The love within

The love within

nuell

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Cassandra had been in a daze all day, the rosy flush on her delicate pale cheeks refusing to fade. Even while handing documents to Tony, she couldn't meet his deep, narrow eyes. The usually assertive woman now carried a softer, more vulnerable air-something Tony found unexpectedly... alluring. How had he never noticed this side of her before? His gaze lingered on her chest; he swallowed hard, heat flaring low in his gut. Damn it. Every time he saw her, his self-control threatened to crack. Noticing his stare, Cassandra's face turned crimson. Her ears tingled as she quickly looked away. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave, President Tomzy!" she blurted, fleeing to her office like her heels were on fire. She slammed the door behind her, hands flying to her cheeks. Her heart pounded wildly.

Chapter 1 Ruthless Awakening

Chapter 1

Ruthless Awakening

Cassandra never imagined that the man she'd been dating for five years was actually married.

The bright red marriage certificate in her hands felt like a thousand needles piercing her heart, shattering what had once been overflowing sweetness.

Her clear, tear-swollen eyes were nearly unrecognizable. Her clothes were torn and disheveled, her once-sleek black hair tangled in messy strands over her shoulders. The thick-framed glasses on her face were cracked on one side-smashed by the furious woman now towering over her. At this moment, she looked worse than a beggar.

While Cassandra stood frozen, clutching the damning document, the woman viciously yanked her hair and spat, "You shameless homewrecker! Sneaking around with my husband while I'm pregnant-I'll kill you!"

Cassandra struggled desperately. She should have been able to defend herself, but those glaring words-marriage certificate-stripped her of any righteousness. The truth was undeniable: she was the other woman, the one who had torn a family apart.

She couldn't accept it.

Just this morning, she had planned to register their marriage. Tonight, she was going to give him her virginity. Their wedding was supposed to be in a week. But now...

This can't be real.

With a sudden burst of strength, she shoved the woman away and lunged at Seth, clawing at his clothes. "Tell me this isn't true!" she screamed.

Seth coldly shook her off, then kicked her to the ground. Wrapping an arm around his heavily pregnant wife, he sneered, "Of course it's true. Did you really think I'd marry you, Cassandra?"

His lip curled in disgust. "Look at yourself-dull, frumpy, downright embarrassing. Bigamy's a crime. I'm not that stupid."

It felt like a lightning strike. She had been caught, exposed as the mistress, completely fooled by this man.

Lying on the cold floor, she stared up at his merciless face, the irony bitter in her mouth. The chill of the ground was nothing compared to the ice spreading through her chest.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, she forced herself up, wiping blood from her lips. Her voice was eerily calm. "Fine. I've been your dirty little secret all these years. I'll cancel the wedding tomorrow. Now get out."

Every inch of her body ached, but all she wanted was for them to disappear.

Seth let out a mocking laugh as if he'd heard the most ridiculous joke. "Did I hear that right? You're telling me to leave?"

A sinking feeling settled in Cassandra's chest. "So what, you're kicking me out instead? I'm the one who paid for this apartment!"

"Who said this place belongs to you?"

Her heart lurched violently as she stared at him in shock. "What do you mean?"

"You homewrecking mistress!" the woman beside Seth spat with venom. "You think you deserve this place after destroying my marriage? Dream on! This apartment is ours now!"

What? Cassandra barked out a bitter laugh, fury rising. "Over my dead body! Get out now!"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Seth's foot connected with her abdomen-this time with brutal force. The impact sent her crashing against the door, the world spinning as nausea churned in her gut.

Before she could regain her bearings, Lydia-her heavily pregnant belly protruding-charged forward and yanked Cassandra's hair. Scalding pain shot across her scalp as strands tore free.

Crack! The slap came too fast to dodge. Cassandra's cheek burned, but she clenched her fists, resisting the urge to retaliate. With that woman's condition, any mishap would give these snakes the perfect excuse to destroy her.

The horrifying truth finally dawned: Seth was a gold-digging fraud who'd played her for years, scheming to steal everything she owned.

Five years together. Five years of killing herself with overtime shifts, sacrificing even basic self-care, all to build a future with him. At his urging, she'd taken out loan shark debts-three million in total-for their apartment and car. And now he wanted to claim it all.

The last thing she remembered before darkness swallowed her was Seth's fist smashing into her face.

A bone-deep chill jolted Cassandra awake. Blinking through the downpour, she realized she'd been dumped in the torrential rain.

Beside her sat three suitcases and a handbag-pathetic remnants of a life where she'd never dared spend on herself.

Her head throbbed as Cassandra struggled to keep her heavy eyelids open. She never imagined Seth could be so cruel-packing up all her belongings and throwing her out into the pouring rain.

I can't collapse now, she thought, gritting her teeth. I won't let that bastard take my house. I need to rest, gather my strength, and fight for what's mine.

Glancing at her watch, she saw it was already midnight. Going back to her parents' place wasn't an option-they'd only worry. Reporting to the police crossed her mind, but... if they found out she'd been someone's mistress and taken out a three-million loan with sky-high interest...

She had just repaid part of the debt a couple of days ago, leaving her nearly broke. A hotel was out of the question.

After racking her brain, only one place came to mind-the office.

"Get lost!" Tony snarled before slamming the phone down.

Staggering into his office, he froze. A flash of white caught his eye-a slender, alluring figure sprawled across the sofa, teasing his senses with every unconscious shift.

He shook his head. Must be the alcohol. No way there's a woman like that here in the dead of night.

Grabbing some documents, he turned to leave-only for the "vision" to roll over. Jet-black hair spilled across her forehead, her half-unbuttoned white blouse slipping open to reveal milky curves. Damn it. His body reacted instantly, heat surging south.

Cursing under his breath, he moved closer, drawn like a moth to flame.

His long fingers brushed her cheek-smooth as silk. Then his gaze locked onto those plush, petal-pink lips. Resistance crumbled. He crushed his mouth to hers, drinking her in with feverish hunger.

She's definitely seducing me.

Cassandra's skull pounded as invasive touches roused her. Her eyelids felt like lead weights. Weakly, she pushed at the shadow looming over her. "S-stop... Get off! L-let me go-mmph!"

Her muffled protest only fueled Tony's frenzy. Undoing his belt, he ignored her struggles, gripping her narrow waist as he sheathed himself inside in one ruthless thrust.

The tightness-that fleeting resistance-drove him wild.

Pinning her wrists above her head with one hand, he moved like a beast unleashed, branding her body again and again until she fell limp beneath him. Only as dawn crept in did exhaustion claim them both, tangled together on the cramped sofa.

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