“Come meet me at this address when you are done with Blake.”
Cassandra stared down at the message on her phone; her uncle, Niko, had sent her the message.
She let out a sigh, the shock of meeting her soon-to-be husband still within her…
Blake McKnight…
He was scary in a sense.
No wonder his poor old grandfather was begging around for a wife; how was he going to get a wife if he acts like an asshole to every woman he meets.
It is his foolishness that allows Uncle Niko was able to use his grandfather’s weakness against him, but this works out. She would be able to leave that family once and for all.
Cassandra gets into the lounge at the address her uncle had texted her, her eyes narrow when she catches a glimpse of her uncle with Mr. McKnight.
Can’t this man hold on for a bloody second?
She wore a thin smile as she approached the table.
“Oh! Cassandra is here already,” he said with a beaming smile as he got out of his seat and pulled out a chair for her.
“Thank you, Uncle.” She said with another fake smile as she eased herself into the chair. Her eyes are now staring at Mr. McKnight, who also had a small smile on his face.
“You met with Blake?” he queried and she nodded. He let out a sigh of relief, it was almost as though he had expected the meeting to never happen.
“I thought he stood you up, I had to threaten him seriously.” He leaned in to whisper. “How was it? Do you like him?”
He asked eagerly, and it made Cassandra genuinely sad.
Truthfully, she didn’t like Blake, apart from the fact that he was rude and condescending.
He was also a narcissist, but then she noticed the glare her uncle gave in her direction and then she nodded.
“He’s a lot of work, but I think we can work out.” She muttered she didn’t recognize her own voice, but it wasn’t completely a lie, she would rather pick a condescending jerk like Blake than to be around Lance.
“Oh really?” Mr. McKnight said, sounding genuinely surprised. A short, awkward laugh escaped him. “You’re the first girl to say something like that.”
How does she tell this old man that she wasn’t complimenting his grandson?
“The other girls would cry and speak about how rude Blake was to them.” He said tiredly massaging his temples.
“Well, he is rude.” She blurted abruptly. Seizing the attention of the two men.
“Then why do you like him? Was there any reason in particular you are agreeing?” he muttered. “I need you to understand that you can also refuse and nobody here is pressuring you.”
Cassandra bit on her lips, racking her brain for something to say.
“W-Well, H-He is also handsome.” She stuttered and Mr. McKnight chuckled again.
“You can’t just get into a marriage because he’s handsome, it takes more than facial qualities to be a perfect man and a good husband.” He lectured and then corrected in a beat. “He is a handsome jerk.”
They both laughed, Niko simply nodded along impatiently, he couldn’t wait for the deal to be over with.
“He’s rude but not completely hopeless, I believe he has a soft spot, something I can touch.” She proceeded with another smile. “Give me a few months, a little time with him and he will be a changed man. Moreover, the reason I am agreeing to this marriage is because of you, Mr. McKnight.”
His eyes widened slightly at the sudden confession.
“I would like for you to stop searching desperately for a woman, and you should also stop thinking about how little time you have left.” She continues with a small smile. “He might not show it, but Blake is worried about you as well.”
“Oh.” He wondered, she noticed the sudden softness in his eyes, and a small smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
“I will marry Blake.” She affirmed again confidently. “And I will take care of him too, so, you don’t have to worry about anything.”
*****
“I didn’t know you’re so good at lying.” Uncle Niko said as they walked towards his car, the lunch was over and they had finalize the wedding, she was relieved this turned out way better than she imagined it, but on hearing Uncle Niko’s little remark a small scowl appeared on her face. “Mr. McKnight ate that up, did you see his face after you told him that bullshit? Who would have thought that my innocent little niece isn’t as innocent as I thought?”
Not everything she told the man was a lie, she was indeed worried for him, but arguing with her uncle was pointless.
“Well, with you threatening to throw me out of the house if things don’t go well. I didn’t have much of a choice.” She bit back bitterly and he nodded in satisfaction.
“You did a splendid job anyway, Mr. McKnight has agreed to sign the business contract with me, which means the wedding will go on as planned.” Cassandra felt her heart dropped, even though she wasn’t necessarily causing the damage.
She felt bad for being involved in a shameless deceit like that.
“So I suggested to Mr. McKnight that you should meet Blake on another date tomorrow and during the weekend the whole family will have dinner with the McKnights.” He continued after a short breath. “We need to formally inform the rest of the family that you’re getting married.”
“What?” she gasped. “I don’t think it’s necessary to meet him again so soon!”
She didn’t want to spend yet another second with him.
“You need to get used to him before the wedding, you know, and the wedding will be happening faster than you think, the earlier the better.” He continued with a sly smile. “Start working your charms, not like you have any, so he gets smitten with you by the time you’re married.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Since I did a splendid job, then can I ask for something in return?” she professed, he paused for a while, his eyes narrowing.
“What is it?”
“Lend me some money.”
“What do you even need the money for?” he queried and when she refused to answer he let out a sigh. “Alright, fine, how much do you need?”
“Do you think I don’t know what’s going on with you and Lance?” He suddenly deadpanned, and Cassandra’s eyes widened in shock, and her eyes worriedly darted towards Grace standing in the distance… She wondered if Grace could hear their discussion, and then shook her head, nearing her uncle she grabbed him. “Don’t talk so loudly,” She snapped as she grabbed his shoulder dragging him to the farthest corner of the room, away from the ears of the maid. “So, it is true,” Uncle Nico had expected her to deny it, but knowing Cassandra, she wasn’t the type of person to lie. “I took you in, took care of you, provided for you, and this is how you pay me back. Sleeping with my son, aren’t you shameless?”“I am not sleeping with your son because I want to,” since her uncle was the one bringing it up, maybe if she confesses to him, he can do something about it. Like making sure Lance stars clear of her. “He threatens me, he hits me, I can’t refuse him.”“You know what you are accusing my
“Where is Blake?” Cassandra asked curiously as she climbed down the stairs, her hair was held in a messy bun, and her eyes swollen. After that heart felt discussion with Blake, she had fallen asleep in his arms, a little too exhausted from crying all night. But the small sleep she had helped to alleviate her mood, and when she woke up, she didn’t find her husband beside her. She rubbed her bleary eyes, as she watched Grace curiously. “He went out now,” she muttered with a small smile. “Do you want anything? Should I make you coffee?”“Did he tell you where he is going to?” she asked curiously and Grace shook her head, a little sigh escaped Cassandra as she went to sit on the sofa. “Should I bring you the coffee?” she asked and Cassandra nodded. Grace dashed towards the kitchen and then came back almost immediately with a small smile on her face and a cup of hot coffee. “Thank you,” she muttered as she received the cup from Grace.“Blake said you might not be feeling well
“That ungrateful brat,” Nico yelled as he slammed his fist on the table. “I got her married to Blake and now she thinks she rules the world?”“That’s why I told you we should give that kind of man to Lena,” Mercedes snapped equally angry for the embarrassment, “She didn’t even do anything to defend us, I bet she poisoned his mind against.”“I just hope this doesn’t affect the relationship between his grandfather and me.” Nico reached for his neck tie and pulled it off. “Who knows what that bitch has told him about us? That’s why I always told you to be gentle with her.”“Gentle?” she snapped feeling attacked. “You never had a problem with how I had treated her in the past. Why are you complaining all of a sudden?”“I can’t always get involved in the relations between the ladies of the house.” He muttered with a tight frown on his face. “But if she was your daughter you won’t he doing that.”“Will you both stop fighting?” Lena suddenly snapped, commanding silence from both her parents
As she had expected Blake didn’t touch her, even though what she needed was something to remove the ill feeling from her mind, but she realized Blake wasn’t that kind of person.He wasn’t the kind of person to take advantage of the situation, instead he wanted to know what was wrong and would propose the solution. And since she is not able to tell the truth, he decided to stay with her, his arms wrapped protectively around her, but even with his presence, Cassandra still found it difficult to sleep. Her eyes were wide opened throughout the night, as she stared at the window, hoping she never have to see him come in through there.Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared, the moment Lance comes inside, she was sure she would have a heart attack and die.Her eyes were fixed on the window, until the sky start to lighten, and morning broke.Blake stirred slightly, his dark eyes fluttering open, and he felt his arm go limp, oh… He slept in Cassandra’s room, because she feels distress
A soft gasp escaped Cassandra’s lips as she felt Lance hands slipped away from her waist, she grabbed the washbowl basin, using it as a means of support, as she heard the buckle of Lance’s trouble cling against each other as he pulled his trouser. Her body trembled as she stared down into the ceramic basin, blood dripping from her lips, he had kissed her a little too roughly biting and injuring her.With no regard for her, and no respect for her husband, tears well up in her eyes again, her heart pounding in her chest, as she waited for him to dress quickly. She was about to go crazy, how long is this supposed to continue? How long was she supposed to endure this?She had told herself, just a little longer… until she was married, she never thought Lance would be the type of person who would climb through her bedroom window to see her.How was this even possible?“I don’t think I will come during the weekend.” She muttered, her voice shaking, just before Lance could exit the bathroom
Cassandra couldn’t express the joy in her heart when Blake dismissed her family.A small smile tugged at her lips as she met eyes with Lena who had a scowl on her face. It was the most satisfying thing ever. “Thank you.” She muttered and Blake shook his head as he pulled her to sit. “H-How did you know that I had a panic attack?” “I mean it was obvious.” He muttered as he leaned into the chair. “I may not know a lot of things but I know when someone is having a panic attack. Why don’t you tell me the truth Cassandra. You hate your family, don’t you?” She felt her heart stopped in her chest.“It’s clear how uncomfortable and quiet you always are when you’re around them.” He continued her heart skipped a beat. Of course, he would notice, he is a smart man. “Tell me, did they hurt you?”She paused for a while wondering what to tell him. “We are just not that close.” She muttered and he paused for a while, obviously not buying the story, she guessed that much and so she sighe