Chapter 6 - The Woman Who Knew My Secret
Cassian's men forced the door open.
Nobody was outside.
The caller had vanished.
Clara stood frozen beside Noah.
Cassian approached.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
He didn't pretend otherwise.
He put his hand on her shoulder.
“We're leaving.”
“Not until I know the truth.”
“Clara.”
“My mother.”
Cassian sighed.
“I know.”
“You said my father was alive.”
“I said the photograph suggests he was.”
“I need answers.”
Cassian looked at her.
“You'll get them.”
They returned to the residence.
Marina was waiting.
She saw Clara's face and immediately understood.
“You found the photographs.”
Clara nodded.
“Tell me everything.”
Marina hesitated.
Then she spoke.
“Your mother was involved with the Rossi family.”
Cassian looked at her sharply.
“Marina.”
“She deserves to know.”
Clara stared at Cassian.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“Your family knew?”
“My father may have.”
“What does that mean?”
Marina explained that Clara's mother had worked for Cassian's father decades earlier.
She had discovered financial crimes.
Then she disappeared.
Everyone assumed she had run.
But she hadn't.
“She was hiding Clara,” Marina said.
“From whom?”
“From Viktor's father.”
Clara's hands shook.
“My mother was protecting me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did Derek know?”
Marina looked away.
“Because Derek found the old records.”
Clara understood.
The debt hadn't started with Derek.
It had started with secrets.
Cassian stepped closer.
“I will protect you.”
Clara looked at him.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I mean it.”
“And what happens when this is over?”
Cassian paused.
“I don't know.”
That honesty mattered.
Later that evening, Clara found Cassian in the library.
He was reading the ledger.
She sat beside him.
“Why did you agree to marry me?”
He didn't answer immediately.
Finally he said:
“Because when I saw you in that diner, you reminded me of someone.”
“Who?”
“My mother.”
Clara looked surprised.
“She was afraid of my father.”
“And you protected her?”
“I was too young.”
His voice became quieter.
“She died before I could.”
Clara reached for his hand.
He looked down at their fingers.
Neither moved.
Then Noah called from upstairs.
“Mommy!”
Clara stood.
“I'll get him.”
Cassian watched her leave.
His phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
WE HAVE NOAH.
Cassian's blood turned cold.
He ran upstairs.
The bedroom door was open.
The window was broken.
Noah was gone.
Clara stood in the hallway screaming.
“Cassian!”
He grabbed her shoulders.
“Look at me.”
“My baby!”
“I'll bring him back.”
“How?”
Cassian's phone rang.
He answered.
A man's voice said:
“Come alone.”
Cassian's expression changed.
“Where?”
“Bring Clara.”
The caller laughed.
“Viktor wants his collateral back.”
The call ended.
Cassian looked at Clara.
She was crying.
Then he said the words that changed everything:
“They didn't take Noah to hurt you.”
“Then why?”
May you like
Cassian stared at the empty bedroom.
“They took him to force me to surrender you...”
