ninety three

"Don't say a word to anyone," Cass ordered Caroline as they arrived at the dinner party. "Just smile and look pretty." Caroline frowned and lowered her gaze to the floor in disappointment.

Cass had insisted that she accompany him to this event, despite her discomfort. As the press began to photograph them, Cass stepped out of the car first and extended his hand to help Caroline out. At that moment, Caroline wished that the gesture had been genuine, that Cass cared about her as more than just an accessory to his image.

But she knew that was unlikely. As the reporters snapped pictures of the couple, Cass leaned in and whispered something into Caroline's ear, with his voice low and commanding. "Remember your place," he said, a thinly veiled threat in his words.

Caroline's fake smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered while her lips curved up into a tight, forced grin. She knew that she couldn't afford to make a scene, not when Cass's reputation was at stake.

But as they wa