04 Marry Me?

“Cassie, why did you suddenly zone out?” Jacob’s voice startled Cassie back to reality. She quickly slipped her phone into her bag, hiding the uneasiness that had begun to spread across her face. “It’s nothing. I just remembered that I have an appointment with someone.” Jacob immediately looked concerned. “Do you want me to take you?” “No, it’s fine. You guys go ahead. I’m sorry, but I have to leave.” Cassie stood up before anyone could stop her. “Be careful, Sweetie,” Gretta called after her. “Okay, Mom.” Cassie smiled as if nothing was wrong before leaving the VIP room. But the moment the door closed behind her, the smile disappeared. Her pace quickened. As soon as she reached her car, Cassie locked the doors before pulling her phone out again. Her heart was pounding harder with every passing second. The photo Luca had sent was still displayed clearly on the screen. Isak. Gretta. A baby girl. And beneath them, a handwritten note: My little family — 2001. The year she was born. Without thinking twice, Cassie called Luca. The call connected within seconds. “What did you mean by sending me that photo?” Cassie demanded without bothering with pleasantries. Luca’s voice came from the other end, calm and composed. “I’m just helping you find the truth.” “My father loved my mother. There’s no way he could have cheated on her.” “Then how is he any different from Jacob?” Cassie fell silent. That one sentence shattered every defense she had. “Who is that baby?” Her voice trembled. “You know where to find me, Darling. If you want to know who that baby is... come and ask me yourself.” The call ended. --- Several dozen minutes later, Cassie arrived at Luca’s apartment. She barely had time to catch her breath before pressing the doorbell. The door opened. Luca stood there, his expression calm and unreadable. “Come in, Darling.” The moment she stepped inside, Cassie turned to face him. “Tell me everything.” Luca merely gave her a faint smile before picking up a photograph from the table. “You may not recognize the baby. But I’m sure you recognize this girl.” He handed the photograph to Cassie. It showed Isak, Gretta, and a much older girl standing between them. Cassie froze. She knew that face far too well. “Kylie?” Luca didn’t answer. “Kylie is their daughter?” Cassie whispered. “Are you sure you want to hear the answer?” “Luca, don’t play games with me.” “Yes. Kylie is their biological daughter.” One sentence. And Cassie’s world came crashing down. “Isak has been betraying your mother for a very long time.” Twenty-five years. For twenty-five years, that lie had been living right behind her. Cassie no longer knew whether she could even trust her own childhood memories. “They betrayed my mother?” she whispered in disbelief. Diona Sterling—the woman Cassie had always believed was deeply and wholeheartedly loved by her father. Her entire life had been built on a lie. Her chest tightened. A sharp pain throbbed through her head, and her vision began to blur. “How could they do something like this...?” Within seconds, her legs gave out. Luca caught her before her head could hit the floor. “Cassie.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her to his bedroom, gently laying her down on the bed. Luca sat beside her. His hand slowly brushed the strands of hair away from her pale face. “I’m sorry, Darling. I know this hurts. But this was the only way I could get you to come to me.” --- When Cassie opened her eyes, her head still felt heavy. Her vision swam for a moment before finally focusing on the unfamiliar ceiling above her. She blinked several times. This wasn’t her room. The realization made Cassie immediately sit up. But her movement stopped when something on the wall caught her attention. Several photographs of her were displayed there. There were even some pictures she didn’t remember ever being taken. The blood drained from her face. “You’re awake, Darling?” Luca’s voice from the doorway made Cassie flinch. She immediately turned toward him. “You took pictures of me without my knowledge?” Her voice was filled with both anger and fear. Luca didn’t deny it. “You’re insane.” Cassie immediately climbed out of bed. She didn’t want to spend another second in that room. But after only a few steps, the room began spinning again. Her body swayed. Luca moved quickly, catching her before she could fall. “Don’t touch me.” Cassie immediately pulled herself away from him. Luca let her go, but the faint smile on his lips never disappeared. “You really are stubborn.” Cassie ignored him and continued toward the door. All she wanted was to get away from him. But after only a few steps, Luca’s voice made her stop. “Do you really think you can fight all of them on your own?” Cassie slowly turned around. Luca was still standing where he was. He didn’t chase after her, yet his gaze seemed powerful enough to keep her rooted to the spot. “Jacob. Kylie. Your father’s family.” One by one, their names left Luca’s lips. “They’ve already taken almost everything from you.” Cassie clenched her fists. Luca continued calmly, “Do you really think they’ll let you take back your mother’s inheritance that easily?” Cassie fell silent. That was the problem. For the first time, she had no one left to trust. The man she had believed was her husband had lied to her. Her best friend—the person she had trusted most—was actually Jacob’s legal wife. And her own family had been plotting everything for years. Cassie drew a deep breath, trying to hold back the emotions threatening to overwhelm her. “Do you need my help, Darling?” Luca’s voice was softer this time. Cassie looked at him suspiciously. “You wouldn’t help me without a reason.” “Of course not.” Luca walked toward her. His steps were slow and deliberate, but somehow, each one only made Cassie more wary. He stopped directly in front of her. “I’ve been waiting far too long to get something from you.” “What do you want?” Luca stared straight into her eyes. “Marry me.” Cassie froze. For several seconds, she even forgot how to breathe. “That’s impossible!” She immediately took a step back. But Luca didn’t follow her. He simply looked at Cassie with a calmness that somehow made her even more uneasy. “Are you sure you want to turn down my offer, Darling?” His voice was filled with such certainty, as though he had already anticipated her refusal. “By marrying me, you can use everything I have to take back what belongs to you.” Cassie fell silent. “You want to protect your mother’s inheritance?” Luca’s gaze sharpened. “I can help you.” Cassie swallowed hard. “You want to destroy Jacob and Kylie?” A faint smile appeared on Luca’s lips. “I can make sure they have nowhere left to hide.” Cassie’s breath caught. His offer sounded like salvation. Yet somehow, coming from Luca, everything sounded more like another trap. “You want to marry me just because you’re obsessed with me?” Luca stared at her without blinking. There wasn’t the slightest trace of hesitation in his eyes. “I’ve wanted you for far too long to let you fall into another man’s hands again.”