the old couch, legs tucked under me, Kitty snoring softly in my lap. Her tiny head rested on my belly like she was already guarding the baby. I kept stroking her silky ears while the conversation flowed around me.We had abandoned the floor ages ago and taken over every piece of furniture. Venus was in the armchair like a queen, shoes off, feet on the ottoman. Ava and Laura shared the loveseat, legs tangled under a blanket. Beckie had claimed the big beanbag and was lying on her stomach, chin propped on her hands, wine glass dangerously close to spilling.The mood was perfect: loose, warm, a lit

Cassie’s POV The apartment was still warm and glowing when I noticed the shift in the air. We had been laughing for hours. Kitty was asleep on my lap, the fairy lights twinkled, the last bottle of rosé was almost empty, and the stories had turned soft and sweet. Then Laura’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and her smile died. She slipped out to the balcony without a word. Ava followed two seconds later, already whispering urgently into her own phone. Something cold crawled up my spine. I set Kitty down gently and walked to the sliding door. I told myself I was just checking on them. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. But the second I got close enough, Laura’s voice sliced through the glass like a knife. “Gideon just called,” she said, voice shaking. “They’re not at some rooftop bar. They’re in a limo full of hookers right now. Strippers, escorts, whatever you want to call them. Spencer planned the whole thing. Full-on bachelor party on wheels.” Ava’s hand flew to he

Cassie’s POVI slammed the door of my tiny apartment so hard the walls shook.The second the lock clicked, everything inside me collapsed.I ran straight to the bedroom, yanked open the drawer where I’d hidden the beautiful white lingerie sets I’d spent weeks choosing for tomorrow night. Lace, silk, satin; things I’d imagined Josh peeling off me slowly while he told me I was his wife. I grabbed the first one and tore it in half. Then the second. Then the corset, the garters, the stupid little silk robe. Fabric ripped like screams in the quiet.If Venus still had my wedding dress at the atelier, I would have driven there right now and shredded that too.Tears were pouring down my face, hot and angry and endless. I hated him. I hated myself for believing him. I hated every second I’d spent picturing our future while he was letting strangers grind on him hours before our wedding.My mom and Beckie were the only ones who hadn’t left yet. Mom hovered in the doorway, eyes red, looking lik

Third Person POVThe living room of Cassie’s little South Side apartment had never felt so crowded. Four billionaire men in ruined tuxedo shirts took up every corner of the small space like they did not know how to sit in normal furniture. Kitty slept curled in Rose’s lap on the old armchair, tiny paws twitching in dreams. Rose kept stroking the dog’s white fur with slow, steady movements, but her eyes stayed locked on the closed bedroom door.Beckie stood by the window, arms folded so tight her knuckles were white. Every few seconds she glanced at the clock on the wall. The hands had barely moved since Josh and Cassie disappeared behind that door after the ridiculous serenade.Spencer broke the silence first. He was sprawled across the couch, shoes off, one foot on the coffee table. “They have been in there forever. You think they’re already making up the fun way?”Elliott reached over from the other end of the couch and smacked the back of Spencer’s head hard enough to make a s