Chapter 58
Cassie
Cathy was there when I opened my eyes the next morning. It was almost like she had been hovering in the door waiting for me to open my eyes she was so quick.
“Good morning miss, how are you feelin?” She asked as she bustled in with a loaded tray in her hands. She laid the tray on my legs and started pouring tea into a china cup.
I smiled my thanks as she hovered over me.
“Miss Cassie?” She prompted.
I quickly took stock of my body. She hadn’t given me a chance before. Surprisingly I felt good. A little aching in places but my mind was relatively clear and unburdened by dark thoughts.
“I’m fine.” I smiled and the moment I did I saw the relief flood her face.
“I am so glad Cassie. You had us all so worried. I’ve never seen the young prince like that before. The panic and fear in his face,”
Over the rim of the pale blue china tea cup I blinked at her. “You haven’t? What do you mean?”
“When he carried you in here.” Cathy busied herself tidying the room. “I’ve never seen him look so fierce or so tender.”
I couldn’t help myself. I smiled. That was Julian all over. He was all opposites all the time. “Where is he?” I had woken up alone but that didn’t mean he wasn’t downstairs somewhere or even in the shower although I couldn’t hear any water running.
“He left a few hours ago.” Cathy said in a sing song voice as she drew back the heavy drapes and flooded the room with blinding light. The heavy rain of yesterday seemed to have blown passed.
“Oh ok.” I couldn’t help the deflated feeling in my chest but Cathy didn’t seem to notice it. She hummed her way around the room straightening things as she went.
After last night I had hoped he would be here with me when I woke up but some things never did change. Last night was a fluke and I had to remember it.
But of course it had to be a one time thing. My hands settled on the blankets right over my stomach. I was carrying another man’s child. There could be no happily forever after for me and Julian.
“I should get up and prepare for work.”
“Julian has taken care of that. You don’t need to go back until you feel ready. He’s good to you, and he’s assigned a driver for you as well. A very capable young man. Devan will keep you safe and sound when our young prince isn’t with you,”
Our young prince? It was sweet she thought Julian was mine but he wasn’t and he never would be.
“What do you want to do with your day off? Any plans?”
I took a sip of my tea. Savouring the taste of it. I knew exactly what I was going to do with my day off.
“I am going to see my mum.”
***
“Miss Cassie.” My mum's nurse met me in the hallway like she had been expecting me. Her face was drawn. “Did you get my message?”
Coming to a stop I shook my head. “No what message?”
“I left you an answer phone message yesterday.” She smiled as mine slipped off my face. After everything that had happened I hadn’t even thought to pick up my messages. My mum could have needed me and I had been thinking of nothing but myself. “Is she ok?”
“Oh she’s fine. A royal pain in my bum sometimes,” the nurse gave the smallest giggle and I couldn’t help but chuckle right along with her. “She wants to discharged.”
“Is she well enough for that?”
“Yes. The doctor will have certain stipulations because she will need to come back often to be checked but she’s healing very very well. And I think a home setting with her family around her will do her the world of good.”
My heart sank. I wanted all of that for my mother and for myself as well. But I couldn’t bring her to live with me and Julian because sooner rather than later he would find out about my pregnancy and I would have to run.
I wouldn’t leave her at his mercy.
“I’ll go and tell her the good news.” Waving to her I made my way further into the ward and towards my mothers room. I would work something out. I had money. I could rent her a small apartment and move in with her to look after her. Already ideas and plans were forming in my mind.
“Just sign the damn papers.” The shrill woman’s voice was coming from my mothers room and I stopped in my tracks.
What was Annie, my fathers mistress doing here? Creeping forward I listened in.
“I won’t divorce him.” My mother’s voice was weak. Like she was so tired she could cry.
“You need to divorce him. My son will be born soon. Joshua will need to have shares in the company.”
My head snapped up. Shares in the company? Hadn’t dad said the money was all gone? That was why there was none of my inheritance left.
“The company is half mine.”
“And that’s why you need to demand a divorce from him. You haven’t done anything to help the business.”
My mothers sigh was loud. “Cassie told me that Marvin was struggling for money. That’s the reason her marriage to the prince was pushed forward. The family needed the funds.”
Annie’s laugh was condescending. “Oh don’t be stupid. The money isn’t gone and the business isn’t failing. Marvin just needs Cassie with the prince to help us get in with the royal family.”
At my side my fists clenched. Was that what all of this was about? Was my own father using me to get a better standing in the court. Was he using me?
But of course he was. That was just the kind of man my father was. He’d always been the same.
Leaning forward I peeked in to the room in time to see Annie lean threateningly over my mums body. “Do you know what kind of man your only daughter is married to? Do you know how cruel he is? And she can’t leave because you won’t divorce her father. She’s staying because of you. You-“ she stabbed a sharply pointed nail into my mother's chest. Not far above her wound.
“That is enough.” Angrily I stepped into the room. My hands on my hips. “It’s time for you to leave Annie.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I’ve said my piece Cassie.” She rolled her eyes.
“I will drag you out of this room and this hospital by your badly put in hair extensions if you don’t leave right now.”
A flicker of fear entered her eyes but she quickly hid it. Sweeping her hair over her shoulder she preened almost like she expected me to be swayed by her looks.
I wasn’t a man who would fall for such things.
“Get out. I won’t have you upsetting my mum and jeopardising her health.” I pointed to the door.
“You can’t tell me what to do,Cassie.”
“Watch me.”
“When your father hears of this he will-“
I shook my head she was like a spoiled brat. “He will do what? Take it up with my husband? The Prince.” Throwing my head back I laughed, “Leave Annie.”
I watched as she flounced out of the place.
“What a bitch.” Turning back to my mum I reached for her hand. “Are you ok? She didn’t hurt you, did she?”
“Is Julian really mistreating you?” My mum asked in return.
Perching on the edge of her bed I squeezed her hand. “No he’s not mistreating me mum. You shouldn’t listen to Annie. She is just jealous because she will always be the mistress. She knows she has no control over anything in that position. She’s his doll, his plaything.” My smile slipped a little. “His brood mare. He’s always wanted a son and she will give him one but at the end of the day he will always be yours. Because deep down he loves you and you love him”
“I don’t love him though Cassie.” Resigned my mum sighed.
I blinked at her in shock. “What do you mean?”
“It was a contract. That was all. Just like the one you are in. And I was miserable. The only good thing in my life was you. I don’t want you to suffer the same fate as me. Trapped in a loveless marriage. I want more for you than that.”
I wanted more for me and my children as well.
Growing up I had thought my mum had loved my dad and that’s why she had stuck around but now I could see the truth.
“I know mum.” Standing up I kissed her cheek. “I know you want to get out of here but can you give me a few more days? I need to find us a place to live and-“
“Cassie.”
“I’ll go and speak to your doctor mum but don’t worry it won’t be much longer and we can really start living our lives again.”
She snagged my wrist. “Thank you Cassie. For everything. This place feels like a prison and I’m going crazy being locked up.”
***
Coming out of my mothers doctors office I walked straight into Megan. Stumbling backwards my ears were full of the sound of her mocking laughter.
It was almost like she had been waiting for me.
“Oh Cassie.” She giggled theatrically. Smoothing her tight skirt down her legs. “You should really be more careful. More aware of your surroundings.”
Pursing my lips I stared her up and down. Everything she wore was conservative but left absolutely nothing to the imagination. Ever item showed off her curves.
“What are you doing here? You don’t work here anymore.”
I didn’t want to deal with Megan. Not after what had happened yesterday and already running into Annie.
“neither do you.”
“I was visiting my mum.”
“Oh yeah.” She giggled sarcastically. “I guess Julian didn’t factor in that you would come here today? Or maybe he did. Maybe he wanted you to see.”
Confused, I stared at her and then it hit me. “You are here to meet my husband?”
She smiled triumphantly. “He phoned this morning. He really wants to see me so we can discuss the future.” She winked. “Although I doubt we will do much talking.”
I felt sick. Nausea rolled through my stomach. Was that reason he hadn’t waited around for me to wake up this morning? Was he already rushing to meet his mistress?
It shouldn’t upset me but it did. Not that I would ever let Megan see the pain she was causing me. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. Throwing back my head I laughed. “Oh please Megan.” I laughed until tears ran down my cheeks smudging my makeup. “You don’t have a future with Julian. Women like you.” I raked my eyes up and down her perfect body with scorn because she wasn’t the only one who could be a bitch. “Aren’t wives to men like Julian. You are whores.”
“Oh you poor fool.” She stepped into my space. So close that it felt like I would choke on her overpowering perfume. “You will see. He’s going to divorce you and marry me”
As if to prove her point the roar of a sports cars engine rumbled through the parking lot. Megan’s smile grew wider and wider.
“Excuse me Cassie. I have a date with a prince.”
I didn’t watch her walk away but I did move to the window to look down at the parking lot below.
And my heart broke as I watched Megan slide gracefully into Julian’s car and they took off.
She hadn’t been lying. He had come for her.
I bit back the urge to sob. They didn’t deserve my tears.
In my bag my phone began to ring.
“Hello.” I answered it without looking who was calling.
“Cassie?”
Letting out a sigh of relief to hear Forrest’s voice I relaxed. Forrest was my friend. I could count on him to make me feel better.
“Cassie, you need to leave.” He sounded breathless. “You need to run. Today or tomorrow at the lastest.” Taking a deep breath he shattered my heart with one sentence. “Cassie, Megan is pregnant and Julian is the father.”
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