《Dumped by the Heir, Claimed by his Brother 》全部章節：第 11 章 - 第 20 章

Cassie's breath caught. "What?""Just—" Leo paused, choosing his words carefully. "Be careful. With him, with yourself. I think he likes you and he thinks so too.”Before Cassie could respond, Leo stepped into the elevator and was gone.She stood there, frozen, Leo's words echoing in her head.I've never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you when you aren't looking.What did that even mean?Cassie turned slowly to find Dom still in his chair, watching her with those calculating eyes. His expression was carefully neutral but his knuckles were white around his glass."Leo's great," Cassie said, trying to sound normal."He likes you." Dom's voice was flat. "He doesn't like most people.""I like him too. He's easy to talk to.""Easy, woman" Dom said, and there was definitely an edge there now.Cassie crossed to the couch, suddenly aware of the tension crackling in the air. "What now? Are you jealous?""No," Dom said too quickly."You are." Cassie felt a smile tugging at her lip

They ended up back on the couch, talking into the early hours about everything and nothing. She felt safe talking to him after the conversation earlier. She felt like she also owed him some level of vulnerability."I forgot who I was," she said quietly. "Or maybe I never really knew. I spent so long being what everyone else wanted that I lost track of what I wanted.""And what do you want now?" Dom asked.Cassie looked at him, at this complicated, damaged man who'd somehow become the most honest person in her life."I want to matter," she said. "On my own terms. I want power and respect and the ability to walk into any room without shrinking myself. I want—"She stopped, not sure how to finish."What?" Dom pressed gently."I want this to be real," Cassie admitted.Dom's hand found hers again in the darkness, squeezing tight."You are real, even this is real" he said. "At least for me, it has been for a while now."Cassie's heart stuttered. "For a while? How long?,""Doesn't matter." D

Dom's hand was gripping the doorframe so tight his knuckles had gone white.Marcus stepped back immediately, hands raised. "We were just talking.""Looked like more than talking to me," Dom said, his voice cold as ice."Dom, it's fine," Cassie said quickly, moving toward him. "He just wanted to—""To what?" Dom interrupted, his eyes never leaving Marcus. "To convince you this is all a mistake and plant seeds of doubt? To get you alone and work his manipulation?""I wasn't—" Marcus started."Get the hell away from my fiancée," Dom said, his voice dropping to something deadly quiet. "Now."The tension was suffocating. Cassie didn't want people gathering around again. They had already had enough scandal for one night.Marcus looked between them, something like realization dawning on his face."You think this is real," he said slowly. "You actually think he cares about you?"Marcus laughed but it sounded bitter. "Oh this is perfect. My screwup brother actually fell for my ex. Does she kno

The moment they stepped into the board room, the atmosphere changed. It was cold and imposing and with a long mahogany table, leather chairs and high windows overlooking Manhattan. Gregory and Eleanor sat at the head of the table, their expressions carefully neutral but their eyes sharp with assessment. Marcus was there too, positioned to Gregory's right like the heir apparent he still thought he was. Vanessa sat beside him, looking uncomfortable.Richard Reeves was already seated on the opposite side, his tablet open and his expression all business.Dom pulled out a chair for Cassie before taking the seat beside her. The gesture was automatic, gentlemanly and several people noticed."Well," Gregory said, breaking the silence. "Now that we're all here, let's begin."He opened a folder in front of him, scanning the contents with the same expression he probably used to review quarterly earnings."The purpose of this meeting is to address the engagement between Cassie Reeves and my son

Cassie turned slowly and walked back to the table. She sat down stiffly, arms crossed, glaring at him. Dom set the roses down carefully and took the seat across from her. For a moment, he just looked at her, his expression open and vulnerable in a way she'd never seen before."What Marcus said is true," Dom started. "I did notice you before your engagement to him. I knew you even befire that charity gala two years ago"Cassie sat quietly paying rapt attention. “I had liked you but nobody liked a playboy so I watched from a distance. And then shortly after, Marcus introduced you to his parents like you were a prize he'd won, and I watched you shrink yourself to fit what they wanted. I hated watching you lose your smile bit by bit."Cassie's throat felt tight but she didn't interrupt."So yes. I was attracted to you and I might have told my brother that I was going to take you away from him if he didn't value what he had." Dom leaned forward, his eyes never leaving hers. "But over the y