Chapter 604
Within the grandeur of the Madison mansion, the annual celebration was in full swing. Amidst the revelry, the true identities of Atlas, Vera, and Luna were laid bare for all to see.
The attendees, a motley crew of unsuspecting fools, were likely oblivious to the fact that their gathering had become the evening's spectacle, drawing the unblinking gaze of the media for live coverage.
Once the reality of the situation dawned upon them, anyone with a reputation to safeguard would hastily sever ties with the trio.
In the cutthroat world of business, relationships and connections were the lifeblood of success.
Cassie, with a calculated stroke of cunning, had effectively blocked their retreat, a testament to their formidable power.
Joseph's recollection of Cassie was a relic of the past, an image frozen in time from three years prior when Cassie was nothing more than an obnoxious, detestable figure.
Now, Cassie had undergone a metamorphosis, a transformation that was not only skin-deep but had also permeated their entire demeanor.
It was clear that Cassie had thrived in the intervening years.
Yet, Joseph was plagued by a gnawing sense of foolishness, a bitter pill to swallow, having been duped by Cassie for so long. A wave of guilt washed over him, guilt for his own gullibility.
His nights had been haunted by her ghost, sleep eluding him for over a thousand nights.
"You lied to me, you didn't die at all," he accused, his dark eyes flashing with anger.
In a fit of rage, Joseph lunged at her, only to be thwarted by Leo's timely intervention.
"Leo, step aside," Joseph warned, his voice as cold as ice.
Leo bristled at Joseph's audacity, ready to retort, but Cassie gently nudged him aside before he could utter a word. She faced Joseph with a calm demeanor, her voice steady as she admitted, "Yes, I lied to you."
"Who else was in on this? Laura? The hospital staff?" Joseph's mind raced, his sense of foolishness amplifying with each passing moment.
Cassie tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips, "Joseph, if I hadn't faked my death back then, I'd be nothing more than ashes now."
"What do you mean?" Joseph demanded, his eyes narrowing at the mocking glint in Cassie's eyes.
"Why feign ignorance?" Cassie retorted, her smile never wavering. She retrieved a pair of sunglasses from her bag, donning them with an air of confidence, "I'm just a normal person. You had me locked up in a psychiatric ward, subjected to daily injections and medication. My life was less free than a prisoner's. You would have driven me to insanity sooner or later."
Joseph's throat tightened, his voice raspy as he defended, "You were mentally unstable."
"Do you understand the difference between being mentally unstable and being filled with extreme rage?" Cassie countered, her voice laced with scorn, "I lost my child, was confined by you, and had to endure your flaunting of your love with Megan. Shouldn't I have been hysterical? Should I have been calm and collected?"
Leo, having listened to the exchange, felt a pang of heartache. Initially, he had believed that Cassie was mentally unstable, but it was a shocking revelation to learn that it was Joseph who had driven Cassie to the brink of madness.
"You son of a bitch," Leo seethed, his patience worn thin. He swung a punch at Joseph, who effortlessly parried the attack and seized Leo's wrist.
"Let him go," Cassie commanded, her eyes icy. "What? Three years ago, you used my dad to threaten me countless times, and now you want to use him against me again?"
Joseph's grip on Leo's wrist slackened, his lips pressed into a thin line. Slowly, he released Leo.
Leo, taken aback, questioned, "What did he use as a threat against you?"
Joseph's response was a wall of silence. Cassie, however, lifted her gaze and offered a smile. Her eyes were icy as she addressed him, "Joseph, why the sudden muteness? You were quite adept at issuing threats back in the day."
As Cassie's smile grew more radiant, Joseph's irritation swelled. He recalled the previous times Cassie had brought up this topic, her eyes brimming with hatred. Now, her expression was one of mockery.
"Everyone had their share of blame back then, including your friends who were far from innocent," Joseph retorted, his voice a low growl.
"Indeed, like your girlfriend's brother, the epitome of innocence," Cassie retorted, turning to Leo with a smile. "Dad, when Megan was caught cheating, the paparazzi had a field day and the internet was awash with criticism. Joseph was so devastated that he forced me to publicly announce our divorce, threatening to withhold Doctor Angelino's treatment for you otherwise. Later, Megan's brother broke into my friend's house, leaving them battered and bruised. Nathan even stabbed David and nearly assaulted Luara. Yet, Joseph used your condition to prevent me from holding his girlfriend's brother accountable."
The revelation left Leo heartbroken. How much torment had his daughter suffered because of him?
The more he pondered, the more his fury grew, his eyes turning a fiery red.
Leo could only blame his advanced age for his inability to stand up against Joseph.
"Joseph, you're nothing more than a beast. No, even that is too kind a term for you," Leo spat out, his resentment for Joseph palpable.
Joseph's face flushed with embarrassment, his brows furrowing. When had he vowed to treat Cassie well?
The reopening of those old wounds stirred discomfort within him.
It was also the reason why Joseph had kept Cassie in his thoughts all these years, the guilt he harbored for her.
"Dad, there's no need for anger. I've moved on," Cassie reassured, guiding Leo into the car with a faint smile. "Please, get in. There's no point wasting breath on someone like him."
" Cassie, rest assured, I will seek justice for you," Leo vowed, his voice laced with anger.
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