Chapter 10
“Excuse me, are you the owner of the property?” asked the property manager.
“No,” responded Meredith.
“Then whom are you looking for?” he persisted.
Meredith replied impatiently. “Nathan.”
“Hold on. He began searching the name in the system, yet found nothing. “I’m sorry, there’s no one by that name listed as an
owner.
Meredith grew visibly upset. “It’s Nathan Howell! How can you not know him? I’m his fiancée! Out of my way!”
The property manager replied calmly, “Mr. Howell is a known figure, but he hasn’t purchased a home here, nor is he the owner of this area. You’re not allowed to enter!”
“Who are you to speak to me like that?” Meredith shot back angrily. The property manager merely smiled and remained silent, steadfastly blocking Meredith’s path. Meredith threatened, “What kind of property manager are you? Tomorrow I’ll have someone take over your company. If you plan on earning a living, you better not block my way.”
I’m sorry,
ma’am. You cannot enter,” he reiterated,
Your Meredith fumed.
Cassidy had just arrived at the gate and was about to buy something. She overheard the heated exchange and couldn’t help but glance in that direction. Meredith, catching sight of Cassidy in her peripheral vision, locked eyes with her.
As Cassidy recognized Meredith, her expression turned into a frown, and she quickly walked away, Meredith was taken aback, hardly believing her eyes. Before she could wrap her head around the situation, her body kicked into gear. She hurried after Cassidy and firmly grabbed her arm.
Cassidy swiftly freed herself from Meredith’s grip, facing her with a cold stare. “What are you doing?”
“Cassidy! I–Is that really you?” Meredith stammered.
“Sorry, you’ve mistaken me for someone else,” Cassidy replied sharply and was about to walk away.
Meredith darted in front of her, blocking her path. “Stop acting! You’re Cassidy, aren’t you?”
Cassidy didn’t bother to deny it this time; she had been expecting this moment. Yet, she was no longer the person she once was. Raising an eyebrow, she smiled serenely. “What can I do for you?”
“It’s you! Weren’t you supposed to be dead?” Meredith examined Cassidy from head to toe. Five years prior, Meredith had attended Cassidy’s funeral. Nathan had laid her to rest in the family cemetery and had a tombstone built in honor of his “beloved wife.” Feeling the sting of that gesture, Meredith had silently sworn that the day she became Mrs. Howell, that tombstone would be coming down.
I can’t believe she’s still alive! Then the body five years ago… Meredith mused. It dawned on her then that Cassidy’s body had been so badly disfigured in the car crash that no one bothered identifying it. Nathan hadn’t, and neither did anyone from the Jensen and Howell families. Although Cassidy was the biological daughter of the Jensen family, they had shown more affection toward Meredith. Consequently, no one in the family cared about Cassidy.
‘Could that body have been someone else’s? Meredith thought. “Cassidy, what are you plotting? Since you supposedly died five years ago, why did you come back?” she snapped.
Seeing Cassidy walk out of the neighborhood where Nathan’s phone was located, Meredith pondered, ‘Nathan knows she isn’t dead? Was he with her these last two days? That’s why he hasn’t returned home!
The more Meredith pondered, the more alarmed she became. Five years ago, she had taken Nathan away from Cassidy. Now, not only was Cassidy alive, but she had also returned to vie for Nathan’s affections. “Cassidy, you’re so devious! You’ll resort to anything to achieve your aimst Nathan is with you, isn’t he?” Meredith accused.
“What’s it to you?” Cassidy had no desire to engage further with Meredith.
Chapter 10
“You bitch! I don’t care what tricks you use. I won’t let you steal Nathan away!” Meredith exclaimed.
“Steal? Meredith, everything you have was once mine. And yet you dare say I’m stealing from you?” Cassidy countered sharply. She was the rightful daughter of the Jensen family. Meredith’s biological mother, once a club dancer, had orchestrated a switch at birth to secure a better future for her daughter. If anything, it was Meredith who had stolen from Cassidy.
Meredith said innocently, “I gave everything back to you, including your parents. Seems like they prefer me, though. That’s not my fault, is it?”
“Sure, but I don’t want any of it. It’s all yours,” Cassidy replied nonchalantly.
“What?” Meredith questioned.
“The things that truly belong to me can’t be taken away. I’m not concerned with what you’ve taken,” Cassidy declared, pushing Meredith aside and making her way to leave.
“Explain yourself!” Meredith demanded, chasing after her and seizing her wrist tightly. Cassidy whirled around and swiftly delivered a sharp slap to Meredith. The blow was so powerful that Meredith tumbled to the ground, her hand shielding her face as she gazed up at Cassidy in disbelief. “How dare you hit me? You-”
Suddenly, Meredith’s complexion turned ashen. She clutched at her chest, her breathing labored. It looked like a heart attack. “Cassidy… You…” Meredith struggled to speak as her breaths grew shallower. Her face turned red, her body trembling–a truly distressing scene.
Cassidy looked down at her coldly. “Nathan isn’t here. How long will you keep up this act?”
“You..” Meredith’s eyes widened, but she was barely able to speak.
“Take your time.” Cassidy then stepped over Meredith, flipped her hair, and walked away with a hint of disdain. Meredith tried to follow but collapsed to her knees, clutching at her heart and gasping for air.
A crowd started to gather, discussing concernedly. “Miss, are you okay?”
“It looks like a heart attack.”
“Someone call an ambulance!”
“What’s wrong with you? Your friend is having a heart attack and you just walk away! someone shouted at Cassidy.
Cassidy turned, gave a cold glance, scoffed, and walked off.
Nathan was
jolted awake by the vibration of his phone. He had three phones, a company phone for internal use, another for work–related calls, and his personal phone.
“Cassidy…” He opened his eyes in the dark living room and suddenly sat upright. His phone continued to vibrate, Coming to his senses, he heard the sound of the range hood in the kitchen. He quickly made his way there and found Cassidy cooking
pasta
“Awake? Cassidy asked, without looking up. “Sit on the couch, and leave after you’ve eaten your pasta.”
The kitchen glowed with warm light. Cassidy was clad in a white blouse, simple trousers, and an apron, her brown hair flowing over her shoulders. She appeared effortlessly enchanting. Nathan had imagined this scene countless times. With a smile, he stepped back into the living room.
As the phone vibrated relentlessly, he finally answered it. “Hello?”
“Nathan, where are you? Meredith had a heart attack. She’s in the hospital now. Get over here came the urgent call.
SEND GIFT
