Chapter 12
“Who the hell do you think you are, hitting Caleb?!” Cassian’s face was thunderous as he rushed over and scooped the crying boy up from the floor.
Verena immediately went pale, scrambling to explain herself. []
“No no no, Cassian, wait! Let me explain! Caleb was being-“]
“Caleb was being what?!” Cassian cut her off, his voice booming through the mansion. []
“He’s the heir of Thornwell family! He can do whatever he wants! What gives you the right to treat him like that?!“]
Just then, Caleb started sobbing even harder. “Daddy, Aunt Verena told me that Mommy isn’t my mommy! She said she’s my mommy!“]
“She’s lying, right, Daddy?Verena isn’t my mommy. right?“||]
Cassian’s expression got even darker. He looked at Verena with pure disgust. “What’s this? Aurelia’s been you’re already trying to take her place?”
“No! No, that’s not–Cassian, please let me explain!” Verena’s face went white as a sheet. “I just wanted
to-
–
gone for a few days and
–“0
“Wanted to what?” Cassian’s voice was like ice. “Wanted to become the lady of this house? Wanted my son to call you Mommy?“]
“Well, let me make something crystal fucking clear–that’s never happening. Caleb’s mother is Aurelia, and it will always be Aurelia!“]]
“As for you–you’re some trashy nobody from the sticks. You think you’re good enough to be part of Thornwell family?“]]
“What did you just say?” Verena’s eyes went wide with shock and hurt. “You promised you’d let me claim Caleb as my son!“]
“Yeah, I said that. But I never said you could torture Aurelia! You crossed a line that should never be crossed. Are you trying to get yourself killed?!“]
Cassian’s eyes were bloodshot with rage, and Verena actually took a step back in fear.
“I… I never hurt Mrs. Thornwell. I don’t know what you’re talking about.“]
“You don’t know what I’m talking about? Perfect! Let’s go to my office and refresh your memory about all the shit you’ve pulled!“]
He handed Caleb to one of the maids and dragged Verena upstairs by her arm.[]
The study door slammed shut with a bang that echoed through the house.[]
The staff all looked at each other nervously–they’d never seen Cassian this furious before.[]
Inside the study, Cassian shoved Verena so hard she hit the floor.[]
She winced in pain. “Cassian, you’re hurting me!“]
Cassian let out a bitter laugh. “What?So you do know what pain feels like?”
“Did you think about Aurelia’s pain when you had her kidnapped and beaten half to death?”
Chapter 12
Verena’s face went ashen. She stared up at him, too terrified to speak.[]
“What, nothing to say now?” Cassian walked over and wrapped his hands around her throat. “I know you kidnapped her. I know you got Caleb to drug her. I know you threw her in a basement full of poisonous snakes!“]
“You’re absolutelt an evil?!“]]
His grip tightened, and Verena’s face started turning purple.[]
She clawed at his hands desperately, trying to break free, but he was way stronger than her.
Just when she thought he was actually going to kill her, Cassian suddenly let go.[]
Verena collapsed to the floor, gasping and coughing, one hand clutched to her bruised throat.]
He’d actually tried to strangle her. The man she’d loved for five years had just tried to kill her.[]
All because she’d gone after Aurelia.[]
But he’d told her that Aurelia didn’t matter to him anymore! He’d said that Verena was the only one he cared about![]
Had all of that been lies?
No! It couldn’t be! She hadn’t been wrong about him–she couldn’t have been!]
Ignoring the pain in her throat, Verena crawled toward Cassian on her hands and knees.
