Chapter 5
No one knew the exact count of test–tube embryos Nathan had implanted in Cassidy, but it was confirmed she carried two boys and a girl. Sadly, one boy was stillborn, and Jayden, the other boy, was swiftly taken from her right after birth.
Josiah couldn’t confirm if both boys belonged to Nathan and Meredith, but it was evident that Paisley, Cassidy’s named girl, was Nathan’s child. It was plausible that Cassidy was already pregnant before the embryo implantation. Over the last five years, Cassidy and Paisley had severed all past connections, depending solely on each other. Believed dead by all, Cassidy lived under the name “Cassidy Jensen Saunders.”
Post–shower, sliding into her nightwear, Cassidy noted a missed call from Josiah and promptly returned it. The call was answered swiftly. Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, Cassidy settled back on her bed with a grin. “Hey, Josiah. Just hopped out of the shower. What’s going on?*
“I heard there was an incident at Paisley’s kindergarten, Josiah said.
Cassidy’s face tightened slightly. “Are you available tomorrow?”
“Yeah, what’s up?” Josiah responded.
“I need your help with Paisley’s move,” Cassidy clarified.
“Has something happened?” Josiah probed.
“Paisley shares a class with Nathan and Meredith’s child. I ran into Nathan today at the kindergarten. I’m worried–Cassidy started, only to be interrupted by the doorbell. Perplexed, she glanced toward the door and quickly said, “Sorry, I’ll call you
back soon.”
“Okay,” Josiah replied.
Ending the call, Cassidy peeked through the peephole, startled to see Nathan outside, his tousled brown hair and striking features contrasting with the night’s chill Cassidy stepped back instinctively, thinking. Just as I feared, he started feeling suspicious. She hadn’t expected him to find her so swiftly.
“Open the door,” Nathan commanded, his voice like a vintage red wine aged for decades, rich and full–bodied.
Cassidy subconsciously locked the door.
As the bolt clicked shut from inside, Nathan’s face darkened. “Cassidy, it’s really you.”
As Sheila retreated from the foyer to the living room, her fingertips loosened, causing the bottle of water to drop to the floor, spilling everywhere.
Outside, Nathan activated the fingerprint panel and entered her birthday, only to be met with an error prompt. He looked up and said sternly, “Cassidy, I’m giving you one last chance. Open the door.”
Cassidy bit her lip tightly, remaining silent.
Nathan’s irritation grew. He keyed in another combination–the birthdays of Jayden and Paisley. With a confirming beep, the door unlocked.
Cassidy watched in shock as the door slowly swung open, letting in a cold draft that seemed to carry a palpable hostility.
Nathan quickly stepped into the foyer, the door slamming shut behind him with a resounding thud. He stood there, partially obscured by the dim light, exuding a dangerous aura
Cassidy felt like a cornered animal, caught under the intense scrutiny of a predator lurking in the shadows. Though Nathan’s face remained indistinct, his penetrating gaze was palpable. Cassidy tensed briefly, then she mustered a strained smile and tried to sound nonchalant. “Mr. Howell, it’s been a while. Hope all’s good on your end.” With nowhere left to run and five years of dodging him in the past, she figured there was no point in hiding anymore.
“Mr. Howell?” Nathan’s irritation grew. He let out a chilly laugh, bridging the distance between them. His handsome features sharply outlined by the moonlight streaming through the window, and his towering height of six feet four inches loomed over Cassidy, dominating her entire view. “Cassidy, you’re very much alive.”
“Yeah. Should I be dead, Mr. Howell?” Cassidy smiled faintly.
D
12:18 PM c
Chapter 3
Nathan pressed his lips together and swiftly advanced towards her. Before she could react, he was already within arm’s reach. His large hand grabbed her bathrobe tightly, and his cold, stern voice sounded above her. “Yes! You should be dead, Cassidy. You really should be!”
Cassidy instinctively fought against his hold, but he easily overpowered her, forcefully hurling her onto the couch. The impact caused a cup on the coffee table to topple and crash, its sound echoing ominously in the stillness of the night.
“Nathan Howell! What are you doing?” Cassidy demanded, her rising anger restrained.
Nathan tightened his grip on her robe and snapped, “Why didn’t you die? How come you’re still alive?” For five years, he had mourned her as dead, and now here she was, alive, with a new identity, having emigrated abroad and raising another man’s child. The thought fueled his fury, and he felt an overwhelming urge to snuff her our on the spot.
And he almost did. Nathan gritted his teeth, his hand darting toward her throat, squeezing hard. Cassidy’s face turned crimson. as she struggled for air, but she couldn’t break free from his powerful grip. Her vision started to blur from the lack of air. “Nathan…” she managed to choke out.
“Good, you still recognize who I am,” Nathan sneered.
“Let go… of me… Do you want… me dead… that badly!” Cassidy’s voice was barely a whisper.
“Yes! Cassidy, I want to kill you right now,” Nathan said, each word dripping with chilling
Cassidy felt her breath growing shallower by the second. Driven by instinct, she fumbled for the coffee table and found a drawer. Summoning all her remaining strength, she opened it and grabbed a pair of scissors. With a burst of determination, she thrust the scissors into Nathan’s shoulder,
A soft thud sounded as the blade pierced his suit and skin, blood spraying onto her face and staining his shirt a dark crimson, Yet, Nathan seemed unfazed by the pain, standing completely still. But as he looked into Cassidy’s terrified eyes, he loosened. his grip. Cassidy coughed violently, holding her bruised neck as the scissors slipped from her weakened grasp, clattering to the floor.
Nathan glanced down at the wound. She was too weak when she made the move, so the cut wasn’t deep, yet blood poured out, gushing steadily.
Cassidy mustered up her final strength to shove Nathan away and stagger towards the bedroom. Nathan got up from the couch with a poker face, moving steadily her way.
Cassidy just about managed to slam the bedroom door, but before she could latch it, Nathan booted it open. Caught off guard by the sheer force, she stumbled and hit the bed. In an instant, Nathan was right on top of her, grabbing the collar of her robe and pinning her down.
He casually shut the door behind him and reached for his belt buckle. The clicks of the platinum buckle reverberated in the room as he spoke with icy resolve, Think I’d let you slip away again?”
SIND DIET
