Lereader-co11

💔He said I was different. For seven years, I believed him—changed my major, bled for his company, even drank until my stomach burned. I thought our future was certain. Then I learned about Tessa. The woman he once played "the other man" for. The one he secretly met the night I nearly died from alcohol poisoning. Now she’s here, taking the promotion he promised me, sitting in the office I designed, welcomed with a party where he holds her close. At her welcome dinner, he made me drink three glasses straight. My stomach twisted, but his eyes were cold. Seven years of love, and I couldn’t even get one second of his mercy.👑 ******* They said every man had a girl he loved but could never have. But Aurelia Corin always thought Cassian Locke was different. After all, they'd been together for a long time and had a strong bond. Too bad it seemed like no man could escape that fate. And Cassian was no exception. Aurelia had been with Cassian since she was eighteen. It had been seven whole years. They had spent more than two thousand days and nights together, doing everything a couple could do. Yet, she could never compete with the memory of a girl Cassian had only seen once in his youth. It was kind of funny, really. She had spent seven years with Cassian and still couldn't see what was truly in his heart. So she wondered just how much he truly loved that woman, if he was willing to keep that other woman a secret in his heart for so long. Aurelia's mind drifted off, and Cassian, who was working hard on top of her, was not happy about it. He thrust harder, a warning for her to pay attention. Cassian was always rough in bed. During one wild movement, he accidentally knocked over a black silk box on the nightstand. He quickly caught it before it could fall on Aurelia. He had never seen it before, so for once, he was curious. "What's this?" he asked. Aurelia casually took the box from him and tossed it aside. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips brushing the skin of his throat. "How can you get distracted at a time like this? Are you getting tired of me?" Cassian couldn't resist her, and he instantly forgot about the box. As Cassian lost himself in her, Aurelia turned her head to look at the forgotten black box. Her eyes welled up. 'Cassian, you will never know what's inside this box,' she thought to herself. ***** A month earlier, Honoria Capital had successfully gone public. Cassian's friends threw a small party to celebrate. Aurelia dressed up beautifully. She was planning to propose to Cassian at the party. Proposing was supposed to be the man's job. But Aurelia loved Cassian so much that she was willing to put aside her pride and ask him to marry her. No one knew she had been waiting for this day for seven years. Cassian was focused on his career, so Aurelia changed her major in college to finance, a subject she didn't even like, just for him. After graduating, she turned down an offer from a top university abroad and went to work for Cassian at Honoria Capital. She started as an entry-level clerk and worked her way up, step by step, to become his executive secretary. Only Aurelia knew how hard it had been. When their love felt strongest, Aurelia had wanted to ask Cassian if he would marry her so many times. But in the end, she always held back. Her mother often said that one should never have to ask for gifts or for love. What was given freely was special; what one had to ask for was just charity. Besides, Cassian wasn't the type of man to talk about his feelings. And in all these years, Aurelia was the only woman by his side. There was never anyone else. Aurelia thought it was only natural that they would end up together. For that future, she had fought tooth and nail for Honoria Capital over the years. She couldn't even remember how many times she had ended up in the hospital from drinking too much for her work. One time, she almost died on the operating table from alcohol poisoning combined with a miscarriage. Her best friend, Mia, asked her, "After a trip to death's door, do you regret it? Is it worth it to make yourself this miserable for a man?" Aurelia nodded without a second of doubt. "It's worth it." Mia gave her a nickname—the warrior fighting for love. She said she hoped Aurelia wouldn't lose this battle of love. Back then, Aurelia had confidently told Mia that Cassian would never let her lose. That belief kept her going until Honoria Capital went public. No one knew that on that day, Aurelia locked herself in her room and cried her eyes out. After she was done crying, she wiped her tears and started planning a surprise proposal for Cassian. She had to. Cassian was too busy. Now that Honoria Capital was a public company, he had so many projects to manage. He was busy celebrating with family, friends, and business partners. He definitely didn't have time to think about his relationship with Aurelia. So, Aurelia decided to make the first move and take one more task off his plate. Even though she had prepared herself, when the moment finally came, Aurelia was incredibly nervous. She stood outside the door, trying to calm her breathing and rubbing her trembling hands. She was afraid she would start choking on her tears before she could even get out the proposal speech she knew by heart. Inside, the party was in full swing. Someone asked loudly, "Cassian, are you still in touch with Tessa?" "Tessa? Isn't she Cassian's first love? Why bring her up all of a sudden?" asked another. "I heard she is moving back to the country." "Does that mean Cassian can finally get back with her?" Aurelia's hands, which had been shaking with excitement, suddenly stopped. "Seriously, Tessa's father has been doing great in politics these past few years. If Cassian marries her, it would be a huge help to him and to Honoria Capital. Plus, they look good together and come from similar powerful families," someone said. "And she's his first love. He'd have it all—love and a successful career," added Jasper Quinn, Cassian's childhood friend. He always said he and Cassian were close, so there was no reason to doubt his words. Hearing that Cassian had a first love sent a sharp, sudden pain through Aurelia's heart. "Then what about Aurelia?" someone asked. "I mean, she's been with Cassian for so many years. She's put in the time and effort, right?" Jasper brushed it off. "Just give her some money to send her away. If he really likes her that much, he can always keep her as a mistress after he gets married." That was normal for the people Jasper hung around with. Most of them had wives at home and other women on the side. Outside the door, Aurelia's fists were clenched so tight her fingers had gone numb. She desperately needed to hear Cassian's answer. She hoped he would immediately shut them down, telling everyone that he loved Aurelia and that she was the one he was going to marry. But she waited and waited, and all she heard was Cassian's casual voice. "Since when did you guys get so nosy?" He didn't argue. He didn't deny it. It sounded more like he was silently agreeing with them. "You're right. On a great night like this, let's talk about something exciting. I was about to fall asleep," Jasper said, sitting up from the couch to liven things up. He was a total player who changed girlfriends fast, and he was always into some new game. He called out to the group, "Let's play a confession game. Everyone says the craziest thing they've ever done. How about it?" Someone shared something shocking. "Had sex in a vehicle." Jasper rolled his eyes. "What's so crazy about that?" The person added, "I mean, on a high-speed train." The whole room erupted in cheers and whistles. "Wow, you've got some stories, man." Jasper excitedly turned to Cassian, who was sitting nearby, looking bored. "Cassian, what about you? What's the craziest thing you've ever done?" Cassian seemed to think for a few seconds before he said, "Being the other man for love." The room exploded. This was Cassian. The heir to one of Ashmont's richest families. He could have any woman he wanted. He wouldn't do something like that unless he was truly in love. Jasper's reaction was the loudest, his voice carrying through the door and slicing into Aurelia's chest. "It was for Tessa, right? I knew you were still in love with her! "Back then, you liked Tessa, but Tessa liked Gideon, so you became the other man for her. Cassian, man, you really fight for the one you love!" The sound of their cheering and laughter was like buckets of ice-cold water being dumped over Aurelia's head, chilling her to the bone. Her stomach churned, and she felt so sick that she slowly squatted down. Jasper was still talking. He asked, "Cassian, be honest. Did you meet up with Tessa on October 10th?" Cassian asked him, "How did you know?" "She posted on Instagram that day. She said that reunions were the most romantic thing in the world. I figured it had to be you," Jasper said with a playful wink. "So, did anything happen that night? Did you guys sleep together?" .............................................................................. Jasper just wouldn't stop gossiping. The other people in the room kept cheering and making noise. It was loud. Aurelia couldn't make out what Cassian said. All she could feel was a sharp, twisting pain in her stomach. But that pain was nothing compared to the ache in her heart. October 10th—that was the day she had alcohol poisoning and suffered a miscarriage. While she'd been lying there alone, fighting for her life, Cassian was with his old flame. "Ms. Corin, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" A passing waitress was frightened by the sight of Aurelia squatting on the floor, her face as pale as a ghost. Aurelia asked the waitress to call an ambulance for her. As she lay in the ambulance, sweating from the pain, a call came from Cassian. Any other time, no matter how tired or sleepy she was, she would have answered his call right away. But today, she was in so much pain that she didn't want anything or anyone—not even Cassian. ***** Aurelia stayed in the hospital for five days with severe stomach inflammation. It was caused by not recovering properly after the alcohol poisoning and miscarriage. During her time in the hospital, Cassian never once tried to contact her—not even a single text message. Maybe, from the very beginning, she had never really mattered in Cassian's world. It was just that she had never noticed it before. On Monday, Aurelia went back to the office. Her assistant, Miranda, came to her with some secret gossip. "Aurelia, have you heard? Our company is bringing in a woman from the outside straight into a top position. A woman." "Seriously?" Aurelia frowned. She doubted it. Cassian was always extremely strict when it came to hiring. Even Aurelia herself had started as an intern at the very bottom. The company had never placed an outside hire directly into a senior role before. But Miranda insisted, "It's true. I even saw the official letter signed by Mr. Locke. He's appointing her as the director of Strategic Division Three." Aurelia's heart skipped a beat. That was the position Cassian had promised her. Everyone in the company had seen how Aurelia had worked herself to the bone for Honoria Capital all these years. According to the company's rules for promotion, Aurelia was more than qualified to be a director and lead her own projects. But Cassian had told her he was used to her being his secretary and couldn't find anyone to replace her. That was why she had stayed in the secretarial department. He had also told her he would always keep the director position of Strategic Division Three open for her. He said that once Honoria Capital went public, he would personally sign the papers to promote her. "Is that so?" Aurelia asked, trying to sound calm as her eyelid twitched nervously. "What's her name?" "I think it was Tessa something." Miranda had only glanced at the paper and didn't get a clear look. Aurelia's fingertips trembled. The cup in her hand fell to the floor, and hot water splashed everywhere. Miranda jumped. "Aurelia, did you get burned?" "No." Aurelia shook her head. The water wasn't that hot, but she felt a burning pain that was much worse. "Tessa Rowe," she said, finishing the name. Miranda was confused. "What?" Aurelia took a deep breath. "The person's name is Tessa Rowe. The new director of Strategic Division Three." "Oh, right! That's the name. Aurelia, do you know her?" Miranda asked. "No." Aurelia picked up her cup and went to get more water. The news of the new hire spread through the company quickly. Many people came to Aurelia to ask if it was true. Aurelia grew tired of giving the same answers. Her patience wore out, and she finally snapped. "If you're all so curious, why don't you just go ask Mr. Locke yourselves?" she shouted. As her voice faded, the entire office fell silent for a few seconds. Then, a soft female voice sounded. "Cassian, your employees seem to have quite a temper." Aurelia looked toward the source of the voice, and her eyes stung at the sight of a man and a woman standing side by side. It was the first time she had seen Cassian in days. His eyes passed over her, cold and distant, as he introduced the woman next to him to everyone. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet Ms. Rowe, the new director of Strategic Division Three. From now on, she will be in charge of all projects for that division." Everyone greeted Tessa one by one. Tessa looked gentle and smiled warmly at everyone. "I look forward to working with all of you." She even brought small gifts for everyone. Cassian stood beside her, helping her carry the bag. Aurelia let out a bitter, self-deprecating smile. In the past, when she and Cassian went anywhere together, she was the one running around carrying everything. He never offered to help. But when it came to Tessa, he was the one carrying things for her. She knew then that there really was a difference between being loved and not being loved. Tessa also gave Aurelia a small gift: a cartoon mouse pad and wrist rest set. "Oh, what a coincidence. They match," Tessa said, surprised as she looked at the set already on Aurelia's desk. Then she turned back to Cassian. "Cassian, it looks like you two have the same taste." She smiled apologetically at Aurelia. "Cassian helped me pick out all these little gifts. I had no idea they would match. If you mind, I can get you something else later." "No need to trouble yourself. I don't mind," Aurelia said, accepting the gift. Cassian then ordered her, "Ms. Corin, show Ms. Rowe around and help her get familiar with the office." Aurelia had no reason to refuse. One of the rules in the Honoria Capital secretary's handbook was that the president's orders came first. She could see that Tessa had a great personality. She was polite and gentle with everyone she spoke to. And her looks were flawless—she had a perfect face. After all, if she was the woman Cassian still couldn't get over, she obviously had to be someone special. After Aurelia gave her a tour, Tessa said she wanted to see her new office. That office had just been finished two weeks ago. Aurelia had personally supervised the decoration. The furniture and layout were all designed exactly to Aurelia's own taste. She had looked forward to sitting in that office more than anyone—just as she had always longed to marry Cassian. But now, she ended up with neither love nor her career. "I love the style of this office. It feels warmer than I imagined. And it's very close to Cassian's office," Tessa said, looking very pleased. She was eager to share her happiness with Cassian, so she left Aurelia and hurried next door to find him. Aurelia stood alone in the office, feeling like a joke. Looking around the office she had so carefully designed, she felt her chest tighten, as if something were crushing her heart. She couldn't breathe. ***** The midday weekly meeting was the most important meeting of the week at Honoria Capital. It was the time when everyone in the company was on high alert. No one dared to be late, and Aurelia was no exception. But Tessa was. Even though she was just a new employee, she dared to break a rule that Cassian himself had set. Aurelia thought Cassian would be angry. At the very least, he should scold Tessa a little. But he said nothing. He didn't even say a single harsh word. He just calmly told Aurelia to pass out the meeting documents. In that moment, Aurelia felt a little dazed. She suddenly remembered when she was an intern. She had once been late to the meeting because she had a fever from the flu, and Cassian had called her out and criticized her in front of the whole company. He had completely forgotten that she had caught the flu from taking care of him when he was sick. Afterward, she had felt wronged and complained to him. Cassian explained that the company was just starting out, and he had to set a firm rule—to make an example of someone to warn the others. And she had been the one he used to show everyone he was serious. She told herself it wasn't personal; Cassian was just being professional. Now, years later, this scene was like a loud slap across Aurelia's face. She finally understood that Cassian could mix business with his personal life. It was just that she wasn't the person he would do it for. There was a difference between people—just like the difference between being loved and not being loved. .............................................................................. When Aurelia finished passing out the documents and turned around, Tessa was already seated. But she was sitting in the seat that Aurelia usually took. Aurelia froze for a second and was about to say something. But then she heard Cassian say, "From now on, you sit over there." Tessa smiled apologetically at Aurelia. "I'm new to the company and have a lot to learn from Cassian, so it's more convenient if I sit closer to him." Since Cassian had spoken, Aurelia had no room to argue. She silently gathered her files and laptop and moved to a seat in the corner. During this, no one else in the meeting room dared to say a word. But Aurelia could clearly feel their eyes on her, filled with pity. And that pity just made her skin crawl. Halfway through the meeting, Cassian questioned one of the projects. "Why hasn't this project been started yet? Who's in charge of it?" he asked. His voice was harsh. Anyone who knew him knew that he was about to get angry. The entire office held its breath. In the tense silence, Aurelia stood up. "I'm in charge of it." Cassian shot her a cold look, his tone incredibly severe. "Explain." "I'm sorry. I was sick the past few days, which delayed the project's progress—" Before she could even finish, Cassian cut in, "That's no excuse. I've said it before. No one is allowed to let their personal matters affect their work. That's the rule." Aurelia didn't argue anymore. She just said, "I'll catch up on the work." Only then was Cassian satisfied. Before the meeting ended, Cassian invited everyone to the welcome party he was hosting for Tessa at the West Legacy Club that evening. He wanted all of them to come and have fun. The West Legacy Club was the most exclusive and expensive club in all of Ashmont. His invitation was a huge gesture that showed just how much he valued Tessa. It made everyone else in the company see Tessa in a new light. Even Miranda, who was not the brightest, could tell something was wrong. As she helped Aurelia clean up the conference room, she quietly asked, "Aurelia, are you okay?" She was one of the few people who had a vague idea about Aurelia and Cassian's relationship. Aurelia's voice was calm enough. "I'm fine." "But you look a little pale," Miranda said, very worried. Aurelia touched her own face. "Is it that obvious?" Miranda nodded hard. "Very obvious." "My stomach is acting up. You know, it's an old problem," Aurelia said, making up a quick excuse. "Are you going to the welcome party tonight?" Miranda asked. Aurelia thought for a moment and said, "I think I'll skip it. Can you tell Mr. Locke for me?" Cassian had invited the entire company to welcome Tessa. With so many people attending, Aurelia felt that her presence wouldn't matter. She thought that the Cassian of today probably wouldn't even notice she was gone. It made no difference whether she went or not. "That's probably for the best. You should go home early and rest. Taking care of your health is what's important," Miranda told her. Even Miranda could see that she wasn't well. But Cassian, the man who used to share her bed and secrets, hadn't noticed a thing. In the past, Aurelia could lie to herself and say Cassian was just focused on his career, and that was why he didn't notice these small details. But now, it seemed she couldn't lie to herself anymore. As if on cue, her stomach started to hurt again. But she still had a lot of work to do, so she could only take painkillers to ease the pain. She pushed through until the end of the workday. The moment Aurelia got home, she curled up on the bed, without even the strength to lift a finger. A wave of complete exhaustion, both physical and mental, washed over her. After curling up for a long time, her body started to feel a little better, and she felt sleepy. Aurelia thought that maybe a good night's sleep would make her feel better. But just as she fell asleep, she was woken up by a phone call. That ringtone was the one she had set just for Cassian. The sound that used to make her so happy now felt like torture. She didn't want to answer. She let the phone ring. She knew Cassian had no patience. If she didn't pick up, he wouldn't call a second time. But this time, Cassian broke his own rule. She didn't answer, and he called again. At this point, it was no longer okay to ignore it. "Mr. Locke, is there something you need?" Aurelia answered, her voice distant and cold—not like before. Cassian frowned and looked at his screen to make sure he had called the right number. Then he asked, "Where are you?" "I'm not feeling well, so I won't be coming. I hope you all have a great time," Aurelia said and was about to hang up. But then she heard Tessa's voice from the other end of the line. She was asking Cassian, "Is Ms. Corin not coming? Cassian, does she not like me?" Then Cassian warned her in an extremely cold voice, "Aurelia, don't act so high and mighty. Everyone is here except you. Are you trying to show everyone how different you are?" Aurelia tried to explain, "I—" "You have twenty minutes. If you're not here, you don't have to bother coming to the office ever again!"Cassian cut her off and hung up the phone. Aurelia listened to the dial tone and suddenly felt like laughing. She couldn't believe that just for missing a welcome party, Cassian would get so angry that he would threaten to fire her. She suddenly didn't understand what all her years of hard work and sweat meant. She didn't know what the point was of the severe stomach problems she got from drinking so much to close deals for him. ***** When Aurelia arrived at the West Legacy Club, the private room was buzzing with excitement. Jasper was loudly cheering, daring Cassian and Tessa to drink with their arms linked. Cassian's voice was soft and indulgent, nothing like the cold tone he had used on the phone. "Oh, come on. Don't mess around." "Cassian, you're no fun. When we're out to party, you have to let loose. We all did it. Is it fair if you don't?" Jasper winked. Before Cassian could answer, Tessa picked up her glass and confidently invited him, "Cassian, it's just a game. Play along, okay? Don't make me look bad." With everyone watching in anticipation, Cassian picked up his cup. At the exact moment Tessa linked her arm with his, Cassian's eyes met Aurelia's at the doorway. They locked eyes for a brief second before Cassian coolly looked away, moving closer to Tessa and raising his cup. Jasper pulled out his phone to take a picture to gossip with his friends later. In his excitement, he accidentally bumped into Tessa. "Be careful." The two of them were standing very close. Cassian instinctively reached out and caught Tessa. She fell right into his arms. The atmosphere in the room seemed to hit its peak at that moment. From where Aurelia was standing, the two of them looked like a couple in a loving embrace. At that moment, she didn't know if it was because she was numb, but she didn't feel any pain in her heart. However, her stomach was churning violently. Just then, a gasp cut through the lively noise in the room. It was Miranda. She saw Aurelia standing at the door and couldn't help but cry out, "Aurelia, you came? I thought you weren't feeling well. Why aren't you at home resting?" Her concern felt so out of place with the party atmosphere. Tessa looked up from Cassian's arms and smiled. "Ms. Corin, you're here! Come on in. We were waiting for you." "Sorry, something held me up," Aurelia said as she walked into the room, managing to look calm. Jasper, however, felt a strange sense of guilt, as if he had taken things a little too far. He was about to try to explain, but then Cassian said with a cold expression, "Shouldn't the one who's late make up for it with three drinks?" The mere mention of alcohol made Aurelia's stomach tighten, a sharp pain rolling through her like rough waves in a storm. .............................................................................. The moment Miranda heard there'd be drinking, she tensed up. "No. Aurelia isn't feeling well. She can't drink." Miranda had been there the night Aurelia was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. What she saw that night had burned itself into her memory. The doctor had even said that if they'd gotten there any later, Aurelia might not have made it. Jasper didn't take it well. "You're underestimating Aurelia, aren't you? Everyone knows she can hold her liquor. Remember when she went north with Cassian to close that deal? She drank two full rounds with twenty people and was totally fine. "What's the problem now? Three glasses too much for her? Is she playing favorites? Or is she trying to disrespect Tessa?" Tessa quickly stepped in, not wanting things to get tense. "Jasper, don't make it difficult for Ms. Corin." But Jasper didn't back off. "How am I making it difficult?" He turned to Cassian. "Cassian, am I?" Cassian lifted his eyes, his expression unreadable. His gaze swept across Aurelia's face, and a cold smile curved his lips. "No." That was all Jasper needed to hear. "See? Even Cassian says I'm not. Tessa, you're just too softhearted—unlike Aurelia. She's a veteran in the business world. She knows exactly how to dodge trouble and still get what she wants." Aurelia didn't respond to his taunts. She just looked at Cassian, as if searching for something—anything—in his eyes. It was like clinging to one last, fragile hope before giving up completely. She was waiting for him to step in, to say something, even something as small as "that's enough" or "cut it out." But Cassian didn't say a word. His eyes stayed cold and distant. Something inside Aurelia broke then. It was as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over her, snuffing out the last flicker of warmth in her heart. She smiled faintly, almost dazed, then bent down to pick up a glass from the table. Her voice was steady. "I'm sorry. I forgot the rules. I'll drink." Over the years, she'd learned all kinds of tricks to survive drinking parties—eating beforehand, drinking milk or yogurt, taking slow, careful sips. Those tricks had always gotten her through. But tonight, she didn't use any of them. She just lifted the glass again and again and swallowed the liquor straight down. The burn hit her instantly, searing her throat and nose, twisting the cramps in her already aching stomach into sharp pain. Still, she calmly raised the empty glass toward Cassian. "I'm done. Can I go now, Mr. Locke?" She couldn't tell whether Cassian nodded or not—because she didn't wait to find out. Aurelia turned and walked out. Her stomach was in knots, and she was terrified she'd throw up before she even made it to the bathroom. She barely made it to the restroom before collapsing over the toilet, vomiting until she was dizzy and lightheaded. In a bleak sort of way, she was thankful that she'd taken stomach medicine before drinking; it wasn't anything that would react badly with alcohol. Otherwise, she would probably be in a hospital bed right now. No one was born a heavy drinker. Before joining Honoria Capital, Aurelia hadn't touched a single drop. The first time she'd gone to a business dinner with Cassian, they'd run into a client who insisted Cassian drink to show sincerity. But Cassian was allergic to alcohol. He couldn't have any. So Aurelia stepped in and volunteered to drink for him. It was her first time ever drinking. One glass had made her cough and choke. Still, thinking about how hard Cassian had worked for that opportunity, she forced it down, no matter how much it burned. That was the first deal she'd ever helped Cassian win. He'd told her she was the hero of Honoria Capital and that when they made it big, he wanted to share all the glory with her. For that promise, for that imagined future, Aurelia never let Cassian drink again. Every time there was a business dinner, she drank in his place. One glass at a time, she built up her tolerance. But now, seven years later, the armor she'd built protecting him had become the weapon he used to defend the woman he truly loved. It hurt—but it also made everything perfectly clear. When Aurelia left the West Legacy Club, rain was pouring down. The late autumn rain had come out of nowhere. Her stomach still felt raw, and her face had gone completely pale. She pulled out her phone to call a car, but Cassian's driver spotted her and jogged over. "Ms. Corin, is the party over? Where's Mr. Locke? Didn't he come out with you?" "No, he'll probably stay a while longer," she said softly, her voice faint and distant. The party inside was still lively. With a beautiful woman in his arms, Cassian probably wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. The driver glanced toward the entrance, then back at her pale face, and made up his mind. "Ms. Corin, why don't I drive you home first? It's late, and it's raining—it'll be tough to get a car." Aurelia didn't refuse. She really felt awful and didn't want to push herself anymore. But halfway home, Cassian's call came through. He asked the driver where he was. The driver told him honestly that Aurelia wasn't feeling well, and since it might take a while, he was driving her home first. Cassian's cold, angry voice came through over the speaker. "Do you remember who pays your salary?" The driver flinched in panic. "I'll come back for you right away, sir." Before hanging up, Cassian's tone suddenly softened, the coldness gone as if it had never been there. "The car will be here soon. It's cold—wait inside." Then came Tessa's gentle voice. "Then wait with me, Cassian." Aurelia didn't hear Cassian's reply. The call cut off. The driver looked awkward, clearly unsure what to do. Aurelia said quietly, "Wesley, just drop me off on the side of the road. I'll call a car myself." The road ahead was empty—no taxis, no shelter from the rain. Wesley's guilt showed on his face. Before she got out, he handed her an umbrella. Tonight had been nothing but bad luck for her, but for once, it felt like fate finally had a little mercy. Not long after she stepped out into the rain, another car happened to drive by. Even so, the next day, Aurelia came down with a fever. Her body was still weak from the miscarriage, and her stomach issues kept coming back. Her immune system was shot—she couldn't even handle a little wind or rain. But she had a meeting that day with Caleb Morgan from NexPath Group to discuss the same project that Cassian had called her out for in the meeting. If she postponed again, she didn't know what kind of passive-aggressive remarks Cassian would throw her way. Aurelia glanced at the thermometer. Her temperature wasn't dangerously high, just high enough to make her feel miserable. She could have taken some fever medicine, but Caleb was known for being a heavy drinker who liked to talk business over a bottle. So she shoved the medicine back into the drawer, grabbed her files, and left the office without looking back. ***** Aurelia had just ordered the food and drinks when Caleb arrived. Seeing that everything on the table was his favorite, Caleb grinned. "Ms. Corin, are you sure you won't reconsider? Come work for me at NexPath Group. Name your salary." "Thank you for the offer, Mr. Morgan, but my contract with Honoria Capital isn't up yet. I don't plan to leave for now." That was always Aurelia's answer. Her talent and results spoke for themselves. Plenty of people in the industry admired her and tried to poach her. Once, a client had gotten drunk and tried to recruit her right in front of Cassian. Cassian hadn't said a word then—but that night, he'd been ruthlessly rough with her in bed. In the end, Aurelia had to sign a long-term contract with Honoria Capital just to calm him down.