Chapter 5
The next day, Cassian called.]
“Finally come to your senses?” His deep voice carried genuine joy.[]
I lowered my eyes, hiding the melancholy there.[]
“Yeah. So Cassian, will you help me or not?“]]
“Miss Shaw, how could I ever refuse you?” He chuckled softly, his tone indulgent.[]
After hanging up, I stared at the divorce papers in my hand, along with my wedding ring.[]
I left them both in Victor’s study.[]
Looking around this mansion I’d lived in for five years, when it finally came time to leave, I felt strangely hollow.
I stared at the pale band of skin where my ring had been, rubbing it with bitter irony.
y.l
I was paying the price for my naivety, for knowingly pursuing something impossible from the start.[]
I gathered my documents and looked around one last time.[]
That’s when it hit me–in five years, our only photo together was the awkward, distant pose in our marriage certificate.[]
I laughed quietly to myself. How fitting.
When I got home, my parents were waiting.]
“Sweetheart, we heard you’ve teamed up with the Drakes to go after Hollingsworth assets?” Dad squeezed my shoulder gently.[]
I realized then that since marrying Victor, I’d rarely come home.[]
And my parents‘ first instinct wasn’t to question me, but to comfort me.]
“Yeah, we’re getting divorced. Don’t worry–partnering with the Drakes won’t be a problem.“]
Dad sighed heavily.
“What happened, honey?“]
I looked down, not sure how to explain.]
It wasn’t one huge thing, really. Just a series of small betrayals that finally woke me up.[]
“It’s nothing major. Just a marriage that ran its course. We Shaws don’t dwell on these things.“[]
My parents exchanged a look
“Well, whatever happened, that Hollingsworth boy is the one who screwed up!”
I laughed despite myself, my eyes stinging.
After that day, Cassian and I threw everything we had at stealing Hollingsworth’s domestic partnerships.
We systematically destroyed the joint ventures between our families.[]
Cut off from its lifeline, Hollingsworth Industries was hemorrhaging money.
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Chapter 5
A week later, at Cassian’s private villa.
On the dark sofa, two figures moved together in the dim light.]]
Intimate and desperate.
When I could barely breathe, I pushed Cassian away.
“Wait–Cassian, hold on.”
He paused, lifting his head from the haze of desire. “Don’t want to?“]
I felt awkward. “No, it’s not that. I just… can’t breathe.”
Cassian burst out laughing, burying his face in my neck, his shoulders shaking.
“Thank you.” I knew taking down Hollingsworth had cost him too, despite the family’s size.[]
He smiled lazily.
“Doing things for you? It’s my pleasure.”
I looked down, feeling hollow. “Do you think… maybe if I knew how to act helpless like Nina does, he wouldn’t have hurt me?”
Cassian gripped my shoulders, his expression suddenly serious.
“Don’t you dare put yourself down. He’s the one who lost out.”
wwwww
wwww
wwwwwww
I shook my head, trying to banish Victor’s image from my mind.
“Cassian, I want to be with you.“]
His face went rigid, raw desire flashing in his eyes so intensely it scared me.]
I tilted my head. “But Victor and I aren’t officially divorced yet. Are you sure about this?”
Cassian laughed softly. “Like I said–I’d be honored to be your side piece.”
Then he leaned down.
The curtains swayed in the breeze all night long.
From the sofa to the bedroom, we barely stopped.[]
The next morning, I woke up feeling like I’d been taken apart and put back together wrong.
“Bastard!”
“Hmm? Who’s calling me names?” Cassian’s teasing voice came fr
from the bathroom.
wwwwwww
He emerged with just a towel around his waist, his chest bare,
showin
off those broad shoulders and narrow waist.
“Oh, you’re still here?” I felt embarrassed.
Cassian chuckled and came over to ruffle my hair.
“Hollingsworth’s hanging by a thread. Your overseas joint ventures have be
My smile faded
“Good”
bought
by the Smith Group.”
Chapter 5
My phone rang. Victor.
“Madeline, can we talk? Please?” His voice was hoarse, stripped of its usual coldness. “There’s been a misunderstanding.”
I almost laughed out loud.
A misunderstanding?]]
But he was right about one thing–we did need to talk
