completely.“>
Sunlight poured into the dining room, and the smile on Terrence’s face outshone the morning rays.
Right then, I knew that he’d never need that mask again.
After Terrence recovered, the whole D’Angelo family lit up with joy. But his change wasn’t just physical. It touched everything about him.” He treated me like I was his whole world. And ‘lavish‘ didn’t even come close.
First, he bought a luxury cruise ship just for the two of us. Then, he commissioned a custom–built garden villa.
Every stone, every flower, every window? Chosen with me in mind.
One afternoon, we walked the grounds hand in hand, the late light soft on the trees. That’s when he said it.
“When I was a kid, the other boys would throw rocks at me any time I showed up to a banquet.” His voice was quiet, even. “You were the only one who wasn’t afraid. You chased them off.“>
My heart pulled tight.
So that’s why he tried to wipe the blood from my face back then…}
Back when Terrence was still in a wheelchair and I was locked in a dog cage, he knelt down and gently wiped my face clean, while Desmond had him beaten and thrown out like trash.
I remembered it now, crystal clear.§
Word got around fast after our wedding that Desmond had taken a fall–a hard one.
His family didn’t go easy on him.”
That fifty million he stole? It was returned with interest.
He used to brag that my dad’s mining project needed the Caldwell name to proceed. The next day, Dad cut ties with them.
Caldwell Industries tanked. Their stock collapsed. They lost over a billion in less than a week.}
Vincent Caldwell, Desmond’s father, was so furious that he beat Desmond so badly that he broke his leg.}
Then came the scandal.
News of Desmond and Gwen spread through Metropolis like gasoline on a fire.
Margaret Caldwell, who’d always despised Desmond’s mother, cracked. She demanded that Gwen get rid of the baby. Gwen? She vanished without a trace.
Some said she went underground to protect the child, and others said she ran to avoid the fallout. No one knew for sure.
I didn’t expect to see Desmond again. Not anytime soon.
But then, he showed up.
That day, I went to a private club to pick up Terrence. The halls were quiet and dimly lit.
And there was Desmond. Standing outside a private room, pale and still like a statue.
From inside, I heard Gwen’s laugh. Sharp. Mocking.
I paused and glanced through the cracked door.
She was sprawled on a velvet lounge chair like she owned the place. Legs crossed, one hand spinning a glass of red wine.
“So, someone asked, “why haven’t you been seen with that Caldwell guy lately?“!
“Desmond?” Gwen snorted. “He’s just a useless bastard. I only hung around because he’s halfway decent–looking and kept acting like he was the Caldwell heir.“>
i
“What about the baby…?” her friend asked, voice cautious.
Gwen rolled her eyes. “Please. There was never a baby. I faked it. I figured I could squeeze a few perks out of him. Turns out, he’s a complete loser. He couldn’t even handle Cassandra Mercier.”}
She took a long sip of wine and smiled, cruel and smug.
“I heard his mom was nuts,” Gwen added, tapping her nail against the glass. “Didn’t Margaret beat her in public? You think I’m gonna tie myself to that circus of a bloodline?“}
Outside, Desmond didn’t move. His fists were clenched so tight his knuckles had gone white.
He looked like someone had carved the air out of him, as if just breathing hurt.
Inside, Gwen was still going.
TI just fall w
10:19 AM
Inside, Gwen was still going.”
“I’ll just tell him I miscarried in a few days,” she said, swirling the wine with a self–satisfied smile. Whatever. He’s trash. The whole lot of them…”
Then she leaned in and whispered something to her friend.
The other girl burst out laughing.
That was enough.
I turned to leave.
But Desmond chased after me.
“Cassie…” His voice cracked, raw in a way I hadn’t heard since before the cage.§
I didn’t stop walking.
Just then, Desmond caught up and grabbed my wrist. “Wait!”
I spun around, yanked my arm back, and laughed sharply.”
“Desmond,” I said flatly, “after everything you’ve done, what could you possibly have left to say?”
His face was ashen. Eyes sunken. Mouth trembling.
“Cassie… I haven’t stopped thinking about you. Not for one second these past few days.”
I cocked my head, voice dipped in steel. “Let me guess. You just found out your precious Gwen was lying through her teeth, and now you think I’ll take you back?“}
Usmiled without warmth. “Life doesn’t work that way.”
“No! That’s not it!” He stepped closer, desperate now. “She tricked me. Lied to me. I didn’t know. All these years, I-“§
He cut himself off.
Because his eyes locked onto something behind me.}
I turned.
And there was Terrence. He was walking toward us, strong and steady.
No wheelchair. No cane.
Just steady, strong steps.
His posture was perfect. His presence was calm and unshakable.§
