Chapter Four

Cassie pov

Ethan and I were doomed from the start, our relationship started not out of love but as a business arrangement.

The first time I Met Ethan…

Well, I can’t help but remember that day like yesterday.

I was coming back from clubbing all through the night, I left without my parents knowing.

Kira begged me to go clubbing with her, But I refused because clubbing was not really my thing; the place is always crowded, but she kept pestering me with it, so I agreed. 

I knew if I told my parents, they would never consent to it so I sneaked out of the house.

After clubbing all through the night.

Coming back the next morning, I saw a lot of fancy cars parked at our house, indicating that they were visitors in the house

I passed through the back door so I would not be caught by my parents because they didn’t know I had not slept at home last night.

I tiptoed into my room and shut the door, I kept hearing their noises.

They were discussing some kind of shares, which I didn’t understand, but I was curious to know what they were talking about; I knew it was a business.

My parents were rich, and they were trying to upgrade their small company; they had a share in Brown's company.

Well, I guess that was what they were talking about, so if that is what they were talking about, it means Mr. Brown was here, but who is he?

I tried to tiptoe closer to the door so I could peek and see his face. I have always heard about him, and how handsome he was, but I haven’t seen him.

Just as I laid my body on the door to peek into the room, the door immediately opened, and I fell on the floor; everyone turned their heads in my direction.

I was so embarrassed that I wanted the ground to open and swallow me.

“Cassie, what are you doing on the floor? Stand up; we have visitors.” My mom said, immediately standing up while covering my face from the embarrassment.

“Princess, come over here, let me introduce you to the guests.” My dad said with an awkward smile, “This is ETHAN BROWN.”

I looked at him, he was indeed handsome. I gave him a tiny smile and he smiled back at me. He walked up to me and pulled out a chair for me to sit on. I couldn’t take my eyes off him; how can someone be this handsome and gentle? 

After discussing with my parents for a few more minutes he stood up and left. I was so concentrated on him that I didn’t hear anything my parents and he discussed.

When he left, my mom looked at me and smiled, “That’s your future husband.” She said,

“What do you mean, Mom?” I smiled shyly, I kind of liked the sound of it, but I needed to know if my mom was serious.

“Yes, darling, you guys will be getting married; he came to get our blessing,” Mom said while smiling at me.

I stood there shocked; I couldn’t say anything, but one part of me was jumping for joy, while the other was scared.

Getting married to Ethan is what every girl will give everything to have, but I’m just getting it, why

We don’t even know each other.

I walked into my room, still thinking about what my mom said.

After months of being with Ethan and spending romantic time with him, we both fell in love with each other.

So I thought, when my parents got into an accident, they left a will.

In the will, it was written that Ethan and I should get married immediately.

But little did I know that he was going to turn on me, and left me in the alter.

Now I’m with his kids and I swore I wasn’t going to tell him

I don’t want my kids to have a father as evil as Ethan

Never!!!

I walked Into the house, only to find my little pumpkins, sleeping on the couch,

“Good evening ma’am, welcome back.” The nanny greeted me immediately when I got inside.

“Why ain’t the children sleeping in their rooms,” I asked immediately while walking close to them on the couch.

They were so adorable.

I watched my little pumpkins, sound asleep on the couch, their tiny bodies curled up against each other. They were the only reason I kept going after everything. Ethan might have shattered my heart, but my kids mended every broken piece.

“Ma’am, they refused to sleep until you came back,” the nanny explained, a soft smile on her face. “They insisted on waiting for you.”

I sighed, gently stroking my daughter’s hair. “Thank you, Sophie. I’ll take it from here.”

She nodded and left us alone, leaving just the gentle breathing of my kids and the soft hum of the night settling in. I knelt beside them, brushing a strand of hair from my son’s forehead, overwhelmed with love and worry. They looked so peaceful, innocent, unaware of the complicated world outside our walls or the storm that raged within me.

I hadn’t intended on keeping them a secret from Ethan initially. But after he left me at the altar after he showed me just how ruthless he could be there was no way I wanted him anywhere near them. I couldn’t allow their precious little hearts to be hardened by his coldness, his ambition. I had tasted his cruelty, and I refused to let my kids experience it.

Still, now and then, a thought gnawed at me. Shouldn’t they know their father? Was I being selfish by keeping Ethan out of their lives? No. I shook my head. He walked out on us. He chose his path, and I was choosing mine.

Carefully, I lifted each of them and carried them to their beds. I tucked them in, making sure they were snug and warm, then kissed each of their foreheads.

As I stood by their door, watching them drift deeper into sleep, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. Tomorrow, I’d have to go back to work, handle the estate, and deal with the constant shadow Ethan cast over my life even without his presence.

The memory of him smirking as he walked away from our wedding flashed before me, making my stomach twist. I swallowed down the bitterness, reminding myself that he no longer had any hold over me. That version of my life—Ethan’s version—was over.

In the morning, I’d have to be strong for them all over again. But for now, in the quiet, I allowed myself a few stolen moments of vulnerability, of wondering what might have been if Ethan had stayed. What might have been if love had been enough to save us? But that was a fantasy, and I had left fantasies behind long ago.

Pulling the door closed, I whispered to myself, “You have them now. And that’s all that matters.”