Semua Bab Once Divorced, Now Desired: Bab 1 - Bab 10

Cassandra’s POV“Mommy, you’re always like this—that’s why everyone hates you! It’s getting late and Grandma doesn’t like that.” our 6-year-old daughter Ava cried out impatiently.I froze, the words hurt me deeply. I never imagined that in Ava’s eyes, this was who I had become.Today was my mother-in-law Margret’s birthday. She held a party in the luxury mansion.I looked at my phone. Still, no message from my husband Marcus.Marcus had promised we’d all go together, but I didn’t know if he had returned from his business trip yet.Then my phone buzzed in my hand. Finally, Marcus.But as I glanced at the screen, it was an unknown number.Ava isn’t your biological daughter.I frowned, felt shocked, and didn’t understand the exact meaning of the message. Is it a joke? But who would joke like that?Before I could finish the thought, Ava cried again, “We’ve already wasted too much time. Having a mom like you is so embarrassing!”I lowered my head. The fact that my daughter felt ashamed of

Cassandra’s POVAva’s words hit me so hard, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.“Ava,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm despite the growing frustration, “you can’t stay up all night. I’m just trying to help you.”“Help? You don’t help. You just boss me around all the time. I don’t need you to tell me what to do every second!”“I’m your mother, Ava. I have to make sure you’re okay.”She crossed her arms, her voice became cold. “I don’t want to talk with you.”With that, she turned and slammed the door shut in my face, cutting off any chance of response.With a sigh, I walked to the kitchen to prepare dinner, my hands moving automatically.But the silence of the house seemed to stretch, a stark reminder of the distance between us.Later that night, I kept calling my husband, but he didn’t answer. I was used to it by now—late nights at the office, missed dinners.Yet, no matter how often it happened, a small part of me still held on to hope, foolishly waiting for him to acknowle

Cassandra’s POVI opened my mouth to say more to the nurse, but then I saw Royce Harrington.He stood near the nurse’s station, flipping through a patient file, his posture straight but relaxed, just as I remembered. Royce had been my classmate, and we became friends after working together on a competition. Back in school, he was like a brother to me—always supportive and willing to help.“Cassandra?” His voice carried the same warmth I remembered, tinged with surprise. “Wow. It’s been a long time.”I forced a smile, trying to push down the whirlwind of emotions threatening to surface.“It has,” I agreed. “I didn’t know you were back.” He studied medicine abroad.“Just recently. What about you? What brings you here?”I hesitated, my fingers tightening around the edges of the report.“I, uh, brought my daughter Ava in for a checkup earlier,” I fibbed. “They told me she has mild anemia, so I wanted to follow up.”Royce frowned slightly. “Anemia? That can be managed, but it’s good that

Cassandra’s POVI had imagined this moment a hundred times.Walking into the office one last time, not as Marcus Cole’s secretary—not as his wife—but as a woman finally taking back control of her life.The receptionist gave me a polite nod as I walked past, heading straight for Marcus’s office.He wasn’t here yet. Good. I didn’t want to see him.I stepped inside his office—cold, modern, impersonal, just like the man who occupied it—and strode toward his desk. Without ceremony, I placed the envelope right in the center of the smooth glass surface.The top document was my resignation letter, simple and professional. Beneath it, the divorce papers, signed. And finally, at the very bottom—the maternity test results.Let him figure it out in his own time. Let him realize what he’s lost.I took one last look around before turning on my heel and walking out.I had almost reached the elevators when a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks.“Cassandra?”I turned to see Violet standing there, d

Cassandra’s POVStacks of unopened boxes lined the walls, and the floors gleamed, freshly polished but untouched, waiting for the pieces that would bring the space to life.Shit, it’s really happening. I couldn’t help but smile.Emma stood beside me. “I’m thinking the lighting fixtures should be installed next week,” she mused. “That way, we can start setting up the main workspace without any delays.”I nodded with a grin. “Sounds good. We’ll need to finalize the equipment orders by then, too.”Just as she was about to respond, my phone buzzed. Oh, no! It’s Grandpa John.For as long as I could remember, Marcus’s grandfather had been like my own. He had looked after me, supported me in ways no one else had, and I could never simply walk away from that—even if I had already chosen to sever all ties with Marcus.“Cassandra,” his deep, authoritative voice came through, warm but firm as always. “Come to the house for dinner tonight.”I stiffened. I hadn’t spoken to him since leaving Marcus