Cassia inhaled deeply as she stepped out of the cab, the night air cool against her skin. She handed the driver his fare, barely registering his cheerful "Goodnight" before he drove away. The lights of the apartment she shared with her friends shune brightly ahead. Her feet moved quickly, almost as
"Who is it?" Kiara asked, stepping closer to Cassia, who hesitated before taking a deep breath. "It's... Martinez. But why is he here?"Cassia muttered under her breath, though Kiara and Quinn still heard her. "Martinez?" Quinn repeated, seeking confirmation. Cassia immediately pressed a finger to
Nora gestured for them to take a seat, and they settled into the plush armchairs opposite her desk. "I called you about a design project," she began, her eyes locking onto Cassia's. "I heard you're participating in a contest, and I'm thrilled. Would you be willing to work with me after the competi
"I'm sorry," was all she could bring herself to say before stepping out of the car. A few moments later, Martinez exited the car and approached Cassia and her friends, who were gathered beside their luggage. "Is there anything you'd like to take from inside?" Kiara asked, eyeing Cassia's already p
Martinez was still focused on the man tied to the chair when his personal assistant informed him that Cassia was on the line. "Take him to the police tomorrow morning," he instructed firmly, then took the phone from his assistant, pressing it to his ear. "She’s been on the call for a while," his a
Martinez smirked, stepping back from Darvan with a glint of amusement in his eyes. He straightened his jacket, his smirk never fading. "I came for an important meeting," he said gently, a faint smile still playing on his lips. "We’ll catch up another time." Without waiting for a response, he turn
Cassia stared at Kiara, her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to speak. For a moment, she just sat there, before shaking her head, as though trying to physically rid herself of the words she had just heard. "No," she finally said, her voice steady but unsure. "I don’t think I like him." She glan
Darvan's chest rose and fell with anger as he clenched his fists. His fist ached slightly from the impact of punching Martinez, but the pain was nothing compared to the fury boiling inside him. He glared at Martinez, who stood there calmly, a faint smirk on his bloodied lips. "Why would you do that
"I knew I'd find you, babe," the voice said, leaning back in his chair as he stared at the screen. Cassia’s profile was open, displaying everything about her; her career as a designer, her achievements, and even some personal details, including her home address. He smirked, tapping his fingers agai
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