Fifty Nine

CHAPTER 59

The night air felt cool as Cassandra left the hospital, her thoughts still lingering on Martinez’s teasing comments about Alexander. She couldn’t deny that the moments she shared with Alexander felt different—warm, in stark contrast to the cold reality of her mission. But there was no room for distractions. Not yet.

On her way back to Antonio’s mansion, Cassandra’s mind returned to the photograph she had found earlier in his study. Why did Antonio have it? Was it mere coincidence, or had Antonio been watching her for far longer than she realized? The possibility unsettled her. If Antonio truly knew about her time at Aunt Marrie’s farm, how much more did he know about her life and intentions?

When she arrived at the mansion, the house was eerily quiet. Cassandra’s footsteps echoed softly as she made her way to her room. Sitting at her desk, she pulled out a notebook where she documented her findings and suspicions. Carefully, she sketched a timeline of events and connections, attempting to piece together the fragments of Antonio’s web of lies.

As she wrote, her phone buzzed. It was Jessica.

“Hey, Cassandra,” Jessica’s voice was light but tinged with concern. “I’ve been thinking about you. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Cassandra replied, though her words felt hollow. “Just... busy.”

“You don’t sound fine,” Jessica countered gently. “Listen, I know you can’t tell me everything, but promise me you’ll take care of yourself, okay?”

Cassandra smiled faintly. “I promise.”

After the call ended, Cassandra sat in silence for a moment. Jessica’s words lingered in her mind, but she pushed them aside. There was too much at stake to focus on her own well-being. She needed to act.

The next morning, Cassandra prepared herself for another day of vigilance in Antonio’s world. As she stepped out of her room, she nearly collided with Ben in the hallway. Antonio had instructed Ben to remain at the house while he was in Mexico. Ben gave her a brief nod but said nothing, his gaze lingering a moment too long before walking away. Cassandra’s unease deepened.

“Is there something you’d like to say, Ben?” Cassandra asked coldly, stopping in her tracks.

Ben turned, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Just making sure you don’t try anything foolish while Antonio’s away.”

Cassandra stepped closer, meeting his eyes directly. “If you have something to say, say it. I don’t enjoy guessing games.”

Ben chuckled softly. “Guessing games? No, Cassandra. I’m just curious what makes you so comfortable here, in the middle of something that’s clearly not your world.”

Cassandra kept her expression calm, though her heart raced. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating. But maybe you should worry about yourself instead of me.”

Ben stepped closer, his voice lowering. “I’ll say this just once, Cassandra. Antonio isn’t someone you can play with. You may feel safe now, but it’s only a matter of time before he finds out what you’re really up to.”

Cassandra didn’t flinch. “If that’s a threat, Ben, you’ll need to try harder than that. Now, if you’re finished, I have other things to do.”

Ben smirked before turning and walking away, leaving Cassandra with more questions than answers.

She decided to return to Antonio’s study, hoping to uncover something she had missed during her previous search. Entering the room, she locked the door behind her and moved quickly to the desk. This time, she focused on hidden compartments she might have overlooked. Her patience paid off when she discovered a concealed drawer beneath the desk.

Inside was a small notebook. The cover was worn, and the pages were filled with Antonio’s handwriting. Cassandra flipped through it, her heart racing as she recognized names and dates that aligned with incidents she had been investigating. One entry, in particular, caught her attention:

Michael Foster. Resolved.

Her breath hitched. This was it—proof that Antonio was directly involved in Michael’s murder. She quickly took photos of the pages with her phone, ensuring she had a record before returning the notebook to its hiding place. As she closed the drawer, the sound of footsteps in the hallway made her freeze.

Someone was approaching.

Cassandra hurriedly left the study, locking the door behind her. She turned the corner just as Ben appeared at the end of the hallway. His eyes narrowed as he saw her.

“What were you doing?” he asked, his tone sharp.

“Looking for a book,” Cassandra replied calmly. “Is there a problem?”

Ben stared at her for a moment before shaking his head. “No. Just make sure you’re not somewhere you shouldn’t be.”

Cassandra forced a smile. “Of course.”

Later that afternoon, Cassandra returned to the hospital to see Alexander. She needed his perspective on the notebook’s contents and advice on how to handle the information. When she entered his room, Alexander greeted her with a warm smile, though his face still showed signs of fatigue.

“Cassandra,” he said, his voice filled with genuine relief. “It’s good to see you.”

“I found something,” Cassandra said without preamble, pulling out her phone to show him the photos of the notebook. She explained what she had discovered, her words tumbling out in a rush.

Alexander’s expression darkened as he reviewed the images. “This is solid evidence,” he said. “But it’s also dangerous. If Antonio realizes you have this, he won’t hesitate to eliminate you.”

“I know,” Cassandra replied, her voice steady. “But I can’t stop now. This is the break I’ve been waiting for.”

Alexander reached for her hand, his grip firm but comforting. “Just promise me you’ll be careful. You’re walking a very fine line, Cassandra.”

She nodded, her resolve unwavering. “I will.”

As they continued discussing their next steps, Martinez entered the room, his usual energy lighting up the space. “Am I interrupting something?” he asked with a grin.

“Not at all,” Alexander replied. “Cassandra was just sharing some... information.”

Martinez’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Well, I hope it’s good news. You both look like you could use a bit of optimism.”

Cassandra smiled faintly. “We’re getting closer. That’s what matters.”

Martinez studied Cassandra for a moment before speaking. “You know, Cassandra, for someone carrying so much weight, you’re remarkably strong. Alexander’s lucky to have you by his side.”

Alexander chuckled, though there was a hint of something deeper in his tone. “I think it’s the other way around.”

Cassandra felt her cheeks flush but quickly shifted the focus back to their plans. There was no time for distractions, no matter how warm the moment felt. The stakes were too high.

When Cassandra returned to the mansion, Ben was standing in the living room, his stance relaxed but laced with sarcasm.

“Where have you been, Cassandra?” he asked bluntly.

“None of your business, Ben,” Cassandra replied flatly. “Is this going to become a habit—watching my every move?”

“Not a habit. I just want to make sure nothing causes trouble for Antonio,” he said, with a smirk. “And you, Cassandra, sometimes feel like trouble waiting to happen.”

Cassandra stepped closer, her gaze sharp. “You speak as though you know Antonio better than I do. Maybe you should look at yourself before trying to judge others.”

Ben chuckled softly. “I don’t need to know more. I just know Antonio won’t be happy if something goes out of control. And I think, Cassandra, you’re good at making things spin out of control.”

Cassandra smiled coldly. “You can try guessing, Ben. But don’t forget—a wrong guess could land you in big trouble.”

Ben didn’t reply, but his gaze lingered on Cassandra as she walked away. Cassandra knew this was just the beginning of a tension that would only escalate further.