Chapter 16
Cassandra’s eyelids fluttered open to the pale morning light leaking through unfamiliar curtains Her head pounded, a dull throb pulsing at the back of her skull. She tried to sit up, only to collapse back into the pillow with a groan.
Where was she?
The sheets smelled like cedar and fresh laundry. Not hers. She blinked up at the ceiling fragments of last night struggling to resurface. There had been music. Laughter. A man–hands on her waist. A kiss.
And then… nothing.
Panic rose in her chest as she turned her head and found herself in a neatly made guest bedroom. And then the door opened.
Scott.
He stepped inside quietly, holding a glass of water and some medicine. “You’re awake.” Cassandra sat up clumsily, clutching the blanket around her. “What happened?”
“You got drunk,” Scott said with a soft smile, handing her the water. “Very drunk. I found you at the bar. You were… making interesting choices.”
She winced, her fingers wrapping tightly around the glass. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he replied gently, brushing it off like it was nothing. But her heart was pounding. Not because of the hangover–but because of what she thought she remembered.
A kiss.
His lips brushing hers–brief, tender, and charged with something more than friendship.
She remembered his voice too, low and close, “I know this isn’t real, but don’t make me jealous.”
Her face flushed deeper. Had that really happened? Or had her spinning mind just imagined it all?
Cassandra swallowed hard. “We didn’t…?” she began, but the words trailed off.
Scott tilted his head. “No. You fainted. That’s it.”
She nodded quickly, choosing not to ask further. Her heart was still racing, and she didn’t want to know what it meant. Not yet.
Scott shook his head gently. “No. You fainted in my arms. That’s all. I brought you here to keep you safe.”
Relief washed over her, mingled with embarrassment. “Thank you.”
He nodded, and just then, her phone rang on the nightstand. Her mother’s name lit up the screen. Cassandra hesitated before answering.
“Mom?”
“Where the hell have you been?” her mother snapped. “Johansen sent flowers. Dozens. Gift boxes. Journalists are hounding our front door asking if you’re reconciling. And you? Gone without a word!”
Cassandra closed her eyes and groaned. “I needed space.”
Chapter 15
3/13 62.5%
“Well, stay with Scott. I’ll take care of the press, But if Johansen shows up, don’t speak to him. He’s relentless, Cassandra. He won’t let go.”
Cassandra ended the call with a heavy heart. It was always like this. Something about Johanser -the mess he left in her life–never truly stayed gone.
Meanwhile, Johansen was unraveling.
He paced the length of his study, throwing papers aside, ignoring his ringing phone, and replaying Cassandra’s words in his head: “I would never want to see you again.”
And now she was gone. With Scott. Again.
When he returned home that night, the last thing he wanted was another argument–but Maureen was waiting.
And she was furious.
“You think I wouldn’t find out?” she hissed the moment he entered the house. “You think I wouldn’t see the footage of you at her party? You embarrassed me, Johansen!”
He ignored her, pulling off his tie.
She marched toward him and slapped him–hard. “Why are you doing this? I thought we were in this together!”
He looked at her–finally looked at her–and saw a woman he no longer recognized. A woman who represented a decision he made out of fear, not love.
“I don’t like you, Maureen,” he said flatly. “I’m sorry. I lied to myself, to you, to everyone. But it’s always been her. I tried to replace Cassandra with you, but it never worked.”
Maureen’s face contorted with disbelief. “So what now? You just throw me away? What about our baby, Johansen?”
“I will raise the child,” he replied calmly. “But not with you. I’m done pretending.”
He walked over to his desk, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to her.
“What is this?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“Divorce papers,” he said. “I want you out of this house. Tonight.”
“You’re insane!” Maureen shouted. “She won’t take you back! Cassandra will never come back to you!”
Johansen’s jaw clenched. His temper flared.
“And it’s your fault she left in the first place,” he growled, stepping toward her. “If you had stayed away, none of this would’ve happened.”
“You don’t mean that,” Maureen whispered.
He did. And then–he shoved her. Not hard, but with enough force to send her stumbling back a few steps.
“Go,” he hissed. “Pack your things. Leave. I never want to see you again. Once you’re gone, Cassandra will come back.”
Maureen stared at him, heartbroken and livid.
“You’ll regret this,” she spat. “You think this is over? You’re delusional. Cassandra will pay for everything you’ve done to me. I’ll make sure of it.”
3:59 pm MMMO
She stormed off, slamming the door behind her.
Johansen stood alone in the quiet of his home. The silence now was deafening.
He thought of Cassandra. Of the night she walked out of his life. Of the countless ways he failed
her.
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