One Hundred Fourteen

NYPD Headquarters –

The Second Shocking Package That morning, Cassandra sat at her desk, her eyes still locked onto the documents she had received days ago. The truth about her parents’ deaths lingered in her mind like an unshakable fog. Even now, she didn’t know whether to trust Antonio or the documents she had been given. But everything changed when a mail officer arrived at her office again.

"Detective Cassandra, there’s another package for you."

Cassandra frowned, her head snapping up.

"What?"

Another package? The officer placed a plain brown box on her desk, just like the last one—no postage stamps, no sender information. Her heartbeat quickened as she reached for it. With trembling hands, Cassandra ripped open the seal and lifted the lid. Inside was a thick stack of documents, even more disturbing than the first. Her eyes scanned the bold text on the first page:

"Subject: Marvin Carter"

"Status: Trusted Agent of The Silver Thorn"

Cassandra’s eyes widened. No… this couldn’t be… Her hands shook as she flipped through the pages. There were transaction records, secret shipment logs, even signed contracts proving that her father wasn’t just a victim… But a part of The Silver Thorn Mafia. And not just any part… He was a direct, trusted agent under Antonio’s father. Cassandra covered her mouth with her hand, her body going cold. So all this time, my father wasn’t just a casualty?

Was he one of them? Had I been wrong about him all along? Tears burned at the edges of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. How could the man she idolized, the hero she had believed in, be entangled in the very world she had sworn to destroy?

Or… Was this just another carefully crafted lie? Cassandra bit her lip, her thoughts spinning with questions she had no answers to. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She knew there was only one person who could give her the truth. Antonio. With hands still unsteady, Cassandra grabbed her phone and dialed Antonio’s number. The line rang a few times before his deep voice came through.

"Cass?"

Cassandra closed her eyes, steadying herself before speaking.

"We need to talk. Now."

Antonio went silent for a moment before his tone turned serious.

"What happened?"

"A new package."

Silence. Then a slow exhale from Antonio.

"Come to the mansion. We’ll talk in person."

Cassandra ended the call without another word. When Cassandra arrived at the mansion, she walked straight into Antonio’s study. He was already there, seated behind his desk with an unreadable expression, as if he had expected this confrontation. Without hesitation, Cassandra threw the documents onto his desk. Antonio glanced at them briefly before looking back at her.

"What is this?"

Cassandra took a deep breath.

"Documents telling me that my father wasn’t just a victim, Antonio. That he was part of The Silver Thorn. That he worked for your father."

Antonio raised an eyebrow slightly, but he didn’t look surprised.

"And you believe this?"

"I don’t know what to believe anymore!"

Cassandra’s voice rose, her emotions finally breaking through.

"I’ve already accepted the fact that my parents were murdered! But now, I don’t even know who they really were!"

"Have I been living a lie this whole time, Antonio?"

Antonio remained silent, his gaze locked onto Cassandra. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"I won’t say these documents are entirely true or false. But if your father really worked for mine, then that’s something I never knew."

Cassandra let out a bitter laugh.

"Of course. Another thing you didn’t know, Antonio."

Antonio’s gaze hardened, his expression growing more serious.

"Cass, listen to me. This could be part of someone’s game. Someone is trying to destroy your trust in me."

Cassandra’s eyes burned with emotion.

"Or maybe you just don’t want me to know the truth."

Antonio sighed, rising from his chair and stepping toward her. His hand reached for her arm, but Cassandra pulled away.

"I don’t want you to touch me, Antonio. Not until I know what really happened." Antonio nodded slowly, his jaw tightening.

"Alright. If you want answers, then we’ll find them together."

Cassandra frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Antonio’s gaze was unwavering, filled with determination.

"I don’t know who sent these documents, but I’m certain someone is trying to manipulate you."

"We need to find them before they push us further apart."

Cassandra hesitated, but deep down, she knew this was only the beginning of something much bigger. She left the mansion that night without another word to Antonio, her heart too heavy to bear. Inside Antonio’s mansion, the night felt heavier than usual. In a secret meeting room, five elite agents of The Silver Thorn sat around a long table, their eyes fixed on Antonio as he stood before them. His face was rigid, his jaw locked, his gaze sharp enough to burn anyone who dared to challenge him. Before them, the documents Cassandra had received lay open on the table, the focal point of tonight’s discussion. Antonio’s eyes swept over his men before he finally spoke.

"Someone is trying to destroy her trust in me."

His voice was cold, controlled, yet laced with underlying fury.

"Which means, someone is also trying to destroy us."

Marcus, Antonio’s right-hand man, leaned back in his chair, his expression serious.

"Boss, this could be an old enemy or someone working from the inside, waiting for the right moment."

Antonio nodded, crossing his arms over his chest.

"And whoever it is, they know my weakness."

Silence fell over the room. Everyone knew Cassandra had become an integral part of Antonio’s life. And they all knew that only someone who truly wanted to see Antonio fall would use her as a weapon. Dominic, one of the most lethal assassins in their ranks, tapped his fingers against the table.

"If Cassandra believes those documents, she might walk away—and worse, turn against us."

Antonio’s gaze darkened.

"I won’t let that happen."

He picked up the documents and held them up for everyone to see.

"Track whoever sent this. Find every possible source. I want to know who’s bold enough to move against me."

Luca, their expert hacker and intelligence officer, took the documents, scanning them carefully.

"I’ll trace any digital footprint. If this was sent through any network or handled by a known source, I’ll find it."

Silvio, with his deep connections in the underworld, nodded.

"I’ll put my people on it. If this came from an old enemy, someone out there knows."

Antonio drummed his fingers against the table, his expression unreadable.

"Find out who’s behind this. I don’t care how long it takes—I want answers."

Marcus’s Concern – Someone Knows Too Much Marcus exhaled deeply, his face etched with tension as he looked at Antonio.

"Boss… if someone is really trying to take you down this way, that means they know about Cassandra."

Antonio’s gaze sharpened.

"And?"

Marcus clenched his jaw, lowering his voice.

"That means someone has been watching us all this time. Watching your relationship with her. They know exactly how much she means to you."

Antonio’s jaw tightened. Someone knew too much. Someone was lighting a fire between him and Cassandra, trying to shatter her trust. And if this person was smart enough to orchestrate a game this elaborate… Then they weren’t just any ordinary enemy. Antonio took a deep breath, then looked at all of his men.

"I don’t care who’s behind this. I don’t care how deep they’re hiding."

"Find them."

"And make sure they never play with me again."

The room fell into silence before, one by one, Antonio’s men nodded, fully understanding the gravity of his command. Meanwhile, somewhere far beyond their reach, someone grinned in the darkness, savoring just how easily they had manipulated the situation. The game had only just begun. Raindrops tapped lightly against the window of Cassandra’s apartment, creating a quiet rhythm that filled the heavy silence of the room. It had been two days since she received the second set of documents—two days filled with nothing but pain and confusion. Cassandra hadn’t gone to work. She hadn’t answered her phone. She hadn’t opened any messages from anyone. She simply sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the scattered papers littering the floor. Her mind swirled with questions she couldn’t answer. Was this the truth? Had Antonio been lying to her all along? Had she fallen in love with the man who murdered her family? Her eyes were bloodshot, exhaustion clinging to her bones after nights without proper sleep. But the ache in her chest was far worse than the lack of rest. Cassandra picked up one of the pages, her vision blurring as she read the damning words once again.

"Your father worked for The Silver Thorn Mafia." "Antonio’s father was behind all of this."

Her grip tightened around the paper, but the more she read, the more her heart shattered.

"I want to believe him… but what if he’s been lying to me since the beginning?"

"What if I fell in love with the man who killed my family?"

Cassandra shook her head, pressing her fingers against her temples, trying to quiet the torment in her mind. Antonio had always protected her. Antonio had always taken care of her. But what if all of it had been a way to cover up the sins he had committed? The tears she had fought so hard to contain finally spilled over. She couldn’t keep doing this… she had to walk away from all of it. Taking a deep breath, Cassandra forced herself to steady her emotions. She couldn’t just sit here, waiting for the truth to come to her. If Antonio wouldn’t give her the answers she needed, then she would find them herself. She had to know who her parents really were. Were they truly victims? Or had they been a part of the very world she had sworn to destroy? Her phone vibrated on the table. Cassandra glanced at the screen and saw the name flashing across it. Alexander. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure if she should answer. But right now, there was only one person left she could trust. With trembling fingers, she picked up the call.

"Cass?"

Alexander’s voice was filled with concern. Cassandra exhaled shakily before speaking, her voice raw from crying.

"I’m at my apartment. I…"

Her words trailed off, unsure of what to say.

"I know you haven’t been at work. I know something’s wrong. Cassandra, is this about Antonio?"

Hearing his name made Cassandra shut her eyes tightly.

"Yes." Silence.

"I can come over if you need me."

Cassandra shook her head, even though he couldn’t see her.

"No… I just need time, Alex."

Alexander hesitated.

"Cass… don’t let him destroy you."

Cassandra let out a hollow laugh, void of any joy.

"I’m already destroyed, Alex."

She sat on the edge of her bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her fingers trembled, her heartbeat pounding against her ribs as if protesting the decision she was about to make. Antonio. His name was carved into her heart, yet now, it felt like a dagger sinking deeper into her soul. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she refused to cry any longer. She had spent two days drowning in sadness and confusion, but tonight… Tonight, she had to end it. With a deep breath, she finally pressed the call button on Antonio’s contact. The phone rang twice before that deep, familiar voice answered.

"Cassandra?"

Antonio sounded calm, but there was tension beneath his tone. Cassandra shut her eyes, and the tears she had held back finally spilled over.

"I can’t do this anymore, Antonio."

For a moment, there was no response. Just silence. A silence that hurt more than any words could. Then Antonio spoke, his voice deeper, more serious.

"Cassandra, you don’t understand—"

"No!"

Cassandra cut him off, her voice breaking at the end of the sentence.

"I’ve heard enough of your lies! We’re done!"

She wiped her tears harshly, trying to steady herself.

"I know one thing, Antonio… I can’t be with you anymore."

"I’m leaving."

"This fake marriage… it’s over."

Antonio clenched his jaw, pressing his fingers against his temple.

"And you think that will make everything better?"

His voice was sharper now, colder. Cassandra shook her head, even though she knew he couldn’t see her.

"I don’t know, Antonio. But I know I need to keep my distance… before I completely fall apart."

Antonio’s jaw tightened, but he couldn’t argue. He couldn’t force her to stay if she had already lost her trust in him. Seconds stretched into eternity. Neither of them spoke. Only the sound of their breathing filled the void of heartbreak between them. Finally, Antonio exhaled heavily.

"Fine."

Just one word. One word that shattered Cassandra’s heart even more. But she couldn’t turn back now.

"Goodbye, Antonio."

And with that, she ended the call. After hanging up, Cassandra walked to the mirror. Her eyes were swollen, her face tired. But beneath it all, there was a newfound determination. She couldn’t wait for Antonio to give her answers anymore. If she wanted to know what really happened to her parents, she had to find out on her own. With slightly trembling hands, Cassandra began packing a few of her belongings. She was leaving. She would seek out the people who might know the truth about her family. Antonio stared at his phone, the screen now displaying the ended call. His grip tightened around the device, but he didn’t throw it, didn’t break it like he usually did when anger consumed him. No. He simply sat there, feeling the emptiness settle deep within him. Cassandra was gone. Alexander sat at his desk, his right hand resting against his chin, lost in thought. News of Cassandra’s devastating discovery about her parents had already spread among their colleagues at the station. He couldn’t imagine how broken she must be right now. And now, she had left Antonio too.

Alexander let out a long breath, trying to make sense of his own emotions. For so long, he had been waiting—waiting for his chance to step back into Cassandra’s life. Maybe this was the moment. Not to take advantage of her pain. But to be there when she needed someone. Someone she could trust. Someone who wasn’t Antonio. Without hesitation, Alexander picked up his phone and dialed Cassandra’s number. Cassandra had just finished packing her clothes into her bag when her phone vibrated on the table. Her eyes flickered to the screen. Alexander. She sighed and pressed the answer button.

"Alex?"

Her voice was tired.

"Cass, I’m coming to your apartment now."

Cassandra frowned.

"Why?"

"Because I know you won’t listen to me unless I show up in person."

She hesitated for a moment before finally replying softly.

"Alright."

She didn’t want to talk to anyone right now. But Alexander wasn’t someone she could easily turn away. Half an hour later, Alexander stood at Cassandra’s apartment door. The moment she opened it, his gaze dropped to the suitcase on the floor.

"You’re leaving?"

he asked, concern in his voice. Cassandra nodded slightly, avoiding his eyes.

"I have to go, Alex."

"Where?"

"I’m going to find out the truth myself."

Alexander exhaled heavily, leaning one hand against the doorframe.

"And you’re planning to do this alone?"

Cassandra looked at him for a moment before shrugging.

"I can’t just sit here and accept whatever is handed to me."

Alexander studied her intently, then gave a small nod.

"Then I’m coming with you." Cassandra frowned.

"Alex, this isn’t your fight."

Alexander let out a soft chuckle, but his gaze remained firm.

"Cass, you can’t fool me. I know you’re stronger than anyone, but you don’t have to face this alone."

Cassandra sighed.

"I… I just don’t want to burden anyone anymore."

"I don’t feel burdened."

Cassandra looked at Alexander, her heart twisting in a way she didn’t understand. Alexander had always been there for her. But could she really allow herself to rely on someone again?

"I can’t drag you into this, Alex." Alexander stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. His hand rested gently on her shoulder.

"Cass… I will always be here for you. I won’t let you go through this alone."

Cassandra swallowed hard. There was something in his voice that made her want to believe him. But her heart was still wounded, still shattered by everything that had happened. Before she could refuse again, Alexander spoke even softer.

"I don’t expect anything from you. I just want to help you find the truth."

Cassandra bit her lip before finally nodding slowly.

"Alright."

Alexander gave her a small smile.

"Then let’s go."

Minutes later, they left the apartment, heading toward Alexander’s car. Inside the car, Cassandra stared out the window, her mind still racing. Alexander glanced at her briefly before speaking.

"So, where do we start?"

Cassandra took a deep breath.

"We start by finding out who sent me those documents."

The car disappeared into the darkness of the night, carrying them toward answers that might be more terrifying than they could imagine. Elsewhere, someone smiled in the shadows, watching their every move with satisfaction.