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"Congratulations, you're two months pregnant!" Theodora Shaw couldn't stop smiling every time she remembered what the doctor had told her that afternoon. She'd just finished making a huge, elaborate dinner. All she had to do now was wait for her husband, Cassian Harper, to come home so she could tell him the news. The clock ticked on. The food on the table no longer looked as perfect as it had straight out of the oven. "Nanny Chapman, is Cassian still not back?" Theodora was getting anxious, glancing toward the window every few seconds to see if his car had pulled in. Nanny Chapman shook her head helplessly. "I'll go reheat the food." Theodora had just stood up when the door opened. Click. The crisp sound of the lock turning made Nanny Chapman light up. "The mister's home!" Theodora turned, and her eyes landed on that familiar face—sharp, chiseled features with a touch of coldness. Cassian. Her husband was home. Her face broke into a smile, and she stood quickly to greet him. Maybe she moved too fast, or maybe she'd been sitting in one position too long, but her body swayed and she nearly fell. "Cassian..." She called his name, her voice full of joy. But then she saw it—behind Cassian, there was someone else. A petite figure. Katerina Foster. Cassian's college girlfriend. His first love. Theodora's gaze dropped to their hands, fingers intertwined. The smile full of hope froze on her face. It felt like she'd been plunged into an ice cellar, her limbs, her bones, her very soul cracking under the cold. Frozen in place, she heard Cassian's low voice. "You can go." He was talking to Nanny Chapman. Nanny Chapman glanced at the three of them, clearly sensing what was about to happen, and quietly left. In an instant, the vast space held only the three of them, standing face to face. The second hand kept moving. Time ticked forward. The air felt thick with the kind of tension that comes right before the climax of a horror movie. Katerina broke the silence first. "Cassian... maybe I should go?" As she spoke, she gave his hand a gentle shake, her big, expressive eyes gazing up at him. Cassian looked down at her, and the dark depths of his eyes filled with tenderness and affection. "You're not the one who should leave." The words landed on Theodora's chest like a boulder, crushing her until she could barely breathe. Sure enough, she felt Cassian's gaze shift to her. In an instant, it turned ice-cold, completely devoid of feeling, as if he were looking at a stranger who didn't matter at all. "You can move out now." No hesitation. Just like that, he'd sentenced her to death. In that moment, her hands and feet went numb. The world turned black and white. She didn't know how she managed to come back to herself. All she heard, distantly, was her own voice. "Why?" A pointless question. The last desperate gasp of someone drowning. Cassian's brow furrowed in displeasure. "This house was always meant for Kat. You should know that." Ha. Theodora's mouth twisted into something like a smile. Of course she knew. All these years, he'd never forgotten Katerina. She'd thought her love could win him over. How naive. How could you ever warm a heart that was never yours to begin with? In the silence, Katerina's voice drifted over again. "Theodora, don't blame Cassian. I'm pregnant with his baby. He's just worried about me living alone, not being able to take care of myself and the child, so..." That soft, fragile voice hit Theodora's ears like a thunderclap. She looked up without thinking, just in time to see Katerina's hand resting on her belly, the gesture smug, like she was showing off a trophy. Now Theodora understood what it meant to feel a thousand arrows pierce your heart. Maybe because she was pregnant too, she almost lifted her own hand to touch her stomach. But she bit down hard and stopped herself. All that joy she'd wanted to share with Cassian—it was over before it even began, drowned in ice water. "I—" She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Cassian cut her off mercilessly. "What? You won't leave? Or are you planning to stay on as a maid?" That one brutal sentence shattered the last shred of attachment Theodora had held onto. "Stop! Don't forget who your wife is!" Cassian's eyes were still sharp, but in the next second, Katerina tugged on his arm, her voice all sweetness and pleading. "Don't be like this. Theodora is your wife. I should be the one to leave..." As she spoke, Katerina lowered her eyes, and tears began streaming down her face like they cost nothing at all. Cassian's heart melted instantly. "What wife? She's just a stand-in for you. Kat, don't worry. I'll make sure you and our child get everything you deserve." That gentle tone vanished the moment he turned back to Theodora. "Here are the divorce papers. The settlement will be more than fair. Leave by sunrise." Then Theodora watched as a folder was tossed at her feet. When she looked up again, Cassian had already disappeared through the door, his arm around his white moonlight. The living room fell silent again. Theodora didn't know how long she stood there before she finally bent down and picked up the divorce papers. She flipped to the last page. In the signature line, Cassian's name was scrawled in bold, confident strokes. Her vision blurred for some reason. She remembered when they'd gotten married, he'd signed his name just like this. And now, just like that, they were divorced. Had time passed too quickly? Or had their fate been too shallow from the start? Nanny Chapman waited until the living room was quiet before she dared come back out. The moment she saw Theodora crouched on the floor, motionless, she rushed over in a panic. "Ma'am?!" She touched Theodora lightly, and Theodora collapsed like a broken porcelain doll. Theodora bit down hard on her lower lip, saying nothing, but tears streamed down her face. Nanny Chapman noticed she was clutching something in her hand. When she saw the words "Divorce Agreement" printed on it, everything clicked. All these years, she'd seen how good the missus had been to the mister. She never would have imagined... Nanny Chapman hugged Theodora, crying along with her. "Don't be sad, ma'am. It's over. It's all over now..." The last wall Theodora had built around her heart finally crumbled. She let out a wail. "It hurts so much... I don't want to love him anymore, Nanny Chapman. Let's go... let's leave this place..." "Yes, yes, I'll call your father right now..." Nanny Chapman patted her back gently, her own voice choked with tears. Theodora couldn't remember how long she cried that night. All she knew was that when she left, she turned back to look at the villa they'd lived in for three years, and she couldn't even make out its shape anymore. A fine drizzle fell from the sky. Even the heavens were mourning the three years she'd wasted. Neighbors passed by, talking amongst themselves. "Did they have a fight next door last night? I heard something about divorce." "I knew it! That husband was never home. He obviously had someone on the side." "That poor Mrs. Harper. Just thrown out like that. What a shame..." Before they could finish, a Rolls-Royce pulled up behind Theodora. The driver got out quickly and opened the door for her with a respectful bow. "Miss, your father sent me to bring you home." Chapter 2: Goodbye, Cassian Everyone held their breath, staring in shock as Theodora climbed into the car and vanished in a cloud of dust. "What just happened? Who is that woman from next door?" "Look at that car—must be worth a fortune..." "Could she be from some wealthy family?" Theodora left the chatter behind her. Once inside the car, she wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Along with them went all the years she'd wasted on Cassian. Goodbye, Cassian. Whatever we had, it ends here. The scenery rushed past her window, just like the bond they'd once shared. ****** The Shaw family home. The moment Theodora stepped through the door, her family swarmed her. Her mother, Valentina Jensen, reached her first and grabbed her hands, eyes brimming with tears. "Thea, are you okay? Don't be sad, sweetheart. Mom and Dad are here—you don't have to worry about a thing." "Mom..." Theodora's lips trembled. The tears she'd been holding back spilled over, streaming down her cheeks. Her father, Theodore Shaw, walked up and patted her shoulder. "From now on, you stay home. Dad will take care of you." That one sentence gave Theodora the security she desperately needed. A sour ache filled her chest. She regretted ignoring her parents' objections back then, marrying Cassian with nothing but blind determination. She'd thrown herself into love without a second thought. Only now did she understand—family was the only love that came without conditions. "All right, all right, Thea, you must be exhausted. Mom knows you always like to take a bath after a long trip. I had one drawn for you. Go wash off all that bad luck." "Thanks, Mom." Theodora nodded, voice thick, and followed the maid upstairs. ****** The enormous tub was filled with clear water, rose petals floating on the surface, their delicate fragrance drifting through the air. It's good to be home. She started to undress, then froze. "Actually, forget it. I'll just take a quick shower instead." "Why? Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong?" The maid looked flustered, worried she'd made a mistake. Theodora rested a hand on her stomach. "I'm pregnant." Only two months along. Better not to take baths. The maid stared. It didn't take long for Theodore and Valentina to find out. "Thea, why didn't you tell Mom and Dad about something this important?" Valentina clutched Theodora's hand, her brow creased with worry. "Mom, I only found out yesterday." Theodora sighed softly. She hadn't even had the chance to tell Cassian. Theodore was silent for a moment before he asked, "Does the Harper family know?" Theodora shook her head. "Then don't tell them. This child will take the Shaw name. It has nothing to do with the Harpers. I raised my daughter with my own two hands, treated her like a treasure. She goes to their family and gets treated like dirt? You think the Shaws don't know how to love their own daughter?" Valentina was furious. She'd come to the States from Colombia at nineteen and built a life from nothing. After starting a family, Theodora had become her most precious thing. How could she stand by and watch her daughter suffer like this? Before she'd even finished speaking, a maid rushed in. "Sir, ma'am, old Mrs. Harper is here! She's at the gate, saying she's come to take the young miss back." Valentina shot to her feet, her face dark. "They're divorced. What's there to take back?" Theodore glanced at her and lowered his voice. "She's still an elder of the Harper family. Show her in." Then he turned to Theodora. "Sweetheart, tell Dad the truth. Do you want to go back to the Harpers?" No matter what, he had to hear his daughter's answer first. "I'm not going back." Theodora shook her head. She'd made up her mind to leave, and she would never look back. "Dad understands." Theodore frowned, thinking it over. After a moment, he said, "Go upstairs and rest. You're tired. Leave the rest to Dad." Theodora went upstairs. She'd always liked old Mrs. Harper. If it hadn't been for the woman's enthusiastic matchmaking back then, Cassian would never have agreed to marry her. But things had changed. Everything from the past was over now. She took a long, comfortable nap and didn't wake until dusk. She changed into the purple strapless gown the maid had brought up, then spun in place and examined her flawless reflection. "We're just having dinner at home. Is this really necessary?" "Madam's orders, miss. You look absolutely stunning." The maid's eyes were full of admiration. Theodora had been confused, but it all made sense the moment she came downstairs and saw the crowd of family and friends gathered in the living room. "Surprise!" Her mischievous cousin Elara Shaw was there, holding a party popper. She pulled the string, and it went off with a pop. Colorful streamers shot into the air and fluttered down around Theodora. "Happy divorce, cuz! Congrats on getting your freedom back!" At Elara's shout, the rest of the Shaw relatives joined in with cheers. Theodora's eye twitched. Shouldn't her family be a little sad that she'd gotten divorced? Why did they seem even happier than they'd been at her wedding? Elara's mother, Meredith Carson, hurried over to steady Theodora, shooting her daughter a sharp look. "Stop being ridiculous! Your sister's pregnant—don't startle her." "Okay, okay, Mom, I know! I'll protect my sister's baby. I'm going to be an aunt!" Elara thumped her chest in a solemn vow. Theodora couldn't help but smile. She walked over and sat down. "You promised. You better act like a proper aunt." "Absolutely!" After the chaos with Elara settled, Theodora sat beside her parents. "Dad, this afternoon, the Harpers..." Before she could finish, Theodore said, "Already dealt with. From now on, you don't need to see anyone from the Harper family. Just stay home and take care of yourself." Theodora frowned. She was done with the Harpers, but... "Dad, let me come to the office and help you. I've still got months before the baby comes. I'll be bored out of my mind staying home." "Well..." Theodore still looked worried about her health. Valentina cut in. "Let her go. She needs something to do." Theodore nodded. "All right." Before Theodora could say anything, Elara cheered. "Yes! Cuz is coming back to take over the Shaw empire! Let that heartless bastard regret everything!" The whole room burst into laughter. Theodora laughed too, though a trace of sadness lingered in her smile. Heartless bastard. That was the perfect way to describe Cassian. ****** Night. When Cassian returned to the villa with Katerina, the lights that used to burn bright no matter how late he came home were gone. All that remained was endless darkness and silence. Chapter 3: Will You Stay with Me Tonight? "It's so dark…" Katerina clutched at Cassian's sleeve, her expression pure terror. Only then did Cassian flip on the lights and summon a maid to settle Katerina into one of the upstairs guest rooms. "You'll stay here from now on. If you need anything, ask the staff." He turned to leave, his tone flat. The second she sensed he really meant to go, Katerina lunged forward and caught his arm. "Cassian," she said softly, "it's so late. Won't you stay with me?" Cassian paused. Katerina pressed her advantage. "The baby would love to have Daddy here too." She knew exactly what strings to pull. Knew exactly how to work him. Just when she thought she'd won again, Cassian peeled her hand away. "Get some rest. I still have things to take care of." He left without a backward glance. Katerina's face soured instantly. She spun back into the room and surveyed her surroundings. The thought that Theodora had once lived here lifted her mood again, and a cold smile curled her lips. 'Theodora, you were never a match for me. Just wait. Once this baby's born, the Harpers will have no choice but to welcome me through the front door…' ****** When the maid brought tea to the study, Cassian frowned after one sip. Bitterer than usual. He glanced up. Unfamiliar face. "Where's Nanny Chapman?" "She… she left with Mrs. Harper…" The maid kept her head down, voice shaking. Cassian's gaze darkened. He took another sip, then his thin lips moved again. "How was she when she left?" The maid blinked, then realized—he was asking about Mrs. Harper. "It was raining when Mrs. Harper left. She got a little wet. After she went back…" She stopped short. Cassian looked up, his stare ice-cold. "Speak." The maid stammered, "I heard the Shaws threw a big party tonight. Lots of friends and family. Really lively. They said it was to… to celebrate Mrs. Harper's divorce…" The moment the words left her mouth, a bone-chilling pressure slammed through the study. The maid broke into a cold sweat and fled before she could get burned. Silence returned to the study. Cassian's expression was stone. His jaw locked tight. His lips pressed into a hard line. Her eyes that morning—devastated, hopeless—and that face, pale as death, still lingered in his mind. And now she was back at her parents' house throwing a divorce party? Cassian scowled and opened his phone. He scrolled through his feed and there she was—Theodora in an elegant gown, makeup flawless, smile radiant. Not a trace of sadness anywhere. The caption read: *Everything that came before was just the prologue.* What the hell did that mean? Cassian's eyes narrowed dangerously. One sentence, and she'd written off everything they'd had? Oh, really. Maybe Theodora had forgotten who'd done everything in her power—schemed, begged, clung—to marry him in the first place. Anger flared hot in his chest, but before it could fully ignite, urgent footsteps pounded outside the door. Before he saw anyone, a furious roar echoed down the hall. "You little punk, sitting here reading like nothing happened?! I go on one vacation and come back to find out you got divorced? And you brought that homewrecker into this house?!" A woman in a pale dress stormed in—hair silver, makeup impeccable, lipstick a fierce red to match her fiery temper. Cassian looked up. Grandma Rowena Lindsey. Their eyes met. Sparks flew. "Where is that homewrecker?! Get her out of this house. Now!" Rowena planted herself in front of her grandson, authority radiating from every inch of her. She'd dealt with plenty of mistresses in her day. She hated women who destroyed families. "Grandma." Cassian's brow creased. "Kat's pregnant." Rowena froze. "Whose? Yours?" Cassian nodded. Rowena's face crumpled in disgust. If this weren't her own grandson standing in front of her, she'd make him regret ever being born. "I never thought you'd do something so vile to Thea!" Cassian said nothing. His dark eyes deepened. Rowena huffed at his silence. "I went to see the Shaws. I doubt they'll ever let their daughter step foot in this family again. Don't come crying to me later!" She turned and marched toward the door. She couldn't stand to look at this cheating grandson of hers for one more second. Just as she reached the threshold, she stopped and added coldly, "Once the baby's born, that woman leaves. The Harpers don't let mistresses through the door. We have standards. I only recognize Thea as my daughter-in-law!" Cassian listened to the sharp click of her heels fade down the hall, his frown deepening. 'Theodora, what kind of spell did you cast on Grandma?' ****** Spring rain fell through the night. Theodora woke early, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, then rode with her father to the office. When the stretch Lincoln pulled up to the lobby entrance, a swarm of reporters descended. Before the door even opened, Theodora stared at the sea of people outside and gripped her purse tighter, nerves fluttering. Ever since she'd married Cassian, her life had been nothing but waiting at home—waiting for him, always waiting. She hadn't been to the office in ages… Theodore, sitting beside her, noticed her tension and gave her hand an encouraging pat. "Don't be nervous. I've got you." Theodora smiled and nodded, but her brow furrowed again. "Dad, will my divorce hurt the company?" Nothing stayed secret in this town. She'd left so decisively yesterday, and her family had thrown her a party on top of it. By now, all of Clearhaven probably knew. "Hurt the company? Let them run their mouths. We'll still make every dollar we're owed!" Theodore's swagger was bulletproof. He opened the door and stepped out. "Come on. Let's go deal with these gossipy vultures together!" Theodora laughed at her father's bold energy and followed him out. The reporters mobbed them immediately. "Mr. Shaw, how do you feel about your daughter being thrown out of the Harper family?" "Mrs. Harper—oh, sorry, I guess it's Ms. Shaw now—is it true your ex-husband's already moved his mistress into the house?" "Ms. Shaw, will the Shaws and Harpers continue doing business together?" Each question was sharper than the last. Theodore's face darkened with every word. He was about to tear into them when his daughter beat him to it. "The divorce? I made a bad call. Who hasn't run into a few scumbags these days? No need to make a big deal out of it. I've already moved on—why are you all so worried about me?" Theodora let out a cool laugh, brushing off the whole cheating saga in a few breezy sentences. Then she added, "If a dog bit any of you, would you really bite it back?" The reporters stood there, stunned. Wait—did she just call Cassian a dog? Chapter 4: I'm Pregnant with Cassian's Baby At the same time, Harper Holdings tower. The executive suite. Brennan Quincy had shown up bright and early to grovel for a contract signature, and he just happened to be watching the livestream. The sound blared from his iPad, and Theodora's voice instantly filled the entire office. Brennan froze for a second. Then his eyes went wide, and he craned his neck around to stare at Cassian behind the desk. The man had gone visibly rigid. The pen that had been flying across documents a moment ago had stopped dead. His long fingers were turning white at the knuckles… Brennan worked up the nerve to ask, "You two… it's really that bad?" In Brennan's memory, Theodora used to chase after Cassian like a lovesick puppy. When he was cold, she'd bring him warmth. When he was hot, she'd fan him. He remembered one winter when Cassian had been swamped with work, practically living at the office until the early morning hours every single night. Theodora had somehow gotten wind of it, and every night she'd wait downstairs with dinner in hand. For a socialite to go that far—Brennan had been moved just watching it. How did someone who loved him that much suddenly start calling him a dog? What the hell had happened between them? Brennan's gossip-hungry heart was itching like crazy. Time stretched. Finally, Cassian lifted his gaze. His cold eyes swept over Brennan. "You have nothing better to do?" Brennan flinched and shook his head fast. "No, no, no, I'm swamped! I'll get out of your hair!" He grabbed his things and bolted for the door. Apparently today was not a good day to talk contracts. But just as he reached the threshold, Katerina walked in. Brennan looked like he'd seen a ghost. He and Cassian had grown up together. He knew about the first love and all that. He just hadn't expected the woman to be bold enough to show up at the office. Katerina, dressed demurely, recognized Brennan too. She smiled and greeted him. "Young Master Quincy, it's been a while." "Uh… yeah, yeah, it has!" Brennan nodded stiffly. Then he heard Cassian's voice behind him. "Why are you here?" Obviously directed at Katerina. "I was bored at home, so I came to see you." Katerina walked over with a smile, one hand drifting to her stomach. "I missed you. The baby missed you too." Brennan turned around and peeked over Katerina's shoulder at Cassian. 'Already knocked her up?' The next second, Cassian's death-ray stare locked onto him. Brennan's whole body jolted. His brain went into overdrive. 'No way. How did he know what I was thinking?' "Ahem! So, uh… I'll just—" Be going now! He cleared his throat. The last three words hadn't even left his mouth when Cassian cut him off. "Brennan. That contract you mentioned—I might be willing to sign after all." "Huh?" Brennan was genuinely confused. What was this guy even talking about? Why was he all over the place? Before he could untangle it, Cassian turned to Katerina. "Go home. Brennan and I have business to discuss." "But…" Katerina's smile froze. She whipped around and shot Brennan a venomous glare. Brennan touched his nose sheepishly, the picture of innocence. 'He's the one kicking you out. Why are you glaring at me?' "Go home." Cassian's voice dropped lower, edged with irritation. Katerina bit her lip hard. Her eyes went red. "Then the baby and I will wait for you at dinner." Brennan got a full-body chill. But he didn't dare say a word. He just silently pretended to open his iPad. Then he remembered it was still streaming the Shaw Enterprises interview— "Breaking news: Shaw Enterprises' chairman has announced he's handing full operational control to his only daughter, Theodora! Looks like Ms. Shaw hasn't let the divorce scandal slow her down. Still on top of the world!" The host's voice rang out and turned the temperature in the office subzero. Brennan's hand jerked. He slammed the iPad shut. He squeezed his eyes shut in regret, scalp tingling. 'Why did I have to touch it?' Katerina had obviously heard it too. She rolled her eyes, then let out a soft sigh that sounded almost relieved. "I'm glad to hear Thea's doing well. That makes me feel better…" Her tone carried a faint note of guilt. Cassian said nothing. He just lifted his gaze and looked at her once. Katerina took the hint. She smiled and nodded. "You two take your time. I'll head out." The moment she stepped out of the office, the warmth vanished from her face. By the time she got downstairs and into a cab, she was already dialing a reporter friend. "I want to tip you off. Yeah. I'm pregnant with Cassian's baby." ****** Upstairs in the office. Once Katerina left, Brennan's taut nerves finally relaxed. Once he recovered, his gossip instincts kicked right back in. "The rumors say you brought Katerina in and threw your wi— uh, threw Theodora out in the middle of the night. But from what I'm seeing, you don't actually seem all that into Katerina." Guys could read other guys pretty clearly. If Cassian were truly head over heels for Katerina, he wouldn't have just sent her away. But if he didn't love her, why did they have a kid together? What was that about? "Wait… is there some kind of misunderstanding?" Brennan narrowed his eyes and leaned in, curiosity written all over his face. "What do you want to know?" Cassian raised an eyebrow. His icy gaze bored straight into Brennan's eyes. Brennan's chest tightened. He shook his head fast. "Never mind, never mind. Your situation's obviously complicated! Right now I just want you to sign the contract!" He set a document in front of Cassian and respectfully offered him a Montblanc pen. Cassian didn't open the contract. He just glanced up at Brennan, his expression unreadable. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "The Quincy family hasn't secured the Shaw contract yet." "Huh?" Brennan blinked, then nodded. "Yeah… I came to you first." "Get Shaw to sign. Then come back to me." Cassian's tone was flat. "Why?" Brennan looked completely lost. But Cassian had already returned to another stack of documents and was showing him the door. "You can go." Brennan: "…?" By the time he walked out of Harper Holdings, Brennan was scratching the back of his head in frustration. "If I need Shaw's signature first, that means I have to go to Theodora. She's running the whole Shaw family now." ****** As the most talked-about woman in all of Clearhaven at the moment, Theodora hadn't expected her father to hand over the family business so decisively. "Dad, you're leaving already?" Theodora stared in disbelief as her father packed up his things in the office. She'd thought he'd at least stick around to mentor her for a few days. Theodore threw on his suit jacket and grinned. "I've been at this for years. Now that someone's finally taking over, you think I'm not going to jump at the chance to enjoy life? I've set you up with an assistant. Anything you don't understand, big or small, you can ask him. Worst case, call me. Don't overthink it. Do things your way. I believe in you." Theodora blinked. "You're really not worried at all…" "Why would I worry about my own daughter? Even if you run Shaw Enterprises into the ground, you've still got your grandfather's fortune to fall back on. Don't be scared. Go big. Take risks!" With that, Theodore strode out without a backward glance. Theodora walked him to the main entrance, genuinely impressed by his faith in her. She turned to head back inside when a bright male voice stopped her. "Thea!" Chapter 5 If It Weren't for You, He Wouldn't Have Almost Died! Theodora turned around to find a bright, clean-cut young man waving at her. "Elias Sutton?" "That's me! You still remember me!" The boy jogged over, his eyes clear and shining as he looked at her—like a pristine spring. Her childhood friend, a little younger than she was. Every summer and winter break when she was little, she'd spent time at her grandmother's house. The Sutton family lived right next door. Eventually, the two kids had become inseparable. Elias had always liked trailing behind her, calling her his big sister like a little shadow. Hard to believe that little shadow had grown into a solid young man. Theodora raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?" "Job interview!" Elias grinned, and the moment he learned Theodora was now CEO of Shaw Enterprises, he immediately started angling for special treatment. "Come on, Thea, for old times' sake, you've gotta hook me up with something, right?" "Nice try." Theodora brushed past him toward the elevator. "You're the Sutton family heir. Your family has how many businesses waiting for you? What are you doing applying here?" "The family stuff is boring! Besides, you finally got divorced—of course I had to come." Elias circled around her with a grin. "Plus you've been out of the loop for years. There's probably a ton you don't know yet, right? I'm a networking machine. I can help you out." Put that way, Theodora had to admit he had a point. She nodded. "Fine. Think Young Master Sutton can handle being my secretary?" "It would be my honor!" Elias beamed, completely satisfied. They headed upstairs together. Just as they reached the door, a sharp-looking young man in a suit approached. "Ms. Shaw, I'm Desmond Beckett. Your father sent me to assist you. If you need anything, just say the word." The man's manner was respectful, his speech measured. "All right. Come in and bring me up to speed on the company." Theodora nodded and walked ahead naturally. She'd spent her childhood around her father's business. Even after all this time away, she felt no hesitation. Desmond followed, glancing at Elias with curiosity. "And this is?" "My new secretary." Theodora's voice drifted back from up ahead. Elias jumped in with introductions. "Hey, I'm Elias. Guess we're coworkers now!" "I... see." Desmond nodded with a polite smile. For the next two hours, Desmond walked Theodora through the quarter's operations in broad strokes. Theodora struggled a bit—it had been years, after all—but she listened with complete focus. This way, at least, her mind had no room left to dwell on the divorce. Or on that bastard, who could be completely cut out of her life now. But fate seemed determined to test her resilience. Before Elias had fully learned the ropes, he was temporarily covering secretarial duties, managing admin and delivering updates. "Ms. Shaw, there's a Mr. Quincy downstairs asking to see you." "Brennan?" Theodora's mind went to the name immediately. "Yes. Says he's here about a previous partnership." That was Desmond. Theodora's brow creased slightly before she answered. "Send him up." ****** The first thing out of Brennan's mouth when he walked in and saw Theodora was, "Hey, sis!" Couldn't help it—he'd spent too much time around Cassian. The old habit was automatic, impossible to shake in the moment. But the second the word left his mouth, he regretted it. Theodora was staring at him coldly, and beside her stood an equally stone-faced, sharp-featured young man. The pressure hit him like a wall. "Look at me, forgetting myself. Ha ha. Should be calling you Ms. Shaw now!" Brennan quickly wiped the sweat from his temple, correcting himself with an awkward laugh. It was bad enough catching hell from Cassian. Did the atmosphere at Shaw Enterprises have to be this oppressive too? "What do you want?" Theodora got straight to the point, her flat tone edged with impatience. She knew Brennan all too well. Out of ten nights Cassian hadn't come home, eight had something to do with Brennan. Just thinking about the two of them constantly hanging out made her recoil. Most people loved what their loved ones loved. She despised everything connected to him. "Well... Ms. Shaw, you see, our contract's up, and it's about time we renewed it!" Brennan plastered on a smile, rising carefully to place the contract in front of Theodora. In that moment, he knew for certain: he couldn't afford to cross either of these two. Theodora had just lowered her eyes to look when Desmond came in, leaning close to explain quietly. "Quincy family does construction. Shaw Enterprises' real estate division holds a competitive bid every year for builders, but because Quincy family has ties with Harper family, the contract's been going to Quincy family by default." In other words, Theodore had always awarded the projects to Brennan as a favor to Cassian. He was her son-in-law, after all. That much courtesy had been expected. But... Theodora's mouth twisted into a deeply sarcastic smile. But Cassian had nothing to do with her anymore. She closed the file without hesitation and looked up at Brennan. "This time Shaw Enterprises will hold an open bid. Young Master Quincy, feel free to submit an application." "What?!" Brennan froze, certain he'd misheard. It used to be a formality. Why was there suddenly a competitive bid? "Wait..." Panic crept into his voice. "Sis—uh, Ms. Shaw! Our partnership's always been great. Why complicate things with a bid? Right?" Quincy family didn't have deep enough pockets for this. And his grandfather had personally tasked him with this. If he came back empty-handed, the old man would kill him. Desmond looked at Theodora with surprise, thinking to himself: this young lady's approach is nothing like the old Ms. Shaw's. But Theodora seemed set in stone. "How is this complicating things? Bidding should always be fair and transparent. Shouldn't it?" Before Brennan could respond, Elias cut in. "You not getting it? What Ms. Shaw's telling you is that pulling strings won't fly with her. So why don't you go back where you came from and submit a proper application like everyone else. Got it?" Elias's translation of Theodora's words was harsh, but brutally honest. Brennan's face flushed. He stared at Theodora in disbelief. "Sis, who is this guy? And come on—we've worked together for years. You can't just cut me off like this." "I'm Elias! Ms. Shaw's new secretary. From now on, if you want to see Ms. Shaw, you go through me first!" Elias bristled, feeling disrespected. That was a blow to Brennan's pride. He'd been pampered and adored since childhood. How could he take this kind of treatment? He turned on them, his tone venomous. "You don't have to be this cold, you know. Turns out Cassian was right—you're reckless and emotional. If it weren't for you, he wouldn't have almost died last time! What do women know about business? I guarantee Shaw Enterprises is going straight into the ground with you in charge!" Chapter 6 Brennan said his piece without stopping to breathe, then turned and walked straight for the door. The way he moved, you'd think even if they sent a royal escort to bring him back, he still wouldn't come. But his words had Theodora's brow pulled tight. Her voice came out cold and flat. "Wait." Brennan stopped. Pure reflex. "You said Cassian almost died — because of me?" The question came from behind him, laced with genuine shock, like this was the first she'd ever heard of it. Brennan let out a short, contemptuous laugh and turned his head. "Don't tell me you had no idea. He's the man you shared a bed with." Then he walked out and didn't look back. He left Theodora standing there, buried in confusion. She really hadn't known. When had Cassian almost died? And because of her? Brennan had looked certain — not the kind of certain that came with a lie. So was it true? But Cassian had never said a word. She turned it over and over and kept coming up empty. When? When could it have happened? In her memory, Cassian had always been cold. Distant. The kind of man who came home only because the calendar said he was supposed to, fulfilling the role of husband the way someone clocked into a job they hated. Beyond that, there had been almost nothing between them. Thinking about it now, Theodora almost laughed at herself. The indifference had been right there, plain as day. The quiet disgust. How had she not seen it? She'd kept telling herself that if she just loved him hard enough, one day he'd notice. One day it would matter. What a joke. It felt like an invisible fist had reached into her chest and squeezed. A dull, breathless ache that sat behind her ribs and wouldn't let go. Elias caught it immediately. He always did. "Thea," he said, stepping closer. "You okay?" Around other people, he called her Thea. In private, when he was looking out for her, it was always sis. Some things never changed, no matter how many years passed. Theodora shook her head — a small, dismissive gesture. But the crease between her brows didn't ease at all. Desmond had no interest in the emotional wreckage. What had his attention was the decision she'd just made. "Ms. Shaw — you're putting the new project out to open bidding?" That pulled her back. She gave a firm nod. "Yes. Get the word out first. Let every company with the capability come and compete for it." "Exactly!" Elias crossed his arms, still annoyed. "There are plenty of construction firms out there. The Quincy family isn't the only option." He hadn't forgotten the way Brennan had spoken to Theodora, and it was still sitting wrong with him. "Understood. I'll take care of it." Desmond nodded and headed out to make the arrangements. Once he was gone, Theodora turned back to Elias, something hollow in her expression. "What Brennan said earlier — that Cassian almost died because of me. Is that right?" She'd been running through every memory she had and nothing fit. Part of her was hoping she'd misheard. Elias didn't even pause. "Yeah." Her heart lurched. "Probably the divorce?" he added, like it was obvious. "Not every wound bleeds, you know. Sometimes the ones that hurt the most are the ones you can't see." "No." Theodora cut him off. "That's not it." If anything, Cassian had wanted the divorce. He'd been the one counting down to it. "Oh, come on!" Elias dragged a hand through his hair, his voice edged with something protective and a little bitter. "You're already divorced. Whatever's going on with him has nothing to do with you anymore." Theodora said nothing. But the line between her brows stayed exactly where it was. ****** Outside the office, Brennan made it two steps through the door before the regret hit him like a wall. "What was I thinking?! Picking a fight and storming off like that — if I don't get that contract, I'm finished!" He pressed his knuckles against his own skull, furious with himself. He could have cried. He genuinely could have. Hand already raised, he was half a second from following through when the door opened behind him. In an instant, Brennan dropped his hand and reached up to casually scratch the back of his head, the picture of someone with absolutely nowhere to be. It was Desmond. He blinked at the sight of Brennan still standing there. "Young Master Quincy? Did you need something else?" The Shaw Enterprises relationship was a long one. Desmond was nothing if not professional. "Hmph." Brennan rolled his eyes, shoved his bangs out of his face, and walked away without a word — the walk of a man who had decided to be done with all of them. Desmond watched him go, a quiet smile crossing his face. Then he took out his phone and called Theodore, laying out everything that had just happened, detail by detail. At that moment, Theodore was exactly where a man of his position should be on a pleasant afternoon — stretched out in a recliner in his own backyard, soaking up the sun. His wife was nearby arranging flowers. The household staff hovered with refreshments. Life, by all measures, was good. Valentina paused at what she heard, setting down her stems with a small frown. "You're really letting Thea handle all of this on her own? The Quincy family is—" "The Quincy family?" Theodore gave a dismissive snort. "The only reason I ever let them have those contracts in the first place was out of respect for Cassian. The Harpers have nothing to do with us anymore. Why should I keep doing the Quincy family any favors?" He sounded pleased. "That's my daughter. New leadership, new rules — shake out the old rot. Good for her." Valentina laughed despite herself. "Sure, sure. Thea's wonderful — but I know you. You didn't want to be the one making enemies of all your old friends, so you handed her the knife and stepped back." Dead on. Theodore smiled to himself, unbothered. "She's young. If she makes a tough call, no one's going to say a thing to her face. And now that she's home—" He shook his head, deeply satisfied. "It's good. It's really good." He closed his eyes and started humming to himself. Valentina smiled for a moment, then the smile faded. Thea had fought the whole family to marry Cassian. Now she was back, and there was still a smile on her face — but a mother knew. Whatever that girl was carrying inside, she was carrying it alone. Valentina dabbed at the corner of her eye and stood. "I'm going to have the kitchen make some soup. She needs the strength." After she went inside, Theodore opened his eyes slowly and stared up at the sky. He knew his daughter was hurting. He wasn't blind. But some things, parents couldn't fix. She had to find her own way through it. Keeping her busy with the company was the best he could do — when you didn't have time to think, you didn't have time to fall apart. ****** Brennan found Cassian not long after, looking like a man on the edge of a breakdown. "You have no idea how unreasonable she was. Not only did she refuse to sign, she's putting everything out to open bidding now — something about transparency and fair competition." He threw his hands up. "Are you serious?!" He was furious. All those years of history, and Theodora hadn't given him an inch. His eyes slid sideways to the real source of all this — Cassian. Because if this man hadn't played her and then shown up with another woman to push his own wife out the door, would Brennan be standing here suffering like this?

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