Chapter 7 - His Future Wife
Cassian refused to surrender Clara.
Instead, he made a plan.
His men traced the call.
An abandoned warehouse.
Two miles from the river.
Clara wanted to go.
Cassian said no.
She slapped his hand away when he tried to stop her.
“My son is there.”
“I know.”
“Then I'm going.”
“You'll stay behind me.”
“I won't hide.”
Cassian stared at her.
Then nodded.
They arrived at midnight.
The warehouse was dark.
A single light hung from the ceiling.
Noah was sitting in a chair.
His hands were free.
A woman stood beside him.
Clara almost ran.
Cassian grabbed her arm.
“Wait.”
The woman stepped forward.
“Clara.”
She recognized her.
Derek's accountant.
Marina.
Clara stared.
“You took my son?”
Marina shook her head.
“I saved him.”
“What?”
Marina pointed toward the shadows.
A man stepped out.
Derek.
Clara stopped breathing.
Her ex-husband smiled.
“Hello, Clara.”
Cassian stepped between them.
Derek laughed.
“You always were possessive.”
“You stole her.”
“I borrowed what belonged to me.”
Cassian's eyes became dangerous.
“No human being belongs to you.”
Derek looked at Clara.
“You signed the papers.”
“She didn't.”
“You're defending her now?”
“Yes.”
Derek smiled.
“Then perhaps you should tell her why.”
Clara looked at Cassian.
“What does he mean?”
Derek pulled out another document.
“You think Cassian married you for protection?”
Cassian's jaw tightened.
Derek continued.
“He needs you.”
Clara stared.
“For what?”
Derek laughed.
“Your mother's inheritance.”
Cassian said nothing.
Clara turned to him.
“Is that true?”
Cassian finally answered.
“Partly.”
Her heart cracked.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“You knew I had an inheritance?”
“I knew your mother left something.”
“What?”
“Control of a company.”
Clara stepped away.
“You never told me.”
“I didn't know how.”
Derek laughed.
“See? He lies too.”
Cassian's voice hardened.
“Enough.”
Derek pulled a gun.
Cassian moved instantly.
The warehouse erupted into chaos.
His men disarmed Derek.
Marina grabbed Noah.
Clara ran to her son.
She held him so tightly he cried.
Cassian approached.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
But she couldn't look at him.
“Clara.”
“You lied.”
“I withheld something.”
“That's lying.”
Cassian lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Derek was dragged away.
Before leaving, he shouted:
“You'll never know what your mother left you!”
Clara looked at Cassian.
“What did she leave me?”
He didn't answer.
She walked away.
That night, she slept in the guest room.
Cassian remained outside the door.
He didn't knock.
In the morning, Clara found a document under her door.
It was from her mother's lawyer.
One sentence was highlighted:
The inheritance may only be transferred to Clara Hayes upon her marriage to a member of the Rossi family.
Clara stared at it.
Then she saw the signature beneath the clause.
May you like
Her mother's.
And suddenly she understood why Cassian had proposed...
