The request sounded simple enough, but to Frederick Jones, nothing was ever simple, not when it came to Cassie.

On their wedding day, he had felt like a man sealing a business contract rather than making a vow of love.

When they got intimate that night, it was purely out of duty, the fact that he needed an heir.

The moment she mentioned that she would have a child, his job was done. He had been her first, but Frederick's first and only love had always been Sienna. He had no regrets rekindling that flame.

Cassie had loved him since childhood, but he had only ever loved her as a sister. That changed after he received proof of her involvement in Sienna's accident.

The brotherly affection he once felt turned into something darker-loathing. The only reason he stayed was their daughter, Rose.

After Sienna woke from the aftermath of the accident, Frederick found another reason to believe Cassie had faked Sienna's sickle cell status to prevent their marriage.

And if that wasn't enough, he had proof Cassie had cheated on him after their wedding with her close friend, Sebastian Hale.

A woman with this level of sin did not deserve pity.

His heart had always belonged to Sienna Vale. Marrying Cassie had been the price of power. So he never cared, only made her suffer the consequences of her actions throughout their seven-year marriage.

Now, seated in his glass-walled corner office overlooking Chicago, Frederick felt both victorious and hollow. From this height, the city stretched endlessly beneath him, a living map of everything he owned, everything he'd sacrificed.

Becoming CEO of the Novarion Group had been his parents' reward for marrying Cassie. She had given him the family image he needed, even a beautiful daughter. But now, that arrangement had reached its end.

He leaned back in his Italian leather chair, his expression unreadable. "Have you thought this through?" he asked, voice clipped, detached.

Cassie stood across from him, her reflection framed in the polished glass behind him.

There had been a time when his voice alone could make her heart flutter. Now, it only made her stomach tighten.

He was still devastatingly handsome-dark hair, chiseled jaw, eyes that could charm a room, but every glance reminded her of what she had lost.

"You won't have custody of Rose," Frederick said coldly, his tone final.

Cassie's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "She already chose you and her."

His brows knit together. "She told you?"

"I forced it out of her," Cassie admitted quietly. "And I promised not to tell you. But I hope you'll be wise about how you use that information."

Frederick exhaled slowly, the faintest flicker of guilt in his eyes before it vanished.

He nodded once, businesslike, and reached for his pen. "If you're truly giving up custody, with only visitation rights, then I'll have my lawyer finalize this."

Beside him, Sienna sat with calculated grace, honey-blonde hair perfectly arranged, lipstick a shade too red for sincerity. A thin smile curved her lips until Frederick's next words wiped it away.

"My lawyer will get in touch about the paperwork," he said evenly. "And I'll determine what alimony you're entitled to."

Sienna's posture stiffened at the mention of money, her smile freezing. But Cassie only tilted her head slightly, her calm unnerving. "Keep your money, Frederick," she said softly. "And I'll keep mine."

Frederick's pen stilled. He looked up, composure cracking into irritation. "You have nothing, Cassie. Don't be foolish." Or was she trying to reunite with Sebastian?

His tone sharpened, but beneath the arrogance was discomfort, truth he didn't want to face. His parents would insist he treat her fairly, and that alone restrained him.

Otherwise, he wouldn't care if she disappeared entirely or made up with her old flame.

Cassie's voice remained steady. "If you insist on paying alimony, then I'll take five billion."

Sienna's eyes flashed, disbelief and anger mingling. "Five-what?"

Frederick slammed his pen down. "Be serious."

Cassie's gaze didn't waver. She didn't want Frederick to have a share in what was hers, even if it wasn't as much as his.

"That, or nothing. You decide. Either you pay what I know I'm worth, or I walk away with my dignity intact."

Frederick scoffed internally at her mention of 'dignity' but couldn't hide his confusion. Her money? As far as he knew, Cassie had nothing but her designer wardrobe and the credit cards he'd given her.

Yet there was something in her tone, quiet, determined, that made him hesitate.

When she turned to leave, Sienna rose abruptly and caught her by the arm.

"Cassie, please, don't be like this. I never meant for any of this to happen. But we don't choose who our hearts beat for... sickle status or not. I don't blame you for changing the result."

Cassie's eyes swept over her-flawless makeup, glittering jewelry, perfection that mocked her own disheveled simplicity.

Her loose waves, bare face, and casual dress made her look out of place in this cold, luxurious office. Yet somehow, she looked more real than either of them.

"Changing the result? I did no such thing," Cassie denied, but Frederick snapped. "Stop the lies. I spoke to the doctor. He said you paid him to have it changed."

Cassie had no idea what was going on, but one thing was certain. Someone had set her up, and Frederick didn't care to investigate it well enough.

Since she had no desire to stay in a marriage with a cheating husband, they could think what they liked.

"Sure, Sienna," Cassie said evenly. "There is nothing hidden that will not be brought to light. I hope that when that time comes, you'll have the dignity to stand, as I have mine leaving."

Sienna flinched, her fingers tightening on Cassie's arm. Bitterness ran deep. "Fred never loved you," she hissed. "He only married you to secure his position from his twin brother."

Cassie blinked, startled. "Twin brother?" So that was the reason he married her? She'd heard about his twin once or twice, but also that they weren't on good terms and had never met.

Before she could ask more, Sienna's grip turned violent. Cassie instinctively shoved her away.

Sienna stumbled backward, the sharp heel of her stiletto catching the rug. "Ahh!" she cried, clutching her abdomen.

Frederick was at her side in an instant. "Sienna!" His voice broke for the first time that day. One arm slid behind her back, the other under her knees. Then he froze.

There was blood.

Cassie's breath hitched when he glared at her. "I-she grabbed me-"

Frederick's gaze snapped up, dark and furious. "If anything happens to her," he said through gritted teeth, "you can forget your alimony. And you'll never see Rose again."

Cassie stood frozen as he lifted Sienna effortlessly into his arms and carried her out. The sound of his shoes echoing down the marble corridor stayed with her long after he vanished.

She didn't know what possessed her to follow them to the hospital. Maybe guilt.

Maybe desperation. Maybe the need to know whether she had truly hurt someone, or if fate had simply decided she'd been punished enough.

Her thoughts spiraled as she drove through the streets of Chicago. 'Was it my fault? Did I push her too hard?'

She didn't even see the oncoming car until the glare of its headlights filled her windshield.

The impact jolted her sideways-metal against metal, the sharp crack of glass, a screech of brakes. Her sedan spun once before she wrestled it to the shoulder of the road.

Her chest rose and fell in rapid bursts. The world steadied, but her nerves didn't. The other car, a Bentley Flying Spur, sleek and silver, came to a stop a few feet away. The door opened, and a tall man stepped out.

He was strikingly handsome, broad-shouldered, dark-haired, and commanding in his gray suit. There was something disarmingly familiar about him. When his eyes met hers, Cassie's breath caught.

"Frederick?" she whispered, stunned.

The man's expression didn't change. His voice was deeper, smoother, edged with authority. "You know my twin brother?"

Cassie blinked, disoriented. The resemblance was uncanny, but this man carried himself differently. His posture was stronger, his eyes sharper, his aura more dangerous.

Her heart thudded in her chest. This must be Franklin, she realized quietly, as he assessed her like a stranger from another world. Everyone in the USA elite knew the name Franklin Roth, the reclusive twin.

The one who'd left Wall Street years ago to build a global empire from the shadows. Rumor had it his wealth dwarfed even the Novarion's.

Glancing at the dent in his car, he sighed. "You're lucky I hit the brakes in time."

Cassie swallowed, still trembling. "I'm sorry for the damage. Just give me your mechanic's number. I'll handle the cost."

He stared at her, incredulous. "You?" His tone dripped with amusement. "Repair my car? Can you even afford the tires?"

"We'll work something out," she said seriously, her voice steadier than she felt. She didn't want to insist she could pay, especially not when she had no idea what his relationship with Frederick was like.

Franklin studied her for a moment, his gaze sharp and unreadable. Then he said, "Well, my parents are expecting me to bring a woman. Pretend to be my date, and I'll let it go."

Cassie blinked, stunned. "Pretend to be your date?"

The city noise faded behind them, replaced by the hum of tension, electric and unexpected. Cassie stared at him, unsure whether to laugh or run.

She had just lost her husband. Now his twin was asking her to play a part in his world.

And somehow, deep inside, she knew that saying yes might change everything.

What kind of cruel fate was this? Would he have made the same offer if he knew she was his soon to be ex-sister-in-law?

"I'd rather pay for the damages," she said seriously, her voice calm but firm.

Franklin took offense, her rejection landing like a slap. He pulled a notepad from his coat pocket, scribbled something, and handed it to her. "There. Call my mechanic and have it fixed."

Without another word, he turned and stepped into his Bentley. Just then, a Rolls-Royce pulled up beside him.

As Franklin disappeared into the back seat, a sharply dressed man exited and approached Cassie to discuss the damages.

The amount was staggering. But Cassie didn't flinch. She opened her banking app and transferred the full amount on the spot, stunning the man into silence.

She looked too simple, too unassuming, to have that kind of money.

Cassie arrived at the hospital, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. As she neared Sienna's ward, voices drifted through the door, sharp, cruel, and unmistakably directed at her.

"Your wife is so evil. Good thing you're divorcing her."

"Jealousy kills. The sooner the better. I hope you both make a new baby soon."

Cassie froze. Her heart twisted. They had lost the baby, because of her. She took a step back, dazed, and bumped into a nurse. The tray of supplies crashed to the floor, shattering the silence.

The noise drew attention. The door opened, and out stepped Frederick, flanked by his two closest friends, Lucien Veyron and Asher Davis.

And then, Franklin.

He stood protectively beside Frederick, his expression hard. "That's the crazy woman who hit my car."

This was the first time he was seeing his twin brother in decades.

Separated just months after birth, their biological parents had agreed to cut all contact with Franklin. It was a decision rooted in secrecy and sacrifice. For years, silence reigned until inheritance came into play.

When the time came to pass down the family legacy, their parents reached out. Frederick, unmarried and deemed unprepared, was no longer their ideal heir. They turned to Franklin.

But by then, Franklin was already managing his adoptive parents' empire and building his own global venture. He had no time, and even less interest, in fighting for an inheritance he didn't need. Without hesitation, he let Frederick have it all.

Years passed. Franklin expanded, evolved, and eventually decided to move some of his branches to Chicago. It was then that he contacted Frederick. They agreed to meet-two strangers bound by blood, finally facing each other.

Who could have predicted that their long-awaited reunion would take place in a hospital?

Frederick's cold gaze locked onto Cassie. "I hope she paid for the damages. That's her."

"Your wife?" Franklin's face twisted in distaste. Now he understood the reason for Cassie's rejection of his offer.

"Ex," Frederick corrected. "I'll make sure we finalize the divorce soon enough. And I'm not giving her a dime."

"Fred, I didn't mean to-" Cassie began, but Frederick cut her off.

"I saw everything. You don't deserve to be a mother."

Cassie's breath caught. Sienna could have everything. Frederick, the house, the title, but taking Rose completely? That was a wound she couldn't bear.

For her daughter, Cassie would do anything. Even cast away her pride.

"Please, Fred. You have to believe me. You can't keep my daughter from me."

Frederick's eyes burned with disgust. "I warned you. I saw everything. You knew she would have a child, and you still pushed her."

"She gripped my hand tightly. I was just trying to free myself," Cassie said, her voice cracking. A tear slid down her cheek, but Frederick was unmoved.

"Liar. Get out of here."

"Fred, are you alright? Why are you yelling?" Sienna's voice floated from inside the room.

Cassie watched as they all rushed back to her side, leaving her alone in the hallway.

She turned away, letting the wind dry her tears as she made her way to Rose's school.

But Frederick was already ahead.

Two bodyguards and a nanny stood waiting at the school gates. When Rose stepped out, her eyes widened in fear as she saw her mother being held back.

"Mommy, why are they taking me?"

Cassie struggled against the guard's grip, but it was no use. One of them led Rose away.

"Your daddy and Aunt Sienna are waiting to see you," the nanny said gently.

Rose calmed instantly.

Cassie's heart shattered as she watched her only beloved daughter being taken away. Tears she had vowed not to shed streamed down her cheeks.

She would proceed with the divorce. But she would fight for her daughter.

"Don't worry, Rose," she whispered, blowing a kiss as the car pulled away. "I'll come back for you. I promise."

Back at the hospital, Sienna curled into Frederick like a second skin.

"Our baby is fine, right?" she asked, her voice trembling. "I was just trying to apologize to her. I deserve it, for taking you from her."

"Shhh," Frederick murmured, kissing the top of her head. "You did nothing wrong. We lost the child, but we'll make another one. Don't worry."

Franklin's phone rang. He stepped out to take the call. Lucien and Asher followed, giving the couple privacy.

Inside, Sienna's face paled. "We lost the child?" she whispered. "No. It can't be. It must be a mistake."

Frederick held her tighter. "It's fine. I'll make her pay."

Sienna shook her head. "No. I forgive her. You should too. I'm the one who came between you both."

"No. You are too kind. I only married her for convenience because you slipped into a coma after the accident. I never loved her."

"But Rose..."

"She won't have access to Rose. I'll make sure of it."

Franklin returned, his expression unreadable. "Sienna, I'm sorry for your loss. I hope God blesses you with another child soon."

"Thank you, Franklin. You're so kind," Sienna sobbed.

"I'm sorry I didn't bring flowers. I left in a hurry when I heard about the incident. I have to fly back to Atherton tonight, but I'll send a gift later."

As he turned to leave, his phone rang again. Seeing it was his mechanic, he answered in front of them.

"Sir, the car is undergoing repairs," the mechanic said.

Franklin frowned. "Who made the down payment?"

"The woman, sir. She transferred the full amount into my account."

Franklin froze. Earlier, Frederick had claimed Cassie was just a housewife living off him. "What? Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir."

"Alright. I'll call you back."

Franklin hung up, his gaze narrowing. He turned to Frederick. "Didn't you say your wife, sorry, ex, was a stay-at-home mom with just a $4,000 allowance?"

"Yes."

"So how did she pay for damages worth $214,000?"

"I hope she didn't touch the money in our joint account," Frederick muttered, pulling out his phone to check.

But the account was untouched.

Before he could say more, the door swung open.

Three figures entered the room: Adrian and Corinne Jones, Frederick and Franklin's biological parents, and their youngest son, Julius Jones.

Sienna's head dropped instantly. Frederick stood to greet them.

"Mom, Dad, I'm glad you're here. I'm divorcing Cassie."

A sharp slap cracked across his face, nearly knocking him off balance.

Franklin stepped between them, trying to mediate, but their father's glare was molten.

"What do you mean you're divorcing Cassie?" Adrian thundered. "Do you even know who she is?"

The room fell into stunned silence as Franklin stepped through the doorway.

Adrian Jones, the proud patriarch, and Corinne, his emotionally torn wife, stared at the man they had once given up-a decision buried under years of silence and sacrifice.

Franklin, calm and composed, carried the quiet dignity of someone raised with love, but not by them.

They had kept their vow to Corinne's cousin's best friend, the woman who adopted Franklin when desperation had forced their hand.

Seven years ago, they had allowed Corinne to speak with Franklin once, when they tried to offer him the CEO position as a form of restitution.

Franklin had declined, though he'd shown interest in meeting his twin brother, Frederick. They had shared contact details, but nothing had come of it, or so they thought.

Now, it was clear the brothers had been in contact all along.

This should have been a joyful reunion. But something darker loomed, something volatile enough to destroy everything they had built.

"What do you mean you're divorcing Cassie?" Adrian's voice cracked like thunder. "Do you even know who she is?"

They had rushed over the moment Cassie informed them of the divorce, eager to confront their son, only to find him here, with his mistress.

Frederick Jones, the emotionally volatile heir, let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Of course I do. You brought her into our home when she was four. All she ever did was freeload."

Adrian's hand flew up again, but Franklin stepped in, intercepting the slap mid-air.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jones," Franklin said calmly, his voice firm but respectful. "I don't know you well, but my parents never described you as violent."

Corinne swallowed hard. The son they had given up was addressing them like strangers, and rightly so. They had forfeited the right to familiarity.

Still, she was relieved. He had turned out better than they'd dared hope.

"Franklin, this isn't how we imagined meeting you," she said softly. "There's so much you don't know. But some people... some people cannot be messed with."

"And who might those be?" Frederick asked with a sneer, his tone dripping with contempt. "Cassie? That's funny."

Adrian's face darkened. "All our sacrifices... wasted. We should've given you up instead."

Franklin blinked, stunned. Before he could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then looked up apologetically.

"I'm sorry. I have to go. Perhaps we'll speak again, when things are less... tense."

"Can't you stay a little longer?" Corinne pleaded.

But Franklin only stared at her, detached, distant. Even after learning the truth from his adoptive parents, he still saw them as strangers.

"I promised my mom I was going to bring a woman home. She's been waiting, calling."

Corinne's brow furrowed. That wasn't what she heard, but before she could ask, he was gone.

"I think we should leave too," said Lucien, one of Frederick's friends. Asher nodded, both men edging toward the door. This wasn't the visit they'd expected.

Sienna, Frederick's mistress, stood frozen, feeling exposed and alone. In her condition, she had never imagined being at the center of such chaos.

If Frederick couldn't stop his parents from slapping him, how could he possibly protect her?

"Fred, I can't believe you left Cassie for this caricature," Julius, Frederick's younger brother, spat. "I heard she had a miscarriage, but her face paint's still flawless. Cassie never wore makeup, and she was always beautiful."

Sienna's eyes welled with tears. Frederick raised his hand, fury blazing, but Adrian stepped in, blocking the blow.

"Try it, Fred," he warned coldly. "And I'll strip you of everything you hold dear."

Frederick lowered his hand, but not his voice. "Isn't it too late for that? You signed everything over to me the moment I married Cassie. After she gave birth to Rose, you stepped down as chairman."

"That was for Cassie," Adrian snapped.

Frederick shrugged. "Well, everything's in my name now. And I get to marry the woman I've always loved. Cassie tried to tear us apart, but fate brought us back together."

"Don't blame Cassie for your twisted urges," Adrian growled. "Don't make this mistake. There's more to her than you know, and we can't tell you everything. Not yet."

"I know more than enough," Frederick hissed. "She's a shameless whore. A murderer. A conniving-"

"Stop it!" Corinne cried.

But Frederick's voice cracked with grief. "No, Mom. Cassie pushed Sienna out of jealousy. I saw it. She killed our child."

What he didn't know was that Cassie had already told his parents everything, and they believed her.

"You should be ashamed," Adrian roared. "You're still married to Cassie, and you dare speak of losing a child? I never loved your mother before marrying her, but I never cheated on her. You're shameless. I regret having you."

He began coughing violently. Corinne rushed to his side, rubbing his chest.

"It's alright, Adrian. Let's go find Cassie. We can't lose her as our daughter-in-law."

Frederick shook his head. "Too late. The divorce is already in motion. There's nothing you can do."

"You imbecile," Adrian spat. "You never deserved her. Do you even know who she is? Give it two years, you'll be begging her on your knees."

"Over my dead body," Frederick snapped.

Adrian's final words shattered the last of his son's confidence. "Then let's see you marry that gold digger. And don't ever call us your parents again if you do."

They stormed out, dragging Julius behind. The boy glanced back, his eyes filled with disappointment. Frederick had once been his hero. Now, even at fifteen, Julius knew better.

"Daddy!" Rose's voice rang out as she ran toward him. "Those men wouldn't let me see Mommy!"

Adrian and Corinne froze.

"What did you say?" Corinne asked.

"Grandma, Grandpa," Rose said, breathless. "Mommy came to school, but the bodyguards pushed her away."

Adrian's chest tightened. He turned to Frederick. "What's going on?"

"Cassie isn't fit to be a mother," Frederick said coldly. "Not after what she did."

Sienna coughed gently. "It's alright, Fred. I hold nothing against her."

Her voice was soft, warm, but Corinne's eyes burned with hatred. "Oh, stop pretending," she snapped.

"Mom, please," Frederick said. "Don't talk to her like that."

Rose ran to Sienna's bedside. "Aunt Sienna, are you sick? Why are you in that bed?"

Sienna whispered something to her, too soft for anyone else to hear. Adrian stepped forward and pulled the girl away.

"If you're divorcing Cassie, fine," he said. "But Rose stays with her mother."

He hoped this would shake some sense into his son. But Frederick's response was chilling.

"If you take her, I'll involve the police."

His parents didn't listen.

Sienna wept. "I never meant for this to happen. Fred, your parents will never accept me. We've already lost the baby. Maybe... maybe we should let each other go."

Frederick's expression softened. He pulled her close.

"Don't worry. They're just angry. They'll calm down. Everything will fall into place."

He gave instructions to his bodyguards, then returned to her side.

***

Together with Rose, Adrian and Corinne arrived at the mansion Frederick once shared with Cassie. Their hearts sank at the sight of her-pale, weary, but still holding herself with quiet dignity.

Cassie's eyes lit up when she saw her daughter. She dropped to her knees and embraced her tightly.

But the moment was shattered by the wail of police sirens.

"Mommy, what's going on?" Rose whimpered. "Why are the police here?"