Chapter 273
"The grand door burst open with a resounding bang.
Ms. Hernandez stormed in, fuming. ""So this is where you've been hiding. I go out of my way to throw you this party to find you a wife, and you sneak off without a peep. Don't you want to get married?""
""Not particularly,"" Joseph replied indifferently.
Ms. Hernandez was almost breathless with irritation. ""You have to, whether you want to or not. You're the direct heir to the Hernandez legacy. Megan Ray is long gone. Stop wasting your time!""
Joseph's perusal of the documents paused, his elegant fingers stilling.
With a huff, Ms. Hernandez snatched the papers away, tossing them aside. ""You can work anytime, but not tonight. If you don't choose a woman this evening, I swear I’ll drop dead right here in front of you.""
""Grandma..."" Joseph massaged the bridge of his nose. This was precisely why he'd been avoiding coming home—as a man on the cusp of thirty, he was tired of this relentless match-making pressure.
I had arranged to meet someone like Cassie in Madison to keep up appearances, but who would have thought...
The thought of that woman sent a shadow through his eyes, a deep darkness that was fleeting but undeniable.
In the grand scheme, marriage was inevitable for him. Sooner or later, it didn't seem to make much difference. Maybe it was just as well to play along with Grandma's plans. That would give her some peace of mind.
""All right,"" he said, standing up and following his grandmother out of the room.
Grandma beamed with joy as she led him upstairs to overlook the gathering of ladies below, reminiscent of an old-time emperor sifting through his court for a consort. ""Take a look, Joey. Which of these fine ladies catches your eye?""
Joseph scanned the room with a headache brewing. The women were dolled up to perfection; without their makeup, he was certain they'd be unrecognizable.
Not Cassie, though. Even when made up, her look was subtly elegant and her face clean and strikingly beautiful.
His gaze suddenly froze on one face in the crowd.
Tracing his gaze, Ms. Hernandez smiled. ""That's Luna. Her father is Leo, and her mother comes from the affluent Davis family. They are well-regarded, and frankly, she's one of the most striking young women here tonight.""
Joseph's response was a quiet one. The woman's face stirred memories of the one he had left in Madison. Their separation had been bitter, marked by frustration and bitterness, yet the resemblance in the face before him captivated his attention more than he was willing to acknowledge.
He thought to himself, “What kind of hold do you have over him?”
""Is it her then?"" Grandma Hernandez prodded, her voice a cocktail of surprise and pleasure.
Joseph gave a slow nod, affirming quietly as he began his descent, ""Yes, it's her.""
__________
Late at night.
Cassie stood on her balcony, where she could just make out the distant lights of the Hernandez estate. The place was ablaze with activity, a sign of revelry she was not a part of.
And he was there.
She let out a sigh and went back to bed.
But sleep eluded her."
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