Chapter 4
He looked at me for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Cassidy Pierce, that’s enough.”
After the party ended, I stood alone at the curb waiting for my ride.
Just then, Julian’s car pulled up in front of me, his expression cold.
“Get in!”
I shook my head. “No thank you. My husband is coming to pick me up.”
Hearing this, Julian scoffed. “Cassidy Pierce, how long are you going to keep up this charade?”
“You can fool others, but not me.”
“Everyone in NY knows you’re so in love with me you’d die for me. Who would possibly want to marry someone like
you?”
“Get in the car now, and I won’t bring up your unauthorized return to the city.”
Julian’s tone was harsh as he spoke.
When he saw I remained standing motionless, his brows furrowed, and a look of disgust crossed his face.
“Don’t tell me you really have become someone’s mistress? Who would have such poor taste?”
At his words, I smiled faintly.
“Mr. Hart, have you ever been kept as someone’s plaything? Otherwise, why would you immediately assume others are being kept?”
“Only someone with a dirty mind sees filth everywhere they look.”
Hearing this, Julian’s expression twisted as if he’d swallowed a bug.
He shot me a murderous glare: “Cassidy Pierce, what have you become?”
Looking at his pained expression, one might think he was genuinely heartbroken.
But I hadn’t changed at all.
I’d always been sharp–tongued since childhood. My mother had scolded me for it many times.
Later at the Hart estate, my personality never changed. I remembered the first time I sassed someone there, Julian had laughed from the sidelines.
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Chapter 4
He’d said a girl should have some fire in her–it kept people from walking all over her.
But after Eliza appeared, he suddenly found me insufficiently ladylike, not gentle enough.
So I suppressed all my sharp edges, just for him.
Now, I refused to change myself for him anymore.
Eliza had been sitting quietly in the passenger seat, listening to Julian and me argue.
Seeing Julian’s expression, a glimmer of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.
Then, ever the peacemaker, she advised: “Cassidy, how could you speak to Julian that way? He only wants what’s best for you.”
“Zip it,” I rolled my eyes at her, thoroughly annoyed.
“Nobody asked for your two cents. This is between Julian and me. Why do you always have to butt in?”
Eliza was caught off–guard, her expression turning awkward.
Just then, a pink sports car pulled up behind them.
Without another glance at either of them, I strode over and got in.
As the engine roared to life, I could still hear Julian shouting angrily behind us.
That night, I received a call from an unknown number.
I answered to find it was Blake, one of Julian’s closest friends.
“Hey Cassidy, whatcha up to?” he asked casually.
I turned down my music. “Prenatal education.”
There was a brief pause on the other end, then a confused voice asked: “Prenatal what? Like… for a baby?”
I nodded, though he couldn’t see me. “Yep, exactly that.”
Blake: “C’mon, quit playing around. You and Julian haven’t seen each other in ages. No way you’re pregnant.”
I replied calmly: “The baby isn’t his.”
Blake raised his voice: “For real? You actually got married and you’re knocked up? This isn’t some joke?”
I shot back: “What, am I not allowed to get married and have a baby?”
“It’s not that. Just… you and Julian were engaged forever, and you were crazy about him. How’d you suddenly end up married to someone else? You’re totally making this up, right?”
Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh.
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Chapter 4
Why did everyone think I was lying?
Marriage was a serious matter–I wouldn’t joke about something like that.
“I really am married,” I paused for effect. “When we have our wedding ceremony, I’ll be sure to invite you.”
Just as I finished speaking, I heard a commotion in the background.
Then the call abruptly ended.
I didn’t think much of it.
After all, nine out of ten of Julian’s friends looked down on me, even during the times when Julian treated me best.
After Eliza showed up, they despised me even more.
I’d overheard them badmouthing me countless times.
A few minutes later, another call came in–it was Julian.
I recognized it immediately.
When I answered, he didn’t even let me speak.
“Cassidy Pierce, go get rid of that baby!” he barked.
I found his reaction almost comical.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
Julian’s voice grew even more furious: “Cassidy Pierce, I said go terminate that pregnancy!”
His voice was so loud I could probably hear him from across the room without speakerphone.
I held the phone away from my ear, responding icily: “If that’s all, I’m hanging up.”
“Did you not fucking understand what I just said? Where the hell are you right now?!”
After knowing Julian for so many years, I’d witnessed his temper tantrums plenty of times. So his shouting no longer affected me.
The barrage of questions continued from the other end of the line.
Suddenly, someone snatched the phone from behind me.
Then I heard Grayson’s deep, magnetic voice.
“Cassidy needs to sleep now. Whatever it is can wait for another day.”
Before Julian could respond, Grayson ended the call.
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Chapter 4
I turned to see him looking at me with amused eyes.
He swept me up into his arms while I wrapped my arms around his neck.
His scent enveloped me with every breath I took–that peach–scented body wash I was absolutely obsessed with.
I nuzzled against him softly, and he chuckled above me.
“Looks like I need to step up my game, or all that prenatal education will go to waste.”
I laughed too. “I was just messing with him.”
Grayson lowered his head to kiss my lips, murmuring: “Not for long, it won’t be.”
Three days later, I returned to the Hart estate.
Grayson and I went together to visit Grandfather Hart.
Years ago, he was the one who had brought me to the Hart family and had always treated me like his own granddaughter.
But his health had deteriorated in recent years, and he spent most of his time receiving treatment abroad. He’d
returned to celebrate his 80th birthday and planned to go back overseas for further treatment afterward.
After seeing Grandfather Hart, Grayson received a phone call and went to the back garden. And I waited for him in
a quiet corner.
“I thought you wouldn’t come back.”
Hearing this, I turned to see Julian standing behind me, his face dark as a thundercloud.
Ignoring his expression, I smiled. “Of course I’d come for Grandfather’s birthday. Plus, it was the perfect opportunity to introduce my husband to him.”
Julian stared at me coldly. “Got some new tricks up your sleeve? Have you spent these years in the countryside just plotting ways to piss me off? Let me tell you, it’s not happening. I will never marry you! I’m going to tell
Grandfather to cancel our engagement right now.”
With that, he glanced at my belly with disgust.
“Take your bastard child and get out of the Hart family for good!”
“I never want to see you again.”
As he finished speaking, a smooth, cultured voice interrupted.
“Oh? Look at Mr. High–and–Mighty Hart throwing his weight around. I wasn’t aware you were running the Hart family now.”
Julian’s body stiffened as he turned to face the newcomer.
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“Uncle Grayson.”
Grayson walked to my side, taking my hand in his, and looked at his nephew standing before us.
“I’m hardly deserving of that title anymore. Not when you’re bold enough to kick your aunt out.”
At those words, all the color drained from Julian’s face.
His eyes fixed on our joined hands, his voice suddenly unsteady.
“You… you’re saying she’s my aunt? Cassidy… and you?”
Grayson gave him a dismissive glance, his voice taking on a chilly edge: “She is your aunt, and you’re addressing her
by her name? Where are your manners?”
Julian looked like he’d seen a ghost.
But he quickly composed himself.
Even throughout the subsequent family dinner, he behaved as if nothing had happened, as if the earlier
confrontation never took place.
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