The truck that had collided into the vehicle Cassia was in sped away from the scene, disappearing into a shallow forest that lined the roadside. The driver, a man with a defined face and piercing eyes, brought the car to a stop and killed the engine. He stepped out, taking off his jacket to reveal a
Martinez leaned closer to Lucas, a dangerous smirk spreading across his face. "Like I said—and will keep saying—pray nothing happens to her. Because this time, it won’t be jail, Lucas. It’ll be something far more cruel...so cruel that you’ll curse the Whitehead family, your entire generation, for no
"Oh, my God, Cassia! You scared the hell out of me,"Liam said softly, his voice hoarse. Cassia tried to speak, but her throat felt dry. Liam quickly poured her a glass of water and helped her take a sip. "Where is everyone? What exactly happened?" she managed to ask, her voice weak. "A truck h
Lucas inhaled deeply, shutting his eyes for a moment before opening them again. Was Martinez threatening him? He tilted his head slightly, letting out a humorless chuckle. Slowly, he turned his gaze back to Cassia. "Oh? And here I thought you’d be grateful I saved her life," he smirked. But beneath
Outside, Darvan started walking away when he noticed Cassia was awake. He had come to see her, yet fear kept him from stepping inside. Why did he feel like an intruder? He didn’t know. Without another glance, he hurried out of the hospital and made his way to his car. Sliding into the driver’s seat
The room was silent except for the muffled sounds of Cassia’s struggles. She wanted to scream but no word came out. Her hands clawed at the pillow pressed firmly over her face, her legs kicking weakly against the hospital bed. Her lungs burned, screaming for air, but the weight on the pillow didn’
As soon as Martinez finished speaking, the intruder let out a loud, mocking laugh that echoed through the empty warehouse. The sound grated on Martinez’s nerves, but he kept his expression calm. He wanted nothing more than to shut the laughter down with a punch, but he needed the intruder conscious.
The morning sunlight streamed through the hospital windows as Cassia slowly woke up. She opened her eyes and saw Martinez still sitting beside her, focused on his phone with a serious expression—almost like he was angry at whatever he was reading. "You stayed," she murmured, her voice rough from s
Cassia stood beside Martinez, her hand in his. Cameras flashed, and reporters shouted questions. She still felt the warmth of Martinez’s lips from the kiss. It had happened so fast, and now everyone believed they were in love. This was the second time they had shared such a passionate moment, and
Darvan clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around his phone. What was going on? Why in the world were Martinez and Cassia kissing so passionately on screen? Were they really a thing? A flood of thoughts raced through Darvan’s mind, and his irritation grew. Justin sat frozen, his phone still in h
"What should we do?" Cassia asked, moving toward the window, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening outside. "Just follow my lead, alright?" Martinez replied. Before Cassia could process his words, a sudden commotion outside the building made her heart skip a beat. Martinez’s grip on his p
"Mom—" Cassia started, but her mother cut her off, making her inhale quietly. "That amount shouldn't be hard to get, right? I promise this is the last time. My boutique just needs a few more items," her mother said. Cassia's grip tightened around the phone. She said nothing. What was she suppose
Mr. Jenkins and his wife sat in their living room that evening, watching the replayed news on their screen. The screen displayed a picture of Cassia and Martinez, from the announcement of their engagement to a photo that made it look like they were kissing. "This news has been circulating for two
He turned to Cassia, a smile playing on his lips. "Do you want this place?" Cassia blinked in shock. "What?!" What was Martinez doing? Why was he putting her on the spot like this? Ignoring her stunned expression, Martinez simply smiled before turning to Evans. "You can leave now," he said.
—THE FOLLOWING MORNING. Martinez stood outside his car, leaning against the door as he waited for Cassia. The moment she stepped out of her apartment building, he smirked. "You packed light," he said, eyeing the single suitcase she dragged behind her. "I don’t plan on staying forever," she repl
It was evening when Martinez decided to drive Cassia off to her place. As she stepped out of the car, he did the same. His phone vibrated, probably for the tenth time, if not more. At this point, he'd lost count. No matter how many times it rang, he continued to ignore it. "Who is it? Why are yo
Cassia rubbed her temples as she slowly scrolled through the endless flood of articles, social media posts, and speculation about her so-called engagement to Martinez. The internet was on fire, with every major media outlet picking up the story. Some praised the unexpected pairing, while others spu