Casey P.O.VBefore dessert arrived, I excused myself to use the washroom. With my purse in hand, I made my way through the restaurant, heels clicking softly against the marble floor. The air was cool, and the scent of food lingered in the background, but I hardly noticed any of it. My thoughts were jumbled, running a mile a minute, and this was the perfect moment to take a breath.Pushing open the washroom door, I stepped inside and quickly entered one of the stalls. I did my business, grateful for the brief escape from the awkward dinner conversation at the table. After finishing, I stepped out to wash my hands, the washroom still completely empty. The sleek marble countertops and polished mirrors reflected my hurried movements as I turned the tap on.As I was washing my hands, the door behind me creaked open. I did not pay much attention to the person entering and focused on myself, staring down at the running water, lost in thought. When I finally turned off the tap and glanced to
Casey P.O.V.The entire restaurant had broken out into loud whispers , and I could feel dozens of eyes burning holes into my back.I need some air. The sting from Grace’s hand still lingered on my face, and as much as I wanted to storm out, the part of me that hated public scenes felt frozen in place.I was about two steps away from making my grand exit when a familiar voice stopped me. I turned back .“Do not believe her Grace. She and her cousin are not much different.” Brooks’s ex wife came and stood beside Grace with her arms folded on her chest. They both looked like Cindrella’s two stepsisters trying to look down on me but failing miserably. “Trying to shag another woman’s man.”I copied her terrace .“Didn't I tell you? Do not stick your nose where it should not be stuck.” I gave her a mocking smile. “Oh I forgot. You let dicks of other men stick in you when it should not be sticking. Isn't it how you ended up divorced in the first place because you slept with Brooks' best frie
Casey P.O.V. “After you, ma’am,” Owen said in a terrible attempt at a British accent, holding the car door open for me. He even bowed his head dramatically like some old time chauffeur, his lips twitching with amusement. I stifled a laugh, biting my lip. “Why, thank you, kind sir,” I replied, matching his bad accent with one just as ridiculous. I stepped into his luxurious car, settling into the soft leather seat as we shared a chuckle over our botched accents. Owen closed the door behind me with a flourish, still playing his part, before he hurried around to his side. Once inside, he buckled his seatbelt and started the car. The engine purred to life, a deep, throaty hum that reminded me of the car’s price tag, and we pulled out of the parking lot. “Damn. Tonight was eventful. I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster. Non-stop drama,” Owen muttered, shaking his head slightly as he turned the car and took the other lane. “Uh-huh, and the drama was not even about you,” I sighed, l
Casey P.O.V."Is it too late to go back to the car and crash it?" Owen whispered beside me, his eyes glued to my mother, who stood in front of us like a warden ready to pass judgement."I am regretting not taking the first option now," he added, swallowing hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously as he stared at the broom in her hand.“Told you. You should have, at least we would be in hospital, kicking.”My mother was terrifying. She had that look on her face, the one that could make grown men confess to things they had not even done. She was standing in front of us with a broom in her hand, and tapping her right foot on the floor. Her face twisted in anger as her eyes were moving back and forth between the two of us. Fury was blazing through her eyes that might shoot fire at us. I felt like I was the helpless cartoon character who had awakened a fire breathing angry dragon who was going to shoot fireballs at any moment and burn me alive.Behind us, the rest of the family cowered in
Casey’s P.O.V."I know it is fast, but I can not stay without your daughter," Owen said, pulling me closer by the waist, his hand resting protectively on my hip. I froze under his touch, heart pounding in my chest, not because of him but because of my mother's eyes that were shooting lasers at us by now. My mother’s gaze flickered between the two of us, like a hawk deciding whether to swoop in for the kill or let her prey go for a few more seconds.She turned, glancing at the rest of my family, probably hoping for some silent opinions. Everyone shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Then she turned back to us, a slight narrowing of her eyes. "Yeah, I get it, but why don’t we wait until—"Suddenly, Uncle Matthew, who had been completely fine a second ago ,clutched his chest with both hands pressing against his heart. His face contorted in pain, his knees bent . They buckled under his weight. He gritted his teeth. His whole body wobbled forward and he fell down the ground , laying on his
Casey P.O.V."Surprise! Happy Birthday, Ryder!" The excited chorus of voices rang out as Ryder’s family, colleagues, and friends emerged from the house, faces bright with anticipation, until well until what was waiting in the garden.They stopped short, mouths hanging open, eyes wide with disbelief. The scene before them was pure chaos, and it was nothing like what anyone had expected. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud, while Zazu, standing beside me, stifled her own amusement, her shoulders shaking with silent mirth.Grace stood behind the cake table, knife in hand, she had a big smile on her face, her eyes locked on Ryder who was standing there, blindfolded and grinning, completely unaware of the carnage his party had become. The crowd gawked at the decorations behind us, where everything had spiralled wildly out of control.The neighbourhood wasn’t much better. Some neighbours who were heading inside their house stopped dead in their tracks, staring in horror at th
Casey P.O.VRyder was desperately trying to explain himself to his elderly parents, who looked more bewildered than ever. Sorry aunt and uncle , your son is a piece of shit."Mom, Dad, this is not what it looks like! It is just a prank! Grace is just making a joke . She—”“Well jokes on you , you are the one who was trying to date another woman when you were already with someone else and on top of that you slept with her.” Zazu said with disdain as she pointed her finger at Jennifer.Ryder turned his head with fury itching on his face.“Zoey, you have nothing to do with this. So stay away from this. If it was not for your cousi—.” A hand came into my line of sight that smacked Ryder on his cheek. Ryder's mother stepped before him."Ryder!" his mother gasped, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions. "When did you become like this? I never raised you like this. Disrespecting a woman, using them for your own selfish means, hurting her feelings. So when did you become like this?” Her fr
Casey POVMy jaw dropped as I stepped inside the private plane, the interior leaving me utterly speechless. I had known Owen was wealthy, but this? This was beyond anything I had imagined. The opulence was staggering, like I had stepped into a movie set designed for the ultra-rich.“Get your jaw off the floor; otherwise, no plastic surgeon will be able to fix your face,” Owen quipped from behind me, donning his aviator sunglasses with a casual ease. I snapped my mouth shut, shaking off my astonishment as I clutched my luggage, I shot a glare in his direction. Infaruting man.As I made my way further into the plane, a flight attendant approached me, taking my luggage without a word. I blinked at her, still taking in the luxurious surroundings. The plane was like a flying penthouse; everything was meticulously designed. The plush white leather couches were paired with elegant wooden finishes, and the soft lighting created a serene atmosphere. There were four seating areas, each equipped
Casey P.O.V As Owen stepped out of the ring, his chest heaving, exhaustion flickered across his face. The bruise on his jaw was already turning a vivid shade of purple, and I felt a surge of emotions rising within me. Relief that all his body parts are still intact. Anger at his recklessness for getting distracted during the fight. I got it. It was something he used to do to survive, and maybe it gave him some sense of control or release, but seeing him hurt, was a different story for me. Before I could voice my thoughts, Lauren bounded over, practically buzzing with excitement. "Wasn’t that amazing?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with pride. "You nailed it, brother!" "Amazing is not the word I would use," I muttered, crossing my arms. My eyes stayed on Owen as he collected his winnings from the announcer, pausing occasionally to shake hands with the people congratulating him. As the crowd began to thin, he finally made his way over to us. “Hey,” he greeted, his voice hoarse, no d
Casey P.O.V“Where are we?” I asked again, exasperation dripping from my voice. Lauren had been dragging us through a maze of back alleys behind a building that looked like it had seen better days. She turned to look at me with a smirk, her fiancé trailing behind her, looking as skeptical as I felt.“You’ll see,” she said with an air of mystery, checking her watch as if we were late for something significant.Lauren was not one to shy away from surprises, but I was not sure how much I liked this one. Owen had disappeared earlier in the afternoon, claiming he had “something to handle,” and now we were left in his sister’s hands. I glanced down at my outfit. Jean shorts, a tucked-in black shirt, sneakers, and a ponytail. Zazu, ever the fashion icon, had chosen a black bodycon dress and boots. Lauren, on the other hand, looked like she was ready for an adventure with her leather boots, jean shorts, and black jacket. There was a red handkerchief hanging from her shorts’s pocket. It was ju
Casey P.O.V.I took another bite of my croissant, chewing slowly, savouring the flaky texture and buttery flavour as I studied Owen across the table. He looked rough. His eyes were red, swollen, and slightly bloodshot, definitely suffering from a lack of sleep. He was sitting there, slouched over, his coffee cup gripped tightly in both hands like it was the only thing holding him upright. His usually lively face was replaced with dark circles and the telltale signs of a long, sleepless night. I almost felt sorry for him . Almost.After all, he was the one who insisted on sleeping beside me, despite my warning. He thought I was joking all the while I was telling the truth.Zazu and my twin brothers, Marco and Max, walked into the restaurant’s dining area, scanning the room. As soon as the twins spotted the buffet, they immediately dashed over, filling their plates to the brim with all the food they could carry. They were acting like starving vampires that have been kept locked inside a
Casey P.O.V I knelt down on the floor beside the bed, spreading the quilt out. I set a pillow at the head of the makeshift bed I had prepared, smoothing it out to make sure everything looked just right. As I reached for the extra bedsheet, draping it over the quilt, the bathroom door opened with a soft click that caught my attention. Owen emerged, towel in hand, rubbing his hair dry, a few strands falling messily across his forehead. He paused, taking in the sight of me on the floor. “Oh no, no, no, no, Casey” he said, mockingly, an exaggerated shake of his head . “ You are going to sleep on the floor?” I glanced up, just in time to see him bending over with his hands gripping his knees. He wore his old T-shirt and low hanging joggers that showed just enough to make it clear he had not lost a single bit of his absurd confidence. I rolled my eyes and went back to arranging the bedding, determined to ignore him. “Who said it was for me?” I shot back, without looking up. He straig
Casey P.O.VStepping out of the steamy bathroom, I rubbed my hair with a towel, my skin still tingling from the hot shower. My PJs,a small tank top and shorts were cosy but barely there, especially given the presence of Owen pacing in the room like a caged animal. When he saw me, he stopped in his tracks, his gaze lingering just a second too long.“You can use the bathroom now,” I said, stepping aside so he could pass. He nodded, grabbed his towel, and headed in to freshen up. I shook my head and tried to ignore the flip my stomach made every time I caught his eye. I have to endure a few more nights of this misery.I went over to the bed, grabbing a quilt and extra sheet with a pillow, intending to make a bed on the floor. But just as I was about to set everything down, Owen’s voice came from the bathroom, muffled by the sound of running water.“Hey, I forgot my clothes on the chair. Could you bring them in?” I rolled my eyes, muttering under my breath, “Of course you did.” Neverthel
Casey P.O.VThe restaurant was a vision of elegance, with dim lighting casting a warm glow over the polished tables, each one adorned with pristine white linens and a tasteful centrepiece. We were here to celebrate Vegas elopement of Owen’s sister, Lauren, to her fiancé, Marcus, and the dinner was supposed to be a calm, family gathering. But given that our mothers were already on edge, it felt more like sitting on a powder keg with a lit fuse.Lauren and Marcus arrived first, both glowing and hand-in-hand, followed by Marcus’s family, who looked thrilled to be here. His parents, David and Linda, were the picture of class, with smiles on their faces as they greeted each of us warmly. Their plane landed this evening.Thank goodness they did not see that disaster.We were determined to make a good impression, and I could see my mother and Maria silently sizing each other up, like lions crouched and ready to pounce, but maintaining their best behaviour under the watchful eyes of the new in-
Casey P.O.VMy stepfather finally managed to settle things with the police officer and get both mothers out of the cell, though not without a warning. I could practically feel the officer's glare on our backs as we left. I do not blame him, this poor man has suffered a lot in our mothers hands.I was pretty sure our families had landed themselves on some kind of blacklist. The officer’s warning had been clear, and he wasn’t sugarcoating it for them. “Next time,” he’d said, “There would not be any bailing out.” Owen’s mother shot him a scowl before marching out, chin high. My mom, arms crossed and muttering under her breath, barely glanced his way. The entire car ride was as peaceful as the peace before the storm.Back at the hotel, however, the peace died in an instant.As we approached the front desk to get our room keys, a new argument was already bubbling up between our mothers. They were not even bothering to keep their voices low.“You think I am going to let my daughter stay in
Casey P.O.VAs we climbed down the steps of the private jet, I could not resist throwing a last side-eye at the flight attendant who had spent most of the flight practically draped over Owen. Her flirty giggles and attempts to get his attention had irked me more than I wanted to admit, and I made sure she noticed the look I gave her as I turned away. Owen, oblivious to the glare I shot, just grabbed his bag and started walking.As soon as we stepped out of the airport, the peaceful landing vanished. Raised voices echoed through the air, and I blinked, trying to understand what was happening. Then I spotted our mothers, standing toe-to-toe and firing off verbal jabs . My mom’s voice, edged with righteous fury, cut through the noise. “You might think your son is the golden boy, but maybe if you opened your eyes, you would have seen he is just a playboy who does not know how to keep it in his parents !” Her voice dripped with disdain. I knew she had been reading those gossip columns abo
Casey POVMy jaw dropped as I stepped inside the private plane, the interior leaving me utterly speechless. I had known Owen was wealthy, but this? This was beyond anything I had imagined. The opulence was staggering, like I had stepped into a movie set designed for the ultra-rich.“Get your jaw off the floor; otherwise, no plastic surgeon will be able to fix your face,” Owen quipped from behind me, donning his aviator sunglasses with a casual ease. I snapped my mouth shut, shaking off my astonishment as I clutched my luggage, I shot a glare in his direction. Infaruting man.As I made my way further into the plane, a flight attendant approached me, taking my luggage without a word. I blinked at her, still taking in the luxurious surroundings. The plane was like a flying penthouse; everything was meticulously designed. The plush white leather couches were paired with elegant wooden finishes, and the soft lighting created a serene atmosphere. There were four seating areas, each equipped