Chapter 13
Johansen was torn.
He stared at the city lights from his hospital room’s window, the glow of the skyline doing nothing to clear the chaos in his mind.
Cassandra.
Maureen.
The child Maureen carried.
He wanted Cassandra–he always had. But how could he just leave Maureen now? After everything, after the blood, the hospital, the terrified look on her face before she blacked out. The child inside her was his heir. His responsibility. If he turned his back now, what kind of man would that make him?
And what if Cassandra didn’t want him back?
What if she’d truly moved on?
He clenched his fists.
He couldn’t risk being alone. Not now. Not when everything else in his life was crumbling–his company, his name, his legacy.
So when Maureen finally woke up, pale and fragile in her hospital bed, he made a decision.
“Hey,” he whispered softly, setting down a delicate bouquet of peonies by her bedside–her favorite. “I got these for you.”
Maureen blinked slowly, eyes watery. “Johansen?”
“The baby’s fine,” he added quickly, sitting beside her. “But the doctor said your pregnancy is very sensitive. We’ll need to be extra careful.”
She sniffled. “I was scared. I thought-”
“I know,” he interrupted, reaching for her hand. “And I’m sorry. For yelling. For everything. I… I just want to make this right. For you. For the baby.”
Maureen studied him for a long beat. “If you still want Cassandra… you can go to her.”
His heart twisted. He should’ve said yes. Should’ve chased after Cassandra.
But instead, he lied.
“No,” he said quietly. “I want you. You and our baby. That’s my family now.”
Maureen’s lips curved into a small smile. She leaned her head against his arm. “Then… let’s be happy. Just us.”
He kissed her forehead, letting the guilt sink deeper into his bones.
Once she was discharged from the hospital, Maureen quickly slipped back into her usual habits. “We should shop for baby things,” she chirped. “I want everything to be perfect.”
Johansen nodded. “Of course. But… just keep in mind, the company’s not doing great. We’re close to bankruptcy. We have to be careful.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “This is Cassandra’s fault anyway.”
Chapter 13
3:58 pm
He didn’t argue.
“Yes,” he said with steel in his voice. “She’ll pay for it.”
After a few days in the hospital, Maureen was discharged with strict instructions to rest, eat well, and avoid stress. Johansen brought her home, holding her hand the entire ride as if nothing else mattered. He smiled when she smiled, nodded along when she excitedly talked about nursery colors and baby names, and even cooked her breakfast one morning–burnt eggs and all.
To everyone else, they looked like a couple deeply in love, expecting their first child with overflowing joy. But behind Johansen’s eyes was a quiet storm he tried hard to suppress.
He kissed her forehead when she fell asleep.
He whispered sweet nothings when she needed reassurance.
He laughed when she teased him about baby strollers and plush giraffes.
But each moment felt like borrowed time.
His heart wasn’t in it–not fully. Not since Cassandra.
Still, he tried.
Because Maureen had been there.
Because she carried his child.
And maybe, just maybe, pretending long enough would make it true.
On the fourth day, Maureen suggested they go out for a short walk, something light and cheerful. She wanted to shop for baby things. Johansen agreed, forcing a smile as he reached for the car keys.
And so, they went.
Maureen, thrilled to be out again, bounced from store to store picking out onesies and baby cribs with price tags that made Johansen’s head throb.
Still, he kept silent, dragging his feet behind her.
They were walking past a high–end fashion store when a television display inside the glass window caught his eye.
A breaking news segment.
He almost didn’t pay attention–until he heard the name Scott Andrel.
Johansen’s eyes narrowed. He knew Scott. A clean–cut, smug–faced rival from college. His family ran a chain of successful retail malls across the country. Johansen had always hated him–toc perfect, too polished, too rich.
The reporter was smiling. “-and in a surprising move, the Ruiz Group is launching a high–end fashion brand to occupy an entire wing of their flagship mall, featuring designs by a fresh but immensely promising talent…”
Johansen tuned out. Until the name hit him like a punch in the chest.
“Cassandra Ruiz.”
His breath caught.
Chapter 13
2/3 52.89
3:58 pm MMMG.
He turned to the screen.
There she was. Cassandra, In a black dress, standing next to Scott. Smiling. Radiant. Alive in a way he hadn’t seen in a long time.
Scott’s hand was lightly on her back as they greeted photographers. They looked good together.
Johansen couldn’t believe it.
His Cassandra. With him?
“Johansen?” Maureen called, realizing he’d stopped walking. “What’s wrong?”
But he couldn’t answer.
His eyes were locked on the screen.
On the woman he had broken.
The woman who was supposed to be ruined.
Instead, she looked like she was thriving.
And with Scott?
He felt his chest tighten.
A cold, consuming rage began to rise in him.
She wasn’t supposed to bounce back. She wasn’t supposed to win. She wasn’t supposed to look that happy with someone else. It should be him.
Johansen clenched his jaw.
She thought she’d escaped him.
Thought she’d play this game and leave him broken.
But she was wrong.
Dead wrong.
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
Charter 12
