CASSIE POV

Two days in this mansion, and it already felt more like a home than the twelve years I'd spent with Alexandra. This was a new day. A true dawn.

My eyes snapped open as a beam of sunlight cut across the room. I moved through my new routine mechanically: a scalding shower to shake off the remnants of sleep, then downstairs for breakfast. The strangest part of this new life was my host's absence. For two days, I hadn't so much as caught a glimpse of him. The man who had orchestrated my rescue didn't seem to care if I existed. His indifference was a problem; it would delay my plan. We had an agreement-to break Alexandra, our shared enemy, my tormentor, his rival-but how could we collaborate if he was a ghost?

"Morning, ma'am. What would you like for breakfast?" a maid asked, her tone practiced and polite.

"The usual, please. Bacon and eggs." I took my seat at the immense dining table, the silence pressing in on me. I ate slowly, each bite a bitter accompaniment to the memories of Alexandra. When I was done, I retreated to my room, my mind churning with useless, frantic questions.

Why are you hiding in here? a voice in my head-my own, yet sharper-demanded. Search the place. Learn something.

The thought was a spark in the dark. Repressing a thrill of fear, I left the room and drifted downstairs, my gaze cataloging every closed door. One, marked with a discreet plaque, caught my eye: Private Office – Restricted Access.

My pulse quickened. I glanced down the hall-empty. Without allowing myself a second thought, I slipped inside.

The room was cold and drowned in dim light, the air smelling of old leather and ambition. It screamed mafia boss. The door clicked shut behind me, the sound unnaturally loud in the silence. My heart hammered against my ribs. Before me stood a massive desk, surrounded by shelves groaning with files and ledgers. A soft, red light blinked on a security camera in the corner, its beep a steady, unnerving pulse.

Then, footsteps. Close.

I darted for a large oak cupboard, squeezing inside just as the office door opened. Through the slats, I watched a maid scan the room. "Must have been a rat," she muttered, and with a dismissive shrug, she left, the door latching firmly behind her.

I stumbled out, my breath coming in gasps. This was my chance. I went straight to the desk, my hands trembling as I sifted through piles of documents. I lost track of time, my focus absolute, until I saw it-a file tab labeled with the name that was both a curse and a motive: Alexandra.

I didn't hesitate. The pages revealed a man far deadlier and more cunning than I had ever imagined. My skin crawled. I also discovered my benefactor's true name: Max. Not a billionaire, but a trillionaire, with a portfolio of five multi-million-dollar companies and a list of aliases that spanned the globe.

I carefully returned everything to its place, smoothed my dress, and walked out of the office, projecting a calm I didn't feel.

Back in my room, I processed the avalanche of information, my eyes perpetually drifting to the clock. 6 p.m. This was when Max usually returned, and though he had ignored me until now, that ended today.

I waited in the sitting room, my nerves stretched taut. At exactly 7 p.m., the front door swung open.

There he was, carrying several glossy shopping bags. I rose, smoothing my dress.

"Good evening, Mr. Max."

He offered a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Cassie. How are you settling in?" His voice was calm, casual.

"Well, thank you." I held his gaze.

He looked at me for a long moment, the silence stretching thin. "This is for you," he said finally, extending the bags.

"Thank you," I repeated, accepting them. The gesture was unexpectedly generous.

We stood there, locked in a silent standoff. I opened my mouth to speak just as he began, "So-"

He gestured for me to continue. "Ladies first."

"May I ask you for something?" I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

He nodded and gestured to the plush sofa. As we sat, he summoned a maid without a word. She returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses. The liquid looked dark and intoxicating.

"No, thank you. I don't drink," I said, holding up a hand.

He fixed me with a frown, a silent command that brooked no argument. The look sent a chill through me, a stark reminder of my precarious position. Reluctantly, I accepted the glass.

The wine was a fire in my throat. I closed my eyes as it burned its way down, spreading goosebumps across my skin. He laughed, a low, soft sound. "You were saying?"

I took a steadying breath. "I want to discuss our collaboration. Taking down Alexandra. We need a plan, and we need to start now."

He didn't answer. Instead, he refilled my glass. "Relax, Cassie. We have time."

An hour later, the room was tilting. My head spun furiously, the wine unraveling my thoughts. I tried to stand, to put distance between us, but my legs buckled. I collapsed against him, his arm snaking around to catch me.

Through the alcoholic haze, I looked up at him. I had no clear plan, no coherent thought. Only a dangerous, heat-filled instinct, and the terrifying knowledge that I was no longer in control.

Cassie POV

The trip from the hospital to his mansion, blur out in a few minutes. Soon I was standing in his opulent mansion. Each piece of furniture was glistening under the dim lights. He held onto a bag he proclaimed he stored a few of my important items in.

My eyes glistened through, everywhere screamed luxury.

While sitting there, two ladies approached us with a smile on their faces. They both gradually assisted in carrying the bag he was holding. I smiled and waved at them and they did the same at me. They walked in. Myself and him stood there before he finally said, "You can sit."

I didn't hesitate to do what he had said-my both feet ached badly already.

My eyes still glanced around, while he stood there looking at me. I didn't care about the way he looked at me.

"So..." I dragged his attention away from whatever he was thinking about.

"Please, can I get a bottle of water? I'm thirsty," he smiled at me. He recalled back to one of the ladies to get me a bottle of water.

He stood by my side, just smiling at himself. I couldn't tell exactly why he was smiling and happy. But nevertheless, I think this is God giving him an opportunity for a new life and a new chance. But I won't forget the promise I gave to Alexandra before leaving his house. He shall regret this pain he had caused me and my child.

The lady on white apron walked back to me, giving me a bottle of water. I smiled and I accepted it. I gulped it down my throat. Then I looked back up at him.

"You can sit, I feel suffocated already."

"Oh, I'm sorry about that."

He walked across and finally sat down. I took a deep breath , in and out.

"So...." He dragged my attention back to him. "Miss Cassie, can I know a little better about you?"

I didn't hesitate to give him the full details he needed, running down from my experience with my ex-husband and to the death of my child. He gave a pitiful look at each sentence I made while tears streamed down my eyes-remembering my daughter and how she left me hanging.

"I wish to meet your husband one on one and tell him it should never break the heart of a woman."

I laughed and scoffed at his words at the same time. To him, I might look foolish due to my reaction to his words, but to me, I deeply know that Alexandra wouldn't even care if he does anything to him, besides, Alexandra was a man of power.

Alexandra is a stone-hearted man, wicked to the core, but I thought getting into his life made him a little less soft-hearted. But then he returned back to his old self, a strong-hearted cheat, a man that doesn't value anything called love, but just eats you and dumps you.

Now, I just didn't care about him at this time. What I just wanted to do is get an opportunity that would make him come to my feet and plead for my forgiveness, which I would accomplish. I will make sure he suffers deeply at the hands of his mistress.

"Alexandra my ex husband doesn't give a fuck about anything someone does." His face drained of colors at the mention of the name.

It felt like the name sent warnings to him.

Alexandra, was famous and one of the top billionaires in the city, so knowing Alexandra was more expected.

Billionaires deal with billionaires.

" Do you know Alexandra?" I asked because the way he looked at me screamed warning that he knew him much better.

He nodded, in response to him knowing him.

Then a chill ran down my spine. Maybe they might be enemies or rival.

I knew everyone of Alexandra's friends but this one, no no no, I don't.

"Yes, I do but in a negative way." The echo of his words rang a bell within me. This would be an opportunity for me to get my revenge on him, and this might also be an opportunity for him to get revenge on him.

Yes, he's his rival from the little explanation he gave to me. I was smart enough to grab that in one sentence. Now, this is an opportunity to show Alexandra I wasn't the kind of woman he could joke around with.

I dragged myself closer to him, looking at him eyeball to eyeball. "Can you offer me a favor?" I asked, with a sly smile spreading around my face.

He chuckled at my words, relaxing well on his chair. "No, I can't. You stay here till you get better, then you leave." He immediately stood up, his face that was filled with a smile and a joyful expression just turned against me.

Was he hating me? I asked myself. Why did he walk out on me?

Nevertheless, that wasn't a focus now. I just have to focus on regaining my strength and also getting a better life. But one of the main goals is getting him to play the same game as me, to be in my own lane. Even though this would make me go the extra mile, I was ready to pay every debt for this.

I scoffed out once more.