Eighty Three

Chapter 83

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the living room. Cassandra stirred slightly, her head resting on Antonio’s chest, lulled by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She blinked a few times, realizing they had fallen asleep together on the sofa. Antonio’s arm was still draped protectively around her, his face serene and unguarded in sleep.

For a moment, Cassandra hesitated, gazing at him. In this vulnerable state, Antonio seemed different—less guarded, almost tender. A faint smile appeared on Cassandra’s lips as she gently slid out of his embrace. She reached for the folded blanket nearby and carefully covered him, her fingers pausing briefly on his shoulder.

“Sleep well,” she murmured softly before heading upstairs.

When Antonio woke up, the blanket still covered him, and the living room was silent. He glanced around, his senses sharpening as he realized Cassandra was no longer there. Stretching his limbs, he stood and walked toward the kitchen, but stopped when he saw Cassandra near the stairs. She was already dressed neatly in a white blouse and a black pencil skirt, her hair perfectly styled.

“You’re heading out?” Antonio asked, his voice still husky from sleep.

Cassandra turned, looking slightly startled to see him. “Yes, I’m going to work,” she replied with a small smile, adjusting her skirt.

Antonio frowned slightly, moving closer to her. “You’re leaving now? Can’t it wait?”

Before Cassandra could answer, Antonio pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The kiss was firm yet filled with passion, leaving no room for refusal. For a brief moment, Cassandra surrendered, her hands moving to his chest, returning the kiss with equal intensity. The warmth of Antonio’s touch made her forget everything else.

But Cassandra quickly broke the kiss, placing her hands on his shoulders. “Antonio,” she whispered, her breath still uneven. “I really have to go.”

Antonio looked at her, his eyes dark and full of desire. After a moment, he sighed and nodded. “Fine. But don’t work too hard,” he said, gently brushing her face before turning toward the bathroom.

“A good choice,” Cassandra murmured with a small smile. She waited until Antonio entered the bathroom before taking a deep breath, steadying herself. Grabbing her bag, she quickly made her way to the garage.

As Cassandra drove to the police station, her mind raced. Her heart was still pounding from Antonio’s kiss. It felt as though he had pierced through all the walls she had built, reaching the most vulnerable part of her. But she quickly shifted her focus to more pressing matters.

Cassandra arrived at the police station with a heavy heart. After a brief exchange with the receptionist, she stepped outside to the small garden behind the building, where Alexander was waiting on one of the benches. With a serious expression, he stood up as she approached and handed her a cup of hot chocolate.

“This is for you,” he said curtly, sitting back down.

Cassandra nodded slowly, accepting the drink. She sat beside him, maintaining a polite distance. The silence between them was awkward, broken only by the whisper of leaves stirred by the wind.

Alexander stared straight ahead, his hands gripping his coffee cup tightly. “Cassandra,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “Why did you hide it all? Your marriage to Antonio Franches, the man we’ve been targeting in this investigation.”

Cassandra remained silent, her eyes fixed on the cup in her hands. She had known this question was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier to answer.

“You know, I really trusted you,” Alexander continued, his tone growing sharper. “And it wasn’t just me. Martinez too. All of us. We thought you were on our side. But now? What am I supposed to think?”

Alexander turned to her, his eyes filled with deep disappointment. “You lied to us, Cassandra. You betrayed me. You betrayed Martinez. All of us. What were you thinking?”

Cassandra swallowed hard, guilt filling her chest. She bit her lower lip, feeling ashamed and cornered. After a moment, she whispered, “I had no choice, Alex. I had to do it.”

Alexander scoffed, his laugh tinged with skepticism. “Had to marry a man like Antonio Franches? Seriously?”

Cassandra raised her head, her tearful eyes meeting Alexander’s. “I did it because I wanted revenge. I needed to get close enough to him to ensure he didn’t suspect me. I had to know his weaknesses, Alex.”

Her words hit Alexander like a blow. He turned away, exhaling deeply as he tried to compose himself. “Revenge?” he muttered, more to himself than to her. He turned back to her, his face reflecting deep disappointment. “That’s the wrong way to do it, Cassandra. Completely wrong.”

“I know,” Cassandra admitted, her voice breaking. “But I didn’t have any other choice. I had to do it for my family. For my parents.”

Alexander shook his head, his expression showing how hard it was for him to accept her reasoning. “And in the process, you’ve sacrificed everything. Our trust. This mission. Do you realize how dangerous what you’ve done is?”

Cassandra remained silent, her hands trembling over the cup of hot chocolate she hadn’t touched. Shame and guilt overwhelmed her, making it hard to meet Alexander’s piercing gaze.

Alexander stood up, lifting his coffee cup as he walked a few steps away. “I really hope you know what you’re doing, Cassandra,” he said, his tone low but sharp. “Because if not, you’ll destroy yourself. And maybe all of us.”

Alexander returned to the bench, fixing Cassandra with a sharp stare. “I just need to confirm,” he said, his voice softer but still heavy with disappointment. “Are you truly married to Antonio Franches?”

Cassandra nodded slowly, though reluctance was written all over her face. “Yes,” she replied, her voice barely audible. “I’m married to him.”

Alexander leaned back against the bench, letting out a long sigh. “God, Cassandra... Do you realize the magnitude of the consequences of your decision? You married the man who is the main target of our investigation.”

Cassandra bit her lip, trying to suppress the shame that overwhelmed her. After a long silence, she spoke softly, “I know I made a mistake. That’s why... I’m resigning from the police force.”

Alexander immediately turned to her, his gaze unreadable. He seemed like he wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent. The profound disappointment was evident on his face.

“I’m sorry, Alex,” Cassandra continued, staring at the cup of hot chocolate in her hands. “I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You, Martinez... both of you always trusted me. And I betrayed that trust. I won’t interfere with police actions, even if they involve Antonio.”

Alexander listened with a stiff expression. He took a sip of his coffee, trying to calm himself before finally speaking again. “Cassandra,” he said softly, though his tone was filled with emotion. “If you truly want to make this right, divorce him.”

The statement struck Cassandra’s heart, but she met Alexander’s gaze with eyes beginning to well up with tears. “I can’t,” she said quietly.

“Why not?” Alexander demanded, his voice rising. “He’s not a good man. You know that. You yourself said you wanted revenge on him. What’s stopping you now?”

Cassandra swallowed hard, trying to steady the turmoil within her. “Because I’m pregnant,” she finally said, her voice breaking at the end of the sentence.

Silence enveloped them instantly. Alexander froze, as if her words had hit him like a punch. He stared at Cassandra in disbelief. “Are you... serious?” he asked softly.

Cassandra nodded, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. “Yes, Alex. I’m carrying Antonio’s child.”

Alexander bowed his head, running his hand over his face as if trying to process the information. “So not only are you married to him, but now you’re having his child?” he murmured, more to himself than to Cassandra.

Cassandra didn’t answer. She just sat there, holding the cup of hot chocolate that had gone cold, while tears continued to stream down her face. She knew she had disappointed Alexander, but she also knew there was no easy way to make things right.

“Cassandra,” Alexander finally said, his voice low and filled with despair. “I don’t know how you’re going to get out of this mess. But I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Cassandra nodded slowly, though in her heart she felt more confused than ever. In that moment, she felt as if she were at a crossroads filled with difficult decisions, each carrying unavoidable consequences.

Alexander let out a long sigh, staring into the distance. He seemed to be struggling to hold back his emotions. “Cass, I don’t know what to say. You’re in this insane situation, and now with a child on the way... Do you realize how complicated this is?”

Cassandra nodded slowly. “I know, Alex. But I’ve made my choice. I won’t abandon this child. No matter the situation.”

Alexander stood, walking a few steps away as if trying to distance himself from the reality confronting him. After a moment, he turned back to Cassandra, his face filled with pain and disappointment.

“So, you’re going to stay with him? With the man who is our primary target?” he asked, his tone nearly trembling.

“I don’t know,” Cassandra answered honestly, her voice barely a whisper. “But I know one thing, Alex. I won’t be a hindrance to this investigation. If you or Martinez decide to arrest him, I won’t intervene. I’ve already made a huge mistake, and I don’t want to make it worse.”

Alexander let out a small laugh, though it wasn’t from humor. It was the bitter laugh of a man who felt betrayed by someone he trusted. “It’s ironic how you’re still trying to seem noble in this situation. Do you know how hard we’ve all worked to bring Antonio down? And you... you sleep in the same bed with him every night.”

Cassandra bit her lip, holding back the tears threatening to fall. “I didn’t have a choice, Alex,” she said desperately. “It all started because of revenge. I wanted to destroy him from the inside. But...”

Alexander stepped closer, his gaze so intense that Cassandra found it hard to meet his eyes. “But what, Cassandra?”

“But I started to see another side of him,” Cassandra finally admitted, her voice almost inaudible. “A side I never expected to exist. And now with this child... I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Alexander stared at her for a long moment, as if trying to understand her feelings, but eventually, he gave up. “I don’t know if I should pity you or be angry. You’re in enormous danger, Cassandra. Antonio isn’t who you think he is. He might show you a softer side, but he’s still a dangerous man.”

Cassandra nodded, though her heart remained conflicted. “I know he’s dangerous. But I also know he’ll do anything to protect this child.”

Alexander looked at her one last time before finally averting his gaze. “You’ve really changed, Cass. I don’t even recognize you anymore.”

“I’m sorry, Alex,” Cassandra said sincerely. “I know I’ve let you down. But I hope you know I never meant to hurt you or anyone else.”

Alexander didn’t reply. He simply stared up at the blue sky visible through the trees, trying to find some calm amidst the chaos he felt.

After the meeting in the garden, Cassandra returned to her car with a heavy heart. Every word Alexander had said echoed in her mind, deepening her guilt. She knew that the decisions she had made affected not only herself but also the people who trusted her.

As she sat behind the wheel, her gaze fell on the wedding ring on her finger. The ring, which had initially been just a symbol of a contract, now felt heavier than ever. With a deep breath, Cassandra started the car and began driving back to the mansion where Antonio was waiting.

At the mansion, Antonio stood by the window of his study, gazing out with deep thought. When he heard the sound of the front door opening, he immediately stepped out to greet Cassandra.

“How was your day?” he asked with a faint smile, his eyes full of attention.

Cassandra gave a small smile, though her heart was still uneasy. “Exhausting. But everything’s fine.”

Antonio studied her face for a moment, as if trying to read her thoughts. “You look tired. Why don’t you rest today?”

“I will,” Cassandra replied as she walked past him toward the stairs. “I just need some time to relax.”

But before she could climb the stairs, Antonio gently took her hand. “Cass,” he said softly. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

Cassandra paused for a moment, looking at him. Her heart felt heavy, but she simply shook her head slightly. “Nothing, Antonio. I’m just tired.”

Antonio gazed at her for a few more seconds before finally releasing her hand. “Then rest. I’ll make sure no one bothers you tonight.”

“Thank you,” Cassandra said softly before heading upstairs to her room. However, as she climbed the stairs, she could feel Antonio’s gaze following her, as though he knew there was something she was hiding.

In her room, Cassandra sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clutching the edge of the blanket. Her meeting with Alexander had reopened old wounds she had tried to bury, but it had also strengthened her resolve to protect what had now become part of her life—her child.

Cassandra gently placed her hand on her stomach, her thoughts a mix of worry and hope. No matter what happened, she knew she had to make the right decisions for her child’s future. But with the shadows of her past and the threats of the future, she knew the path she had chosen would never be easy.