~CASSANDRA~
"Due to your recent health situation and the doctor’s note provided, you’re being released on bail," the officer said in a flat and professional tone. "But don’t leave the city. You can be called in at any ti as we proceed to court."
My father nodded curtly beside , shaking hands with his expensive lawyer. "Thanks for coming imdiately. We’ll talk tomorrow."
I stood there, my legs trembling with relief as he led toward the exit. The thought of fresh air and freedom filled with hope. I made my way to the parking lot, eager to get to my car, just wanting to go ho and collapse on my couch.
"Get in mine, Cassandra." My father’s clipped voice rang behind .
I stopped, turning to look at him. "But I ca in my own."
He glared. "You wouldn’t even be leaving here at all if I hadn’t co. Get in before I change my mind and send you back inside."
I felt a surge of anger rising within , despite being exhausted. "You wouldn’t do that to . I’m your daughter."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Oh, you want to see try? Test , Cassandra. Please, give one more reason."
"Charles..." Daniel appeared beside , touching my arm gently. "Cass, just calm down. Go with him."
I shot Daniel a look, then looked back at my dad, who was fuming but managed to keep his anger in check.
With a resigned sigh, I slid into my father’s car, the leather seat cold against my skin. The door slamd shut, and I watched Daniel get into my car to follow us.
The car ride was quiet, except for the sound of my dad tapping his fingers on his lap.
Each tap felt like a pulse of his barely contained anger. I looked out the window, feeling my stomach knot up with anxiety. The streets I knew so well passed by in a blur, and each second felt like we were getting closer to the confrontation I dreaded.
"Dad, I’m..."
"Don’t," he snapped, cutting off without even looking at . "Don’t you dare try to explain yourself right now."
I bit my lip, tasting blood. My hands were shaking, so I clasped them together in my lap, pressing down until my knuckles turned white.
We reached the house too soon. As we walked in, the huge chandelier in the foyer lit everything up harshly, making the place feel cold and unwelcoming. My father turned to look at , and the anger on his face made instinctively take a step back.
"Give one reason I shouldn’t throw you out right now," he said in a deadly calm voice. "One reason why I should let you keep all I’ve entitled you to."
"Dad, please, I didn’t an for..."
His hand landed across my cheek before I could even finish my sentence, and the pain was instant and stung hard. My head snapped to the side, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes.
"You didn’t an for what?" he roared, his composure shattering. "You didn’t an to get arrested? You didn’t an to give Layla evidence that will bury you in court?"
His hand moved again as he landed a back-handed slap, this one on the other cheek. I stumbled, my hand flying to my face.
"You’ve disgraced ! Disgraced the Watson na!"
Daniel rushed forward, positioning himself between us. "Sir, please, stop! She just miscarried. She needs rest, not this."
My father’s hand shot out, striking Daniel across the face. Daniel stumbled back in shock.
"And you," Charles spat, turning his fury on Daniel. "You can’t even put her in check, and you call yourself her husband? Husband my foot!"
"Is this how I want to run for mayor next election? With you two dragging my na through the mud with your stupidity!"
"I didn’t..."
"Both of you have made a laughingstock!" He paced like a caged animal, his voice rising with each word. "Do you know what I have to do now? Do you? I have to go to Layla... Layla!
"I have to go to her and beg her to drop the case. ! Charles Watson! Begging that girl who couldn’t even asure up to my daughter when she was part of this family!"
"She was never..." I started.
"Shut up!" He whirled on . "Even Layla didn’t sink this low. Even she had the sense to play the ga properly. But you? You’re reckless and impulsive, and now you’ve put us all at risk."
"I was trying to stop her! She’s ruining everything we built!"
"No, Cassandra. You’re ruining everything. You and your inability to think properly."
He stord toward his study, pausing at the doorway. "Get out of my sight. Both of you. And if either of you do one more thing to embarrass this family, I’ll cut you off completely. No company shares, nothing. Do you understand?"
"Dad..."
The door slamd, rattling the frad photos on the wall.
I stood there, trembling, my cheeks burning from his slaps. Daniel ca over, looking worried as he reached for .
"Cass, let help..."
"Leave alone!" I shoved him away, harder than I intended. "This is your fault! If you hadn’t been so weak, if you’d just done what you were supposed to do. "
"I did everything you asked!"
"Clearly not well enough!" I was screaming now, all the anger and humiliation boiling over. "Get away from . Just get away!"
I fled to my room in my father’s estate, tears streaming down my face. I slamd the door shut and fell onto the bed, shaking with sobs.
Everything hurt: my face, my stomach where the baby had been, my chest where my heart felt like it was being crushed.
But underneath the tears, underneath the pain, anger was building too. A hot, righteous, all-consuming anger.
I couldn’t just lie here crying. Crying wouldn’t fix anything. I needed to act, to take control back, to make them all pay for what they’d done to .
I sat up, wiping my eyes roughly. My reflection in the vanity mirror showed red cheeks, swollen eyes, and dishevelled hair. I looked broken and defeated.
But I wasn’t. Not yet.
Grabbing my phone from where I’d dropped it, I scrolled through my contacts until I found the na I needed. My hands were steadier now, my breathing evened out as purpose replaced despair.
The phone rang once. Twice.
"Hello?"
"Erica," I said in a steady voice, despite the tears still drying on my cheeks. "I can’t wait anymore. We need to move our plans up. Earlier than we discussed."
"How much earlier?"
"As soon as possible."
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