As thoughts raced through her mind, Nora sank into the couch, her gaze fixed on nothing in particular. She leaned back, crossing her arms as she struggled to piece the puzzle together. No matter how hard she tried, nothing made sense. The details didn’t align, and the more she attempted to make them
"It’s happening, baby!" Cassia cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her dream—the one she had waited so long to achieve—was finally within reach. This moment was everything she’d worked for, and sacrificed so much to achieve. Quinn snatched the phone from Cassia’s trembling hands and quickly sc
The woman noticed the look on Cassia’s face and let out a soft laugh. “Don’t overthink it, and please don’t misunderstand me,” she said. “If he could trust you with my design, considering how picky I can be, then you should understand what I mean. When I say I’ll help, it means that I already belie
The conversation flowed effortlessly between Liam and Cassia’s friends, Kiara and Quinn, laughter filling the air as they exchanged playful jabs. "You’re surprisingly good at this socializing thing," Quinn teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Liam chuckled, leaning back casually. "Am I? I’ve
"Can I ask you the same question? If I were him and you were her, what would your answer be?" Liam kept the thought to himself, his gaze fixed on Cassia. She bit her lower lip, holding it between her teeth before letting it go, leaving her lips glistening. His eyes lingered longer than they should
The seconds stretched on, and Cassia couldn’t help but wonder if this mistake might cost her more than she was willing to risk. "Because of this detail," Mrs. Rios continued, a smile suddenly tugging at her lips, "this will be my favorite dress." Cassia’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with surp
****** As the drive to Martinez’s place continued, Cassia sat with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, trying to steady her nerves while the city lights gradually disappeared behind them. She stole a glance at Martinez, who remained calm and focused on the road. When they arrived, Martinez step
Cassia stumbled back, her breath caught in her throat, but Martinez’s hand wrapped firmly around her waist, keeping her from retreating. His other hand slid to the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her hair as he drew her closer, deepening the kiss. His lips moved with such command, it left
Cassia didn’t waste time dwelling on rumors or threats. She walked past the judgmental stares, the looks of disgust from people who acted as if they knew her story. She ignored it all. She had more important things to focus on. When her parents called, asking for money, she sent it without a word.
Later that evening, after dinner, Cassia sat at the edge of her bed, scrolling through her phone. Her name flashed across multiple trending topics, all discussing her and the deceased Claudine. The sheer volume of posts made her wonder if people were being paid to share their opinions about the issu
Among the many people who saw the post, Aurora was one of them. She sat in her bedroom, phone in hand, casually scrolling through her news feed when the image appeared on her screen. The moment she saw it, she quickly took a screenshot. Then… just like that… it was gone. Deleted. She stared at th
Martinez pressed his lips together as he listened to Nora’s voice over the phone. She explained that Cassia wasn’t answering her calls, which was why she had reached out to him. "We're at the shopping mall," Martinez informed her. "Cassia might be in danger," Nora warned. "And soon, her name could
Nora welcomed them inside, gesturing toward the dining area where breakfast was already set. The warm scent of freshly cooked chicken and buttered toast filled the room, making Cassia’s stomach grumble softly. "Thank you for coming," Nora said as they took their seats. She offered Cassia a small s
Martinez took Cassia to a quiet, upscale restaurant that evening. Soft lighting and low chatter filled the air as they settled into their seats. "You do realize we’re supposed to be keeping a low profile, right?" Cassia teased, glancing around the elegant space. The room was filled with people; so
Martinez sat on the couch, phone in hand, his eyes glued to the screen, his brows drawn together in concentration. It hadn't been long since he had picked up Cassia from Nora’s place and brought her home. "Have you eaten?" Cassia asked, but he didn’t respond. His attention remained locked on his ph
Darvan stormed into his mansion, his mind replaying the moment his mother had slapped him. The memory pissed him, making his blood boil. "You are no son of mine." The words echoed in his head, causing him to exhale sharply. Without thinking, he grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it against
"Pretend to be my daughter, Claudine. Dress like her. Act like her… please." Cassia’s breath caught. Her heart pounded against her ribs. What was this? For a moment, the room fell into silence as both of them just gaze at each other. Cassia swallowed hard. "You're… asking me to become someone el