Chapter 8

The next morning, I sat in my office, absently stirring my coffee while my phone buzzed with messages. I hadn’t heard from Adrian in days, not since I walked out of his life for good. But today, word reached me he’d been summoned to the Sterling Enterprises headquarters. I imagined he arrived with his usual confidence, expecting to be welcomed like the celebrated businessman he’d become. He was the golden boy, the one who had won over investors and secured deals others could only dream of. What he didn’t expect was to be left waiting for an hour in the executive lounge, ignored by the same people who once catered to his every need. Finally, Reed Walker, Logan’s right-hand man, appeared, his expression unreadable. "Mr. Warren, I appreciate your patience. Unfortunately, Mr. Sterling is occupied at the moment. He asks that you return home. He will summon you another day." Adrian frowned. “Reed, I was asked to come here. Why would I be sent away now?" Reed simply smiled, his tone polite but firm. “Mr. Warren, I’m afraid I don’t have those details." Adrian’s frustration was obvious. “Can you at least give me a hint? Have I done something wrong?" Reed’s smile didn’t waver. “You’ve recently brought great success to this company. There’s no reason for concern.” That only made Adrian more uneasy. Yesterday, at the shareholder’s event, Logan himself had praised him for his achievements. Now, he was being dismissed like an outsider. What had changed? As Adrian left the building, leading his car out of the underground parking, he caught snippets of hushed conversations from the security guards. “His wife was here yesterday. Spent over an hour in Mr. Sterling’s office. Wonder what that was about?” Adrian’s steps halted. He turned sharply. “What did you just say?” The guards exchanged nervous glances before one of them nodded. “Yes, sir. She arrived in the morning, waited outside for a long time before being let in.” Cassandra had gone to see Logan? His jaw clenched as everything clicked into place. No wonder Logan was treating him differently today. Cassandra had gone behind his back, spoken to the one man who had the power to upend everything. She had probably begged Logan to revoke the marriage arrangements. What a move. And to think Vivian had pitied her. She had even defended Cassandra, saying it was natural for her to feel hurt, that she should be given time to accept things. But now, it was clear Cassandra had no intention of accepting anything. Anger surged through him as he climbed into his car, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. Without thinking, he sped through the city, heading straight back home. The moment he arrived at the estate, he slammed the car door shut and strode toward the entrance of Grace Mansion. “Cassandra!” His voice echoed through the halls. Anna, Cassandra’s assistant, was the first to appear. She stepped in front of the staircase, her eyes wide with alarm. “Mr. Warren, please ” But he wasn’t listening. He had questions, and Cassandra was going to answer them. Panic flickered in Anna’s eyes as she glanced between Adrian and me. Her voice wavered as she asked, "W-what are you going to do?" I gave her a reassuring nod. "Anna, step aside." Hesitantly, she obeyed, positioning herself beside me, her watchful gaze never leaving Adrian. Adrian stood across from me, his presence overpowering, his expression unreadable. The tension in the air was suffocating. His once warm gaze had turned cold, piercing into me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "You went to Logan Sterling and begged him to retract the engagement, didn’t you?" His voice was sharp, laced with accusation. I met his gaze steadily and shook my head. "No." His jaw tightened, his lips curling in disdain. "No? So, you're going to lie to my face now? You have the audacity to go behind my back, yet you lack the courage to admit it? How pathetic. I never imagined you to be so cowardly, Cassandra." I studied him, searching for any trace of the man I had once loved, the man I had sacrificed so much for. But the person standing in front of me felt like a stranger. His words were venomous, his expression cruel. Had I ever truly known him? Or had I just been blind to the truth all along? When I didn’t respond, his anger flared. "Say something! What did you tell Logan? Did he agree to call off the wedding?" I took a deep breath, steadying myself before speaking. "He didn’t agree. Your engagement will proceed as planned." The room fell silent. I watched as Adrian processed my words, the tension in his shoulders loosening just slightly. But his gaze remained harsh, filled with something that looked suspiciously like resentment. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. How ironic. I had given everything to support him, to help him achieve his dreams. And yet, here we were, standing on opposite sides of a battlefield neither of us had prepared for. I had spent years waiting for him, believing in a future that no longer existed. And in that moment, I realized something I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t heartbroken. I was free.