Casey P.O.V“I..can.not..breath..ah” I think my dress is trying to take out every freaking living daylight out of me.“Oh don't be so dramatic.I know you will just be fine.” That dumbass screamed from the other side. I should have made him wear this then would have understood what meant by choking by your dress.Adjusting the tight red dress Owen had forced me to try on and when I put on the ridiculous high heels I discovered I could not even bend to buckle up the heels otherwise this fucking thousand dollars dress will rip off .Stupid fucking dress. I choose not to wear heels. No need for another trip to the hospital. This was not me at all. It seems like it had a vendetta against my personal space. I could barely breathe, but here I was, doing a full runway turn in front of the mirror."Owen, this is absurd," I called out from inside the dressing room, tugging at the hem of the dress that refused to go lower than mid-thigh. "I look like a naughty librarian who was asking to be ben
Casey’s POVOwen placed a pile of clothes he had picked out on the counter, setting aside the ridiculous options we had previously rejected. All I could think about was how much this was going to hurt my wallet. He reached into his wallet, pulling out a sleek black credit card, ready to hand it over to the cashier, who had started scanning the items.“Wait, what are you doing?” I asked, placing a hand on his arm. “These are my clothes. I will pay for them.”Before Owen could answer, the cashier announced the total. “Twenty thousand dollars.”My head snapped toward the cashier so fast I might have pulled something. My eyes widened in shock. “Excuse me?”I knew designer clothes were expensive, but twenty thousand? I had not anticipated anything close to that. My stomach dropped. It was more than I could afford right now, and I felt the burn of embarrassment creeping up my neck.I glanced back at Owen, who gave me a tight-lipped smile and passed the card to the cashier, ignoring my prote
Zazu P.O.V.I was lying on the couch, flipping through a magazine when I heard a soft, muffled noise. I closed the magazine to see if I was hearing things or not. I heard that terrible sound of crying again. I thought I was at home alone.When did Casey come back? She left this morning before I came back from work. We did not have much communication in the last few days. I know she is hiding something for me but what? I have no idea.The sound was too faint at first, but soon it turned into something like sobbing that can puncture your ear drums. I sat up straight. It is definitely her.Why is she crying?I set the magazine aside and walked toward her bedroom. I should have brought my ear plugs.My cousin can be a nice and beautiful person but she is a ugly crier ."Casey?" I called softly, knocking on her door. "Are you okay?"There was a beat of silence before she responded, her voice thick and shaky. "I’m fine."I frowned. That did not sound fine at all. "Then why are you sounding li
Casey P.O.V.I was wiping my face with a tissue, trying to rid myself of the traces of my crying session, when my phone started ringing. Zazu, still sitting beside me, leaned forward and glanced at the screen. Her eyes widened in panic."Aunt Avery is calling!" she announced, lifting the phone from the nightstand like it was a live grenade.My eyes shot open, wide in disbelief. My mother. Well there goes my heart in panic mode.Of all times,why now? How did she manage to call at the worst possible moments? Could not she have just waited a few more days?Zazu pushed the phone toward me, but I frantically shook my head, my eyes pleading with her. I mouthed a desperate "No!" and backed away, wanting to be anywhere but here. I looked around the room, trying to think of an escape route, but there was none.Zazu was not having any of it. She shoved the phone back into my hand, giving me a pointed glare that said, Pick up the phone, Casey. It was clear I was not going to win this fight. The p
Owen P.O.VI was doing cardio, and the music system was blaring with loud music. Google, my golden retriever, was sprawled out on the couch, taking his afternoon nap. He had been there since we got back from our run in the park, not a care in the world. Meanwhile, I was sweating through my routine, trying to shake off the tension from the week. I stood up after finishing my push-ups and moved to the dumbbells. The music was so loud that it drowned out everything else. As I lifted the weight, I thought I heard the faint sound of the doorbell ringing. I dismissed the thought, figuring I was just hearing things, and went back to my exercise.But there it was again, some kind of sound, barely audible over the blasting music. I ignored it, deciding to finish my reps before worrying about anything else. Then, out of nowhere, a loud scream rattled the walls of the apartment, somehow cutting through the pounding bass of the music."OWEN BROWN, OPEN THE DAMN DOOR IN TWO MINUTES OR I SWEAR TO G
Casey P.O.V.The tension in the dining room was suffocating as we all sat down to have dinner. I was seated next to Owen, trying my best to appear calm, but the oppressive silence made every bite feel forced. Across from us, Owen's sister, Lauren, picked at her food with little interest, and his mother, Maria, sat at the head of the table, observing everything like a hawk waiting for its prey and that prey might be me .I lifted my fork, aiming for the vegetables on my plate, when Maria broke the silence with a question that immediately set me on edge.“What about your family?” Maria asked, her voice light but laced with curiosity. Her eyes flickered over to Lauren before returning to me, expectant. “You both got engaged so fast. We did not really get a chance to know you or your parents. I would love to know more about you and your family.”My throat immediately tightened, and I tried to suppress the cough that was threatening to escape. This was exactly the conversation I did not wan
Maria’s P.O.V.I sat at the kitchen table, watching Owen and Casey with narrowed eyes. The two of them were acting like a lovesick couple, whispering to each other and exchanging these little glances that would make anyone swoon. But something did not sit right with me. I had raised Owen better than this. He had never kept secrets from me before, and yet, suddenly, this woman appeared out of nowhere, and my son, who runs in the opposite direction every time we bring marriage, suddenly can not wait to get married.What witchcraft did this woman have done to my son? He is not even listening to meThe last time we spoke about Casey, I had found out through a close friend that she had been dating someone else until four months ago. But Owen told me they had been together for eight months. A few days later,after that dinner, they came to me and said they could not lie to me anymore and gave me some weak explanation about how they had lied to everyone and had not gotten together until four m
Casey P.O.V.We were seated at a quiet corner table in the restaurant, the hum of light conversation and the clinking of cutlery filling the air around us. Our server had just taken our orders and walked away when I turned my attention back to Owen, who was sitting across from me, fiddling with the edge of his napkin. "So why this sudden emergency meeting after your mother and sister just left this afternoon?" I asked, taking a sip of my water, watching him over the rim of the glass. God is finally on my side. My mother and uncle had to cancel their plans because of some emergency, otherwise they would be coming today.He sighed, and the sound was heavy, like he’d aged twenty years in one day. "I talked to my mother this evening.""And?" I pressed, sensing something big coming."She hired a private investigator," he said, his voice flat. "To investigate your background. Your career. Your stepfather."I sprayed the water from my mouth directly onto his face in shock. "What?!"Owen scr
Casey P.O.V. The crisp January air brushed against my face as Zazu and I stepped out of the cab in front of the L.A. Stadium. The towering lights of the arena glimmered in the evening sky, and the hum of excitement from the crowd around us buzzed in my ears. I glanced down at my jersey-style top, a shade of blue and white to match the Los Angeles Rams team, and felt a rare sense of anticipation. Zazu adjusted her own jersey, grinning ear to ear as we approached the gates. “Can you believe Mark just handed me these tickets?” Zazu said, practically skipping beside me. “Poor guy. Bet he’s regretting his work emergency right about now.” “Well, his loss is our gain,” I said, laughing as we handed our tickets to the attendant. Once inside, we grabbed a large bucket of buttery popcorn, its warm aroma wafting through the air, and made our way to our seats. The stadium was electric, the roar of the crowd rising as the players from both teams jogged onto the field. I had not been to a footb
Owen P.O.V The Lawyer’s Appointment The hours dragged until it was finally time to meet the lawyer. I arrived early, the sterile waiting room doing little to calm my nerves. The lawyer greeted me with his usual professional demeanor, but his words barely registered. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by the thought of Casey walking through that door and what it would mean for us once the papers were signed. I did not have to wait long. Casey arrived exactly on time, as she always did. She stepped into the room with her usual grace, but there was a tension in her shoulders that was not usually there. Our eyes met briefly before she turned to the lawyer, giving him a polite smile. She was cordial, professional, keeping everything on the surface. I hated it. We sat across from each other at the conference table as the lawyer went over the details, explaining the final steps. My eyes flicked to Casey now and then, but her gaze stayed firmly on the paperwork. “Say something.” The voi
Owen P.O.V The sound of my apartment door clicking shut behind me barely registered as I stepped outside. The morning air was crisp, and the city was already alive with its usual bustle. But it was not the noise or the brisk weather that caught my attention. It was Casey who caught my attention. She was standing a few feet away, next to her car, her arms crossed and her expression frustrated. Her car was off, yet she was not getting inside it. Instead, she was glancing down the road, occasionally stepping forward to flag a passing cab. Each one sped past her, leaving her standing there, tapping her foot on the pavement impatiently. I frowned. What was she doing here, looking for a cab, when her car was right there? Is her car not working? As I watched her wave her hand at yet another cab that did not stop, my new car pulled up. My driver stepped out of the vehicle, holding two Starbucks coffee cups in one hand. The steam rising from the lids told me they were fresh. “Morning, si
Owen P.O.VThe kitchen had always been my sanctuary, a place where chaos transformed into order, where raw ingredients became something greater. Tonight, I hoped it could also be a bridge, a way to reach Casey. She had seen Eva’s public apology, and while it had cleared my name, it had not been enough to erase the hurt I had caused. I wanted to prove to her that my words were not hollow promises, that I truly meant every syllable when I said I’d do whatever it took to earn back her trust.I rolled up my sleeves and surveyed the ingredients laid out on the counter. Casey loved Italian food, especially a good homemade ravioli. I remembered her mentioning it once during one of our passing times. It had been a casual comment, something about how her grandmother, her mother's mother used to make it for special occasions. Back then, I had tucked the information away, never knowing I would use that gun for my benefit ever . But now, it felt like the perfect way to show her I was paying atten
Owen P.O.VShe did not say anything at first, her hand still absently scratching behind Google’s ears. The silence stretched between us, and I felt the weight of her guarded stare. It was as though she was trying to decide whether I was worth her time or effort but I could not let her go on thinking the worst of me without knowing the truth. She deserved an explanation. No more assumptions, no more misunderstandings. It was now or never.“Casey,” I said softly, leaning forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Please. Just give me a chance to explain what really happened that night. I know what you saw, and I know it hurt you. But it was not what you think.”Her hand froze mid-motion on Google’s head, and she turned to look at me, her eyes narrowed. “What’s left to explain, Owen? I saw her in your apartment. I saw her kiss you.”I exhaled, my shoulders sagging under the weight of everything unsaid. “You saw part of it, but not all of it. I never kissed her.”She crossed her arms, leani
Owen P.O.VThe silence in my apartment was deafening. Google lay at my feet, his tail wagging occasionally as if he sensed my distress. I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. Casey would not answer my calls, and her door had been firmly slammed shut by Zazu. I had no one to blame but myself.How could I have been so blind to let Eva in? I should have sent her packing the moment I saw her at the door. Instead, I gave her the benefit of the doubt. Now, Casey thought I had betrayed her.The thought of Casey’s hurt expression the way she sat with her face in her hands made my chest ache. I could not let this stand. She deserved an explanation, but I knew words alone would not fix this. Actions had to speak louder.I needed to fix this.Google barked softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. I scratched his head absently, an idea forming in my mind. “Alright, buddy. Let’s start with Eva,” I muttered.Next Day…..The next morning, I stood outside Eva’s office. It took a few calls and some ch
Owen POV I pulled on a navy sweater, smoothing the fabric as I glanced at myself in the mirror. It was casual, warm, but still decent enough to make an impression. Casey would appreciate it or so I hoped. She had a way of throwing me off balance with her sassy words and even sassy looks, but tonight, I wanted her to see a different side of me. It was not often I put thought into things like this. Dates used to be effortless,another night, another woman, no strings attached. But this was Casey I am doing all these for. And somehow, with her, everything felt different. The sound of the doorbell interrupted my thoughts. My chest tightened, and a grin spread across my face. She was here. Right on time. I headed for the door, my steps quick, excitement bubbling in my chest. When I opened it, my smile froze in place before vanishing completely. It was not Casey who stood outside. Eva was. My jaw tightened as I took in the sight of the woman standing on my doorstep, perfectly polished
Casey P.O.VGetting ready for a date with Owen felt like being stuck in a mystery novel where you already knew the twist would irritate you. The man refused to give me any clue about where we were going, just a vague instruction to “dress casually” and “wear warm clothes.” Honestly, what did that even mean?“I hate surprises,” I grumbled, glaring at the sweater I had thrown onto the bed.Zazu, sitting cross-legged on the floor, let out a dramatic sigh. “You’ve said that about a hundred times now, Casey. Relax, it’s a date, not a covert mission.”I shot her a look. “If I wanted a surprise, I’d order a mystery box online. Dates are supposed to have details, Zazu—details! So I can plan my outfit and prepare mentally.”“Mentally? You’re going on a date, not to war.” She chuckled, standing to inspect the sweater. “And for the record, this is perfect. Warm, casual, and adorable. Plus, he probably wants to see you comfortable, not freezing to death in a cocktail dress.”I groaned. “Fine, but
Casey’s P.O.V The buzz of the gala preparations was a strange mix of chaos and excitement. The event was just a day away, and while the fallout from Rachel’s actions had initially shaken me, it had also ignited a determination in me that I hadn’t felt before. This was my chance to prove myself, to show Mr. Davenport and the supervisors that I could excel even under pressure. After the meeting yesterday, Rachel had stormed out of the office, leaving behind a trail of venomous glares and whispered threats. While her behavior had been exposed to some extent, I could not shake the feeling that she was not done with me. But I did not have the time or the energy to dwell on that. I had a gala to prepare. The morning was a flurry of last minute vendor calls and double-checking every detail. The floral arrangements, the seating chart, the lighting , everything has to fit perfectly in these puzzle. I had Karen helping me coordinate with the caterers, and even some of the supervisors had