All Chapters of The Perfect Wife’s Affair : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

SERENA POVI drove home through the quiet morning streets in a complete daze, my hands trembling against the leather steering wheel.I had never intended to stay at Cassian’s penthouse for the entire night. That was one of the golden rules I had promised myself I would never break. A few hours of secret passion was dangerous enough, but sleeping in his bed? Waking up wrapped in his arms while the sun came up?My mind was a tangled mess of feelings I didn't even know how to begin sorting through, and a dark, suffocating wave of guilt was fighting against a sudden, terrifying warmth in my chest. I wasn't just using Cassian for physical thrill anymore. I was falling for him. I was actually falling for my husband's brother, and the sheer reality of it frightened me down to my very soul.I pulled into the long driveway of our estate, hit the garage remote, and parked my Mercedes in its usual spot. The house was dead quiet as I stepped inside, the grand marble foyer feeling colder and e

~SERENA POV~"Hey, Lora," I said, forcing my voice to sound as steady as possible as I pressed the phone against my ear."Serena! Finally!" Lora’s energetic voice exploded through the speaker. "Where have you been? I feel like I haven't seen your face in a month!""I've just been... busy," I lied softly, staring at the empty silk sheets of my bed."Well, you're not allowed to be busy today," Lora insisted. "We haven't hung out in forever. Come get lunch with me downtown. There's a new Italian spot I've been dying to try."I hesitated for a second. My mind was still reeling from Ryker's terrifying FaceTime call. My pulse was hammering, and my stomach was twisted into knots. I still couldn't stop wondering if Ryker knew something about Cassian.Part of me wanted to call Cassian immediately to ask him what was going on, but I knew that was a bad idea. Every time I was around Cassian, my judgment melted away. I couldn't think clearly when it came to him.I needed a distraction. I needed

~SERENA POV~The sharp, terrifying sound of Ryker’s ringtone echoed through the kitchen, shattering the air like broken glass.I reacted instinctively, shoving my hands against Cassian’s chest and pushing him away. My heart was slamming against my ribs so hard I could barely breathe."Mute the TV! Mute it now!" I hissed in a frantic whisper.Cassian quickly grabbed the remote from the island and silenced the blaring news broadcast.I scrambled across the slick hardwood floor, looking around the room in a total panic. Cassian’s penthouse had distinct luxury finishes, the imported marble, the modern brass fixtures, the high-end cabinetry. If Ryker saw any of it on the camera, I was dead.I backed myself into a plain, blank corner of the kitchen wall where there were no details, no cabinets, and no artwork, just a completely neutral white backdrop. I took two deep, ragged breaths, slapping my cheeks with my cold hands to force the color back into my face. I squeezed my eyes shut for

~SERENA POV~When I opened my eyes, bright morning sunlight was streaming through the living room curtains.For a second, I was disoriented. I wasn't in my cold, massive bed. I was lying on the leather couch in the living room, wrapped tightly in a blanket. I lifted the collar of the oversized shirt I was wearing and took a deep breath.The woodsy, rich scent of Cassian hit my nose, and my chest instantly tightened.I sat up quickly, reaching for my phone on the coffee table. I unlocked the screen, expecting to see a missed call or at least a text message from Cassian. He had promised he was going to look into the corporate leak and keep me updated. He had promised he would protect me.My screen was completely empty. No texts. No calls.I pressed his contact name and dialed his number. The phone rang four times before going straight to his automated voicemail."Call me back, please," I whispered to the recording, hanging up with a small frown.I stood up and walked to the kitchen, m

~SERENA’S POV~How many other women were there?It couldn't just be her. A man like Cassian didn't just have one secret woman. How many other names were stored in his phone? How many other apartments did he visit when he wasn't playing the protective savior with me? Five? Ten? A dozen?The realization hit me like a physical blow to the chest, knocking all the air out of my lungs.Cassian had never lied to me about who he was. Not really.From the very first night I met him, the entire world had warned me about him. Ryker had warned me. The tabloids had warned me. Rumors had warned me. Cassian himself had explicitly told me what kind of man he was. He was a ruthless, wealthy playboy who took whatever he wanted, used people for his own gain, and walked away without a second thought.He had never promised me exclusivity. He had never spoken the word love. He had never pretended to be a saint.He had never pretended to be anything other than a player.I was the only one to blame for