Alaric's POV

"My name is Cassandra and not 'Miss Bride-to-Be,'" she said, downing the rest of the mai tai in one brave gulp. I fought to keep a laugh from escaping.

Who was this brave little Miss bride to be?

She slammed the glass on the counter, then shot me a provocative smile, as if finishing once the glass was a great achievement.

"Who is the scared chicken now?" She retorted, keeping up the facade, she was brave and badass, trying to hide the fact that she trembled slightly, and her eyes were lost, almost looking broken.

It wasn't a big deal, but a huge improvement. It wasn't my style to intervene in others' lives, but not every night you run into a bride-to-be looking completely lost like the sash and crown didn't mean anything on a random Friday night.

She probably has a bachelorette party somewhere close by, and it would have been better to let her go back to her friend, but she wasn't the only one who needed company today.

Once again, I was no saint if not the most selfish person I know.

"Definitely not Cassandra," I chimed, playing along, then beckoned the bartender to bring another glass. The bartender immediately placed the glass beside her, he was doing his absolute best to keep a straight face.

A rare sight, it was for the owner to show up at the bar with a woman.

Cassandra blinked, her hazel eyes dazed as the second glass appeared. "I thought it was just one," she blurted, pouting.

I took a quick sip of my drink, the sweet top note gave way to a clean, sharp burn of the alcohol base that woke my head

"But we are just starting. The night is still young." I replied placing the glass back on the counter while rubbing my finger along the edges of the glass.

Her gaze was fixated on me. Once I glanced at her side, she averted her eyes, scared to hold my gaze.

My gaze lingered on her side profile for a bit, tracing the edges of her face, from her battling lashes to her pouted pink lips.

Her brows were knotted together; deep in thought, like the cocktail was some type of poison. Her naivety was her biggest charm.

"I'm not good at holding my drinks," she finally said. A reluctant sigh escaped my lips, "It's fine then, too bad the night is wasted after spending a fortune on such a handsome gigolo." I said disappointedly. The bartender almost choked on his spit

His face flushed, his awkward laugh was out of place.

Cassandra blinked once more as if letting my words sink in. A rare smirk graced her lips. "You are right, I would not let this opportunity go to waste, and besides, it is meant to be my bachelorette party." She declared, grabbing the glass to down it.

My lips parted and closed, I should have stopped her, warning her she wasn't meant to drink it all up at once, or she might get drunk despite the cocktail being rather sweet...I didn't

I was still on my first and she was done with her second. She slammed the glass on the counter, her eyes were a bit drowsy, the alcohol was slowly kicking in and her confidence got boosted.

"What next ?" Her expectant gaze met mine. I finally finished my mai tai. "Are you up for some shots?" She didn't give a verbal answer and just smiled completely carefree.

The night just started indeed. The bartender started lining up the shots. Cassandra, suddenly fearless, kept downing them one after another like it was a fruit punch.

Her hands stopped trembling with whatever emotions she was hiding, and her laughs were louder like we were the only ones that mattered. "You really didn't," she laughed at a random joke I said to lighten the mood.

"Never knew someone like you could have just an audacity." There seemed to be something in her laugh which made everything seem brighter. She was not the type who rambled on about her life while drunk. No that wasn't Cassandra, it felt like the drink made her forget her troubles for the moment.

"I tricked you out of all your money. Didn't I?" I placed the shot back on the counter. Damn, she was still dead on thinking I was a gigolo, it still baffles me what made her think that way.

Her lips pouted, then she waved off. "I don't care about the money, you can keep it." The song on the speaker changed, and she started humming. It was 'Did It First' by Ice Spice.

Her singing was off and I was barely holding back my laugh. She didn't care about my stiffening smile. Cassandra got on from her seat and started dancing and singing out loud.

The onlookers gave her curious glances, and some laughed at her. This wasn't the club downstairs, and she wasn't meant to dance here, but who was going to stop her when I made the rules?

Cassandra kept on spinning and dancing, laughing in between her lyrics. I didn't even realise my lips were curled up. If it wasn't enough to make herself the centre of attention, she rushed towards me to pull me out of my seat.

"You don't plan on making only me dance. Do you?" She asked, pulling me directly to the middle of the room, where she started dancing around me. My brow arched at her.

The laughs grew louder, and she tossed away her sash, reading bride to be before pulling me by the collar to her eye level.

"Stop standing rigid and dance Mr pretty boy. I paid for you, if I start running around naked, you'd better run along. Do you understand?" Someone was now a little boss lady.

"Yes ma'am. Your wish is my command." I agree holding back my laugh. She was the boss, although if she got drunk enough to run around naked, I would throw her over my shoulders. There was no way I would let anyone see her naked.

"Good then," she chimed and started leading the dance, luckily for me, I had a few moves to match her vibe. Song after song she got wilder by the second. I had to signal the guards to send everyone off the floor to give us a bit more privacy.

She owned the floor now. A slow song started playing, but she wasn't any less energetic. She took the initiative, placing my hand on her slender waist, which felt fragile in my grasp. I was a bit reluctant to get too close, scared of my control wavering

She didn't see the signs and leaned on me. Her bosoms pressed against my chest. Her muffled voice teased. "Now who is the chicken?" She taunted having no idea what her soft frame was doing to me or how intoxicating she smelled.

I still kept the grin, ignoring the subtle twitching from my slacks. I dug this pit for myself...

Cassandra laughed once more, she definitely felt my hardness. It was baffling how she found it funny instead of being scared. My lips could only twitch.

Her laugh died. Her gaze flicked away, and she hid her face against my shirt, pain trembling through her. My chest tightened; I pulled her closer, desperate to offer some small comfort.

Her little hand clutched my shirt, her face buried in my dark shirt. We continued dancing in a sombre mood. She didn't laugh again, instead, subtle whimpers escaped from her lips. Everything she was bottling up was now pouring out.

She didn't stop dancing, nor did her cries stop. Each sob was tearing me apart. I didn't have any words to say so I just let her. She wiggled in my hold, then slowly glanced up with those teary eyes, which almost made me weak in the knees.

Her lower lip was between her teeth. Her lips slowly parted. "Am I so boring you could never marry me?" That wasn't a casual question. Her eyes looked like her world depended on the answer.

I shook my head then leaned down. "You are many things but boring. Any man would be privileged to have you." The words came out naturally.

Her eyes glimmered with hope. "Really," she squealed excitedly. I nodded without a second thought. She hopped to grab my collar, pushing me against a nearby wall. Our foreheads were touching. "Would you give me your surname or better take mine then? Will you be the lucky man?" She asked, completely wasted and probably rumbling.

I laughed unable to hold it back any more. Can she get any bolder?

My fingers grazed her cheeks, wiping off her tears, before cupping them in my palms. "If you love my surname so much."

She smiled, and even the tears looked stunning. "You can't back down now, hubby. You just got a wife."

Still pondering on how lovely the word hubby sounded on the tip of her lips, something soft clashed against my lips, throwing every other thought out the window.

Her lips weren't gentle. They were fierce and hungry like the flames of hell consuming completely. She grabbed my hair and hauled me closer.

Fuck it.

I just found my new cravings and obsession I don't think I can ever get enough of.

Cassandra's POV

My head was a complete mess, and I wasn't thinking straight at this point, like it mattered.

His lips were intoxicating, I knew I should not kiss him and didn't know why I couldn't stop.

His hold on my waist was firm, and I clung to his shirt, deepening the kiss, nibbling and licking his lower lip until we both moaned into each other's lips.

We unravelled each other. A gasp escaped my lips, his hand squeezed my butt, and I didn't even know when his fingers crawled over my skin to get to the edge of my panties. He ignited something forbidden in me.

He forced our lips apart, his teeth nibbling under my ear, sending jolts of sparks through my spine. He hovered over my ear, and a soft chuckle rang in my ears. "Be careful with fire or it might burn you."

The warning came in through one ear and left through the next. I tiptoed to nibble his lower lip once more before giving him a half-witty smile. "Enough talking, hubby, or don't tell me you are scared chicken now?" I taunted him.

He cocked his brow at me, something dark ran through his eyes. My legs almost gave up. A low rumble escaped his throat. Next, I spun around, my back against the cold wall.

A man over twice my size is hovering over me. "You really love pushing me." There was something dark and alluring in his voice, but my brain couldn't register it properly because he was all over me like a storm.

His kiss trailing down my neck and his hands wandering in place, it shouldn't be. The rest of the night drowned in heat, his lips, his hands, the taste of liquor on my tongue until everything blurred into darkness.

*******

The rest of the night was a blur, once he started consuming me. The irritating sound of my high-pitched ringing tone rang next to my ears.

My eyes jerked open and shut back immediately. It was too bright. Why were all the windows open?

I groaned rolling to the side opposite the window. My eyes opened again, and for a moment, I was dazed.

I jolted up without thinking; a sharp headache struck me, and my entire world spun at once. I hissed under my breath trying to make sense of what was happening or where the fuck I was?!

The room was completely foreign like a luxurious penthouse. My body acted on its own, ignoring my piercing headache or the fact that my legs were wobbly.

I ran off the bed, my eyes darted around the room and fell on a mirror. My reflection stared back at me. I was wearing an oversized black shirt, shrouded with a strong masculine cologne clinging. Several hickeys could be spotted from the gaps in the shirt

' Fuck!!. What have you done, Cassie? Another mistake you can't take back.'

I cried out invisible tears, my aching head screamed.

Luckily, my clothes were folded on a nearby table, and they were already dry-cleaned. I didn't need an explanation of what happened, I just needed to get out of here ASAP.

The sound of rushing water echoed from the bathroom. Shit, he was still here. I didn't even remember his face because the entire night was a blurry mess upto when I asked him to marry me.

My hands moved the fastest it has in ages, I grabbed my purse and phone and ran barefoot for my life, leaving the tiara.

It was a miracle my wobbly legs didn't collapse until I got to the elevator. I slouched on the floor to catch my breath while dreading the hangover.

A few minutes later, the elevator ding opened and I fled the building, ignoring the curious stares from the onlookers. A taxi pulled over and I successfully escaped further embarrassment. So I thought.

*****

The entire ride home, I did my best not to cry. What the fuck did I just do? Even if Sinclair was a cheating scum, I shouldn't have stooped to his level.

Cassandra Sterling, the boring, nerdy daughter of the Sterling family, hooked up with a random gigolo on the eve of her wedding.

"I'm dead," I cried, earning a suspicious look from the driver through the rare mirror. My lips clamped together and I sank back into my thoughts. What if he didn't use protection and I accidentally got pregnant, or worse, contracted some kind of disease? Was it worth it?

Time wasn't on my side, soon the taxi drove through the Villa's gate from the glass window I could see Aurelia patiently waiting for me.

The car door slammed behind me and the taxi drove off. Our eyes met and she narrowed suspiciously at me. My stomach churned looking back at the large villa, which was my home, yet filled me with dread of what awaited beyond those doors.

Aurelia scoffed at me, "the slut is finally back." My brows furrowed. Something was off. Did she change after last night?

I glared at her, as memories resurfaced of how my sister, my only sibling, was hooking up with my fiancé. She shrugged and marched through the doors.

My fingers curled into a fist, that's right I wasn't going to run from this. Why was I scared of them? I gathered every drop of bravery I had in me and marched through those doors.

From the foyer, I could hear several voices and a muffled cry. Not too surprising, I got to the parlour and was welcomed by glares. My parents, Aurelia, the cheating bastard and his parents are all sitting on the couch, glaring at me like some hideous monster.

Mum was the first one to speak. She burst out crying. "Where have you been Cassandra Angelina Sterling?"

What was going on? Mum even called my entire name. Before I could even think of a reply, a harsh slap out of reflex I returned the slap

. "How dare you disgrace the Von Duvall name, you little slut?!."

My palm had already struck Sinclair's mother's face.

"Cassandra!!!" Dad's voice boomed. Sinclair's mother was already stumbling, luckily, he caught her before she hit the floor.

"What do you think you are doing Cassie? You spend the night fooling around and have the guts to slap my mother." He accused me.

Baffled, my brows twitched. How did he know?!

"Don't look so shocked, sis. Everyone's already seen what you did last night. You're trending." Aurelia pulled out her phone and showed me a popular TikTok video. A man and a girl are dancing carefree in a bar.

My face was very visible to the camera, but the man lurked under the shadows of the dark light, hiding his identity completely. It looked too convenient.

Shit, this was just great. I clutched my dress then glanced at Sinclair. I was immediately taken aback. His eyes looked completely heartbroken.

Mum was breaking down in a corner crying. I laughed, stunning them all. "You even have the nerve to laugh after what you did. You disgraced our family name." Aurelia self-righteously accused me

I could not stand their hypocrisy. My laugh died down. "Slut?" I laughed bitterly. "That's rich, coming from the one spreading her legs for my fiancé. A pot calling a kettle black."

" You are losing it, Cassie. Stop playing the victim card. Today is our wedding day for crying out loud." Sinclair grabbed my hand, his grip firm as he trembled.

I arched my brow at him completely unaffected. "Did you forget that fact while you were kissing Aurelia last night?"

The room went silent. Sinclair seemed stunned; his grip tightened.

"You are so shameless. Because you have destroyed your reputation, you want to drag me through the mud. " Aurelia jumped in to defend herself.

I completely ignored her, my head was still aching, and I didn't have the strength to deal with her hypocrisy. My eyes fell on Sinclair and I calmly requested. "Let go of hands."

He didn't react, completely dumbfounded like a hurt puppy. I gritted my teeth and yanked my hand off. "Do me a favour and get out of my face." I barked then stormed away, running up the stairs, knowing he would follow behind.

Sinclair ran after me, his footsteps closing in. "Please stop running Cassie. I know you were probably drunk, I will forgive you as long as you apologise." He kept up the act...

My chest tightened but I didn't stop running. I ran into my wedding dressing room, and the door burst open immediately after I stepped in.

Sinclair's gaze was panicking filled with fear. "Come on, baby, what happened? Did I do something? Just tell me and we can put this aside. You know I love and can do anything for you." He pleaded.

I stood staring at this man I couldn't recognise. "Including fucking my sister behind my back," I asked him

His jaw clenched, "You're imagining things, Cassie. Aurelia? She's your sister. I can never do that "

"Shut up." I cut him off then grabbed a bottle of whiskey.

I marched straight to my luxurious designer's wedding dress. "You are the fucking problem!!!" I barked then poured the whiskey on the dress. My eyes didn't even waver.

Before he could process what I was doing. I pulled out Sinclair's old lighter, which I normally carried around, and then tossed it on the dress. It caught fire immediately.

The door was pushed open with the rest rushing in. "What is wrong with you Cassandra?!" Mum cried.

My bloodshot eyes stared back at them. Sinclair looked pale as a ghost. "The engagement is off."

Cassandra's POV

"The engagement is off." The flames raged beside me. Mum shrieked, ordering the maids to put on the fire. The room was plunged into chaos.

Amidst the chaos, I slipped out of the dressing room to my bedroom. I don't even know if they could save the dress.

I slumped on the bed and picked up my phone to text my best friend, Becky. There were several messages in my DM from her worried after I disappeared last night.

Drained, I tossed my phone. I never knew a day like this could come. My entire life revolved around marrying Sinclair. We have known each other since secondary school and got engaged in our freshman year. This wedding had been planned for years, even the dress I burned was personally customised for me.

"Don't cry Cassie, it isn't worth it," I muttered. The door was unceremoniously opened, and I didn't even glance at who it was.

"Enough of this Cassie. I can't put up with all this." Sinclair's annoying voice sneered as he tossed what was left of my burnt dress.

I refused to look at him. "You don't have to. Marry your Aurelia and you won't have to force yourself to fuck a woman you aren't sexually attracted to." I shrugged hoping he would leave.

The bastard didn't leave, he marched towards the bed. He tried to hold my hand, but I evaded him, moving far away. My glare was sharp. His gaze flickered with pain.

"Why are you doing this?!" He blurted.

I snorted, crossing my hand under my bosom. "I am not as spineless as you thought. The wedding is off from today, we are strangers." I repeated in case he didn't hear me earlier.

"CASSANDRA!!!" How untimely I heard Dad screaming my name from down the hallway. Sinclair's fist clenched, his eyes burned. "If that's how you want this to be. One day you will regret it." He said, then stormed away, unable to bear the humiliation.

At the door, he ran into Dad. "What do you think you are doing? Are you on drugs?" Father threw accusations at me.

"Maybe ask your perfect daughter, Aurelia, who was hooking up with Sinclair." I retorted and then picked up my phone. Pretending to scroll on it. I was scared of my father's fury.

Like a storm, he got to the edge of my bed. "Aurelia would never do such a thing." He declared. Even I wouldn't have believed the same thing if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

"Believe what you want. I am done with Sinclair." We had a face-off, and no one was ready to give up.

"Fine, just know if you break up this engagement, there is no place in the Sterling family for you..." My very own father said, instead of probing why, I suddenly changed my mind.

To say I was heartbroken was an understatement. "Daddy..." I blurted. He gritted his teeth. "We have a lot of investment with the Von Duvall family and we can't afford to get on their bad side."

He was choosing business over his daughter. What did I expect? "Fine. I guess this family has no place for me." He was dumbfounded.

Under his gaze I packed my bag, anything I could put my hand on. He didn't stop me. "Goodbye, father." We stared intently at each other. I swallowed a lump then stormed off.

"Cassandra, where are you going?" I heard mum's startled voice from down the hallway. I didn't give her a reply and continued leaving.

Maybe it was best I took a break from everyone. That day, I ignored my mother's cries and pleas. I hailed a taxi and left home. Dad didn't even beg me once. The entire ride I cried out my heart.

********

The doorbell rang, and I stood at the door sniffing, trying to fight the tears. The door was pushed open and Rebecca stepped out dressed in her bridesmaid's dress.

"Cassie," she gasped, surprised at my appearance. Her eyes fell on the luggage. I swallowed a lump. The dress made my heart burn. "Rebecca," I whimpered and she immediately pulled me into her hands

"Everything will be fine." She assured me. Her words broke me. "There isn't going to be a wedding. I hate that bastard." I cried into her arms. She just held me

It's been weeks and I haven't stepped out of Rebecca's apartment. She was nice enough to give me a roof when my life was falling apart. Until now, I haven't told her exactly what happened that night.

I didn't want to relive it again. Rebecca understood not to pry too much. She tried her best to cheer me up while I was wallowing in depression.

For the first time in weeks, I was starting to breathe again, so I decided to check my old emails that I had checked in weeks. Bundled under an old blanket, the TV was playing in the background. There wasn't anything particularly important at first.

My hands stopped. My eyes narrowed on the screen. "Marriage registration." I read out an old email sent a few days after the wedding was called off.

Curious, I clicked it open, and my fragile world collapsed. "What!!!!" I screamed my lungs out, unable to believe my eyes. Who the hell was Alaric Von Duvall? Why was that gigolo's surname similar to Sinclair's!!

I thought my life could get some normalcy after the failed wedding, but fate has another one coming at me.

I walked through the door of a five-star hotel, a bit confused whether this was indeed the location. Why did he bring me here? My face scrunched up remembering the man I was married to was a gigolo.

But it was still a mystery as the event of that day was a haze in my mind. I pulled out my phone to send a text to Alaric informing him that I have arrived. The email contained his contact, and I contacted him on WhatsApp to meet in person.

He agreed and directed me to come here. My phone rang with a notification.

Alaric: Someone will be with you in a minute.

It was a simple reply, and right on cue, a strange voice called out. "Mrs Von Duvall." My brows furrowed, "pardon!!" I found it weird remembering that Sinclair has a similar surname. It gave me a bad memory.

A man dressed in a tailor suit approached, "Pardon me for the address. Ma'am Cassandra. Sir Alaric is expecting." He politely said. It still felt weird but I politely accepted. "Please lead the way."

Under his lead, we headed to the elevator. The man kept on giving curious glances, but averted his whenever I caught him. He selected the floor and soon we arrived with the elevator dinging open.

Loud classical music drifted to my ears. Was there a party going on? I glanced at the escort to question him. He didn't give me the chance when he marched out of the elevator.

I was left with no choice but to follow after him. We arrived at a pair of large doors which were pushed open. The blinding lights and loud music welcomed me

Still dazzled, the escort excused himself. "Sir Alaric will be with you shortly. " He walked off immediately. I was left breathless staring at the lavish hall filled with people. Some I recognised from high society.

How did Alaric get into this crowd? Was my ' husband.' dating a big shot? I wondered.

Growing up in wealth should've made me immune to grandeur, but the hall still managed to steal my breath. Every detail was intricate and screamed wealth.

I was still admiring the delicate chandelier which hung in the middle of the room from the spot I stood, when a familiar voice I didn't wish to hear sneered, drawing my attention.

"Guess who finally crawled out of her hole. If it isn't my dear sister Cassandra." My eyes snapped to Aurelia, who was dressed glamorously, fitting the occasion, a far cry from my simple dress. Alaric didn't tell me the nature of the event

After the engagement was called off, the trending videos were all taken down to protect the Von Duvalls' reputation, leaving the past a mystery that still plagued me.

"Aurelia," I blurted. My hands clutched my purse trying to hold myself together. She stood holding her wine glass with a disdainful gaze just when I thought this couldn't get any worse. I heard that voice which still plagued me.

.

"Cassandra, what are you doing here?" Sinclair asked slowly, approaching me. His gaze was still carrying that hurt look which always left me puzzled.

"Please, can we talk things over?"He pleaded, but Aurelia's face turned rather ugly. Sinclair left me baffled, looking broken like the break-up had affected me. He wanted to hug me.

But before he could get close an arm appeared before him blocking his way. "You should avoid carelessly touching a married woman, especially one who is my wife." A dried-out voice heavy with tension slowly said.

My head bobbed up to meet his dark gaze, those abysses I remembered. It was him. "Alaric," I whispered. Was he always this charming?

"Hi, Cassandra. It's been a while." He gave me a soft smile and I felt my face heating up. His hand curled around my waist protectively, pulling me closer.

Sinclair just watched us unable to move. He wasn't the only one stunned. Alaric guided me to the middle of the room and then raised his glass.

The entire hall went silent.

"Thanks for coming tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the reason for our celebration tonight." He chimed then gazed down at me with the sweetest smile.

"Meet my wife, Cassandra Von Duvall, the newest member of the Von Duvall family "My heart started to thud. Everyone's eyes were on me. What was going on?

A sharp voice cut through the tension. Sinclair rushed towards me, then grabbed my arm. "What do you mean by your wife? You can't marry my fiancé, uncle. Cassandra is mine."

Wait, they were truly related!!!