I can’t let her walk away without knowing what’s going on in her head. She’s shutting me out, and I don’t know why. What changed? What did I do?I catch up to her as she reaches the hallway. “Wait, Desiree. What are you saying?” I sound more desperate than I mean to, but I don’t care. “You don’t think so? What does that even mean? We’re married. You’re mine—I’m yours. That’s how this works.”She stops, but she doesn’t turn around. Her back is stiff, like she’s trying to hold something back. For a moment, I think she might finally answer me. But when she does, her words are cold.“That’s the problem, Caspian. I’m not something you own. And right now… I’m not even sure I want to be yours.”Her words hit me hard. My heart feels heavy, and I can’t think of what to say. Before I can respond, she keeps walking, disappearing down the hallway. I can’t just let her go. Not like this.I follow her. She’s climbing the stairs quickly, as if she’s trying to get away from me. I push myself to catch
Desiree's POVAll the color drains from Paul's face. His easygoing grin vanishes. Even my sister, Fiona, looks uncomfortable, her eyes wide as if she’s just witnessed a car crash.And honestly, that’s exactly what Caspian’s words feel like: a car crash. I blink, trying to wrap my head around what just happened. He couldn’t possibly mean what he said, right? Did Paul really do that?I can’t help it—I have to break the silence. “Paul,” I say, my voice shaking a little. “You didn’t actually sleep with Caspian’s girlfriend, did you?”Paul doesn’t answer. He doesn’t even look at me, which only makes my stomach sink further. His silence says more than words ever could, but I still need to hear him say it. I need to be sure.“Is that a yes or no?” I press, my heart pounding in my chest.Paul sighs and throws his hands up, like he’s tired of hiding. “Fine. We were young, okay? I was wild, Gladys was wild, and Caspian was… tame. It’s not my fault she found something in me and hooked up with m
“Yes,” Douglas says, stepping forward cautiously. “I was just about to inform you all that the table is set.”Before I can respond, Paul bursts into laughter—a cold, bitter sound that echoes through the room. “I didn’t care? Really, Caspian? You're such a hypocrite. Am I the one who married my son’s ex barely a month after they broke up? You want to talk about betrayal? You're a bad father. You're a terrible brother, too. I told you I liked Gladys, and the next thing I knew, she was your friend. And then, just like that, you were in a relationship with her. You stole her from me. Now, I have to sit here and listen to you whine about your heartbreak? You’re unbelievable. I hope Desiree breaks your heart. I hope she leaves you, just like Gladys did.”That’s it. I can't take this anymore. No one talks to my husband like that—no one except me.I don’t wait for Caspian to react. I turn to Chef Douglas. “Clear the table, Douglas,” I say firmly. “Everyone’s lost their appetite.”Douglas does
~~Two weeks later~~It’s the day of Mabel and Mike’s wedding.I walk out of the bathroom, drying my hair, and spot Caspian still knocked out on the bed, one leg tangled in the sheets.“Really?” I say, leaning over to shake him. “You went back to bed?”He cracks open one eye and grins lazily. “Didn’t sleep well last night.”“And whose fault was that?”Caspian chuckles, completely guilty. After keeping us both up, christening every corner of the bedroom, he has the nerve to act innocent.“Do we really have to go early?” he mutters, pulling the covers over his head like a sulking child.I narrow my eyes, knowing full well that if I listen to him any longer, he’s going to try something ridiculous—like pulling me back into that bed. And honestly, I don’t know if I have the willpower to resist him a second time today. But we have a wedding to attend.I grab his arm and start dragging him, which is easier said than done since his arm probably weighs as much as I do. After a few minutes of st
The room feels tense as Gladys steps closer to Mike, her hands shaking as she reaches out. “Oh, my baby,” she whispers. Her eyes are filled with tears. It’s like she’s forgotten everyone else in the room and can only see her son.Mabel walks toward her, smiling. “You must be Gladys,” she says, sounding cheerful. “I’m glad you could come.”Mike looks confused. “Babe, what’s going on?” he asks, suspicious.Mabel stays calm, like she doesn’t see how big a deal this is. “I invited your mother,” she says matter-of-factly. “I hired someone to find her, then I told her all about you.”Mike’s eyes widen in disbelief and anger. “Why the hell would you do that?”Beside me, I feel Caspian tense up. His hands are shaking as he sits back down, looking like he’s barely holding it together. His eyes stay glued to Gladys, the woman who caused him so much pain years ago.“Because everyone needs their mother, Mikey,” Mabel says softly, like she’s doing him a favor.Mike’s jaw clenches so hard it looks
The moment Caspian sees her, something shifts in him. For a second, he doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak. It’s like he’s frozen in place, trapped by whatever memories or feelings seeing her again brings up.“Caspian,” Gladys says with a sweet tone, as if she’s greeting an old friend. “It’s been so long.”He doesn’t answer right away. His jaw clenches, and he grips the armrest of his chair like he’s trying to anchor himself.“You shouldn’t be here,” he finally says, his voice low but sharp.Gladys shrugs. “I came for Mike. Not you.”“Then leave us alone,” I say. She turns her attention to me, looking me over like I’m something insignificant. A nuisance.“And you must be Desiree,” she says. “The new wife.”There’s something in the way she says it that rubs me the wrong way. Like she’s mocking me, like I’m just another temporary fixture in Caspian’s life. My blood boils, but I force myself to stay calm. I can’t give her the satisfaction of seeing how much she’s getting under my skin.“Yes,” I
Caspian's POVMike called earlier, asking if we could talk.A million reasons ran through my mind, but none of them prepared me for what he’s saying now.“I want us to make a deal,” he says, standing stiffly near the fireplace.“A deal?” I repeat.He nods, his gaze distant. “You remember when I asked you to give Mabel a seat on the board? You flat-out refused.”“And I’m not about to change my mind,” I reply, my tone leaving no room for negotiation.Mike picks up one of the figurines from the mantel, absentmindedly turning it in his hands. He hasn’t sat down since he arrived, pacing like he’s gearing up for a fight.“I figured as much,” he says, almost to himself. “But Mabel and I have decided to take it to the shareholders.”I frown, sitting up straighter. “What does that mean?”“It means she’s putting that business degree of hers to use,” he says, finally looking at me. “She knows you’re not the only one with power in the company. So she’s taking it to the other shareholders. Letting
Mike finally sets the figurine down, and by some miracle, it doesn’t fall. “I can handle her.”I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re an idiot if you think you can handle Mabel. She’s already pulling your strings, and you don’t even realize it.”He flinches, but keeps his gaze steady. “You don’t have to make this personal, Dad.”“Oh, it’s personal now, Mike. You come here, accusing me of using Desiree, but let’s be honest—you’re the one who threw her away. You made your bed with Mabel. Now lie in it.”Mike clenches his jaw. “I’m just trying to keep things from getting worse.”“And you think sacrificing my marriage is going to fix that?” I shake my head, disgusted. “This is bigger than you and Mabel, Mike. And if you really think you can manipulate me into giving up my wife for your power-hungry spouse, then you’ve lost your mind.”His face tightens, but he doesn’t back down. “Just think about it. It’s a simple trade. Desiree for peace.”I stand up, towering over him. “I won’t be making any