My mother did not believe me when I told her the cottage had been purchased.
Not at first.
Neither did I.
Forty-eight minutes after we left the chapel, a black SUV stopped outside the small white cottage where Mom had lived for nearly fifteen years.
Cassian had insisted one of his attorneys drive me home.
Not a guard.
Not one of the armed men.
An attorney named Daniel Mercer who wore wire-frame glasses and looked more like a college professor than someone employed by a Mafia boss.
He handed me a folder before I opened the car door.
“What’s this?”
“Preliminary transfer documents.”
I stared at him.
“The cottage?”
“Yes.”
“Cassian actually bought it?”
“Mr. Vale purchased the cottage and the half-acre surrounding it from the Aldridge holding company.”
“How?”
Daniel gave me the smallest smile.
“The Aldridges owe several banks money. One of those banks owes Mr. Vale a favor.”
I wasn’t sure whether that answer reassured me.
“Who owns it now?”
“You.”
My hand stopped on the door handle.
“What?”
“Technically, a trust owns it until the paperwork is finalized. You and your mother will be the beneficiaries.”
“No.”
Daniel blinked.
“No?”
“I can’t accept a house from a stranger.”
“You were prepared to marry that stranger three hours ago.”
“I wasn’t exactly prepared.”
“Fair point.”
He glanced at the cottage.
“Mr. Vale anticipated your objection.”
I looked at him.
Daniel opened the folder and pointed to the final page.
“This is not a gift.”
“What is it?”
“A debt agreement.”
I read the amount.
One dollar.
I looked up.
“He sold me a house for a dollar?”
“No. He arranged for the trust to purchase it. You are purchasing his interest in the trust for one dollar.”
“That sounds suspiciously like a gift.”
“It is legally more complicated than a gift, which usually means lawyers have successfully justified their existence.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
The cottage door opened.
Mom stood there leaning on her cane.
Her silver-brown hair was pulled into a loose bun. She wore the green cardigan I had given her last Christmas.
“Lydia?”
I got out of the SUV.
Her eyes widened when she saw the wedding dress.
“What happened?”
That was when I finally broke.
Not in the chapel.
Not when Margaret threatened me.
Not when Cassian identified me.
Right there in the muddy driveway, looking at my mother.
I started crying.
Mom forgot about her arthritis long enough to come down the steps.
I met her halfway.
She wrapped her arms around me.
“What happened to you?”
I buried my face against her shoulder.
“I’m okay.”
“You’re wearing a wedding dress.”
“I know.”
“Are you married?”
“No.”
“Did you almost get married?”
“Yes.”
“To whom?”
I hesitated.
Daniel cleared his throat behind me.
Mom looked over my shoulder.
“Who is that?”
“My lawyer, apparently.”
Daniel raised one hand.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Carter.”
Mom looked at me.
“You have a lawyer?”
“It’s been a complicated morning.”
Inside, I changed into old jeans and a sweater while Daniel explained the property transfer.
Mom listened in complete silence.
When he finished, she stared at the documents.
Then she looked at me.
“They threatened you because of me?”
“No.”
“Lydia.”
I sat beside her.
“Margaret threatened the house.”
“Because of me.”
“Because she’s cruel.”
Mom’s eyes filled.
“I should have left years ago.”
“And gone where?”
“I don’t know.”
“Exactly.”
She squeezed my hand.
“You should never have agreed.”
“What was I supposed to do?”
“Let them throw me out.”
I stared at her.
“That was never going to happen.”
She smiled sadly.
“You’re exactly like your father.”
“I’ll pretend that’s a compliment.”
“It is.”
Daniel’s phone rang.
He excused himself.
Mom immediately leaned closer.
“Who were you supposed to marry?”
I looked down.
“Cassian Vale.”
Mom’s face changed.
She knew the name.
Everyone did.
“Oh, Lydia.”
“He didn’t hurt me.”
“Yet.”
“He canceled the wedding.”
“Good.”
“He bought the cottage.”
“That worries me more.”
I almost smiled.
“Me too.”
But underneath the confusion, one detail kept bothering me.
Cassian had known almost immediately that I was not Evelyn.
Not because he had met Evelyn.
Because he paid attention.
Laundry soap.
Calluses.
Shoes.
Fear.
A man who noticed that much could be dangerous in ways rumors never explained.
That afternoon, Daniel left me his number.
“Mr. Vale may contact you.”
“Why?”
“The situation with Evelyn.”
“I don’t know anything about Evelyn.”
“You may know more than you realize.”
He was right.
At five-thirty that evening, my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
“Lydia.”
Cassian.
I stood up from Mom’s kitchen table.
“How did you get my number?”
“I employ competent people.”
“That is a terrifying answer.”
A pause.
Then, unexpectedly, I heard amusement in his voice.
“Fair.”
I walked toward the window.
“What do you want?”
“Evelyn contacted me.”
That got my attention.
“Is she safe?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I’m not telling anyone yet.”
“Including her parents?”
“Especially her parents.”
I thought about Margaret.
“What did she find?”
“Financial records.”
“About what?”
“Your employers.”
“Former employers.”
Another brief pause.
“Good.”
I frowned.
“Was that approval?”
“You no longer working for people who threatened your mother? Yes.”
I should have been intimidated.
Instead, I was annoyed.
“You don’t get to approve my career decisions.”
“No.”
He said it immediately.
That surprised me.
“I don’t.”
I leaned against the counter.
“So why are you calling?”
“Evelyn claims she left evidence somewhere in the Aldridge house.”
My stomach tightened.
“What kind of evidence?”
“Documents showing her father intended to transfer liability for several illegal financial operations into companies connected to me after the wedding.”
I stared out at the rain.
“And you think I know where the documents are?”
“She says she hid them in her bedroom before she left.”
“I cleaned her bedroom yesterday.”
“Did you see anything unusual?”
I thought back.
Perfume bottles.
Clothes.
Two half-empty champagne glasses.
A ripped envelope near the vanity.
Then I remembered something.
“The air vent.”
“What?”
“There was dust around one vent even though I cleaned it Monday.”
“Which vent?”
“Behind her dressing table.”
Cassian became silent.
“Lydia.”
“Yes?”
“Do not go back there.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“I mean it.”
“So do I.”
“I’ll send people.”
“Your armed people?”
“My employed people.”
“That is not better.”
This time I definitely heard him laugh.
It lasted less than a second.
Then it vanished.
“Stay with your mother tonight.”
“I live with her.”
“Good.”
“Cassian?”
“Yes?”
I hesitated.
“Why did six women leave you?”
Silence.
I almost regretted asking.
Then he said, “So you heard that part.”
“I heard several versions.”
“I imagine they were entertaining.”
“One supposedly ran barefoot through snow.”
“She did.”
I blinked.
“That doesn’t help.”
“No.”
“Did you hurt them?”
The line went quiet.
When he answered, his voice had changed.
“No.”
“Then why did they leave?”
“Because marrying me was never what they wanted.”
“That sounds familiar.”
“Yes.”
I waited.
He didn’t elaborate.
“Good night, Lydia.”
“Cassian—”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Mom spoke from behind me.
“He sounds handsome.”
I nearly dropped it.
“You were listening?”
“This cottage has two rooms.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“It answers mine.”
I turned.
“Mom.”
She smiled.
“I’m sick, not dead.”
“Please never say that again.”
“All right.”
Then her expression grew serious.
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
“Men with power often mistake protecting someone for owning them.”
I thought about Cassian stopping his hand when I flinched.
“I know.”
That night, I barely slept.
At three-fifteen in the morning, headlights swept across my bedroom wall.
I sat up.
A vehicle had stopped outside.
My heart pounded.
I moved to the window.
Black SUV.
The driver’s door opened.
I grabbed my phone.
Before I could call anyone, another figure appeared from the passenger side.
Evelyn Aldridge.
Even from the window, I recognized her.
She wore jeans, a hooded jacket, and sunglasses despite the darkness.
I ran downstairs.
Mom called after me.
“Lydia?”
“It’s okay.”
I opened the door.
Evelyn climbed the steps.
She looked nothing like the woman whose clothes I had washed for years.
No makeup.
Hair tangled.
Dark circles beneath her eyes.
Terrified.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
I stared at her.
“For what?”
“The dress.”
Anger surged through me.
“You knew they would use me?”
“No.”
“Then what are you apologizing for?”
“For running without warning you.”
I stepped aside.
She entered.
Two men remained outside.
Cassian’s men, I assumed.
Mom came from the kitchen.
Evelyn lowered her head.
“Mrs. Carter.”
Mom’s expression hardened.
“You have five minutes before I decide whether I still believe in manners.”
“Mom.”
“No. That woman’s family threatened your life.”
Evelyn flinched.
“My family threatened hers. I didn’t.”
Mom stared at her.
Then pointed toward the table.
“Sit.”
We did.
Evelyn clasped her hands.
“My father’s companies are collapsing.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
“I empty his trash.”
Something like embarrassment crossed her face.
“Right.”
She inhaled.
“My marriage to Cassian was supposed to create a joint investment arrangement. Dad planned to hide losses inside one of the companies after the merger.”
“Cassian knows.”
“I told him.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Evelyn looked at me.
“Because my father didn’t choose you randomly.”
Cold moved down my spine.
“What do you mean?”
“He needed the wedding to happen even after I disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“He also needed someone he could blame if Cassian discovered the documents.”
I stared at her.
Evelyn’s voice dropped.
“They planned to say you stole them.”
Mom gripped the table.
“What?”
“You had access to every room. Every office. Every trash can. Every key.”
My stomach turned.
“They were going to frame me.”
“Yes.”
“For financial crimes?”
“For theft first. Maybe worse later.”
I pushed back from the table.
“No.”
“I heard my parents talking last night. That’s why I left.”
“You could have warned me.”
“I was afraid they monitored my phone.”
“You could have done something.”
“I know.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
Before I could answer, a knock sounded at the door.
Three slow knocks.
Everyone froze.
One of the security men outside entered first.
“Ms. Carter?”
“Yes?”
“Mr. Vale is here.”
My heart skipped.
Cassian walked in moments later.
No suit this time.
Black coat.
Dark shirt.
Rain on his hair.
His eyes found Evelyn first.
Then me.
“Everyone okay?”
Mom looked at him.
“You’re Cassian Vale.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You almost married my daughter.”
“No, ma’am.”
“You stood in a chapel with her.”
“That is true.”
Mom pointed a finger at him.
“I don’t care how many men are standing outside. If my daughter gets dragged into your world because of these people, I will personally make your life miserable.”
Cassian stared at her.
The two security men looked deeply uncomfortable.
Then Cassian nodded.
“That seems fair.”
Mom blinked.
I covered a smile.
Cassian turned toward Evelyn.
“My people found the documents.”
Evelyn stood.
“And?”
“Your father’s numbers are worse than you thought.”
“How bad?”
“Bad enough that he tried to sell his daughter to solve them.”
Her face crumpled.
Cassian did not soften the truth.
But he did not enjoy saying it either.
He looked at me.
“They also found something else.”
“What?”
“A personnel file.”
My pulse changed.
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Charles Aldridge has been collecting information about your family for years.”
I felt Mom stiffen behind me.
“What information?”
Cassian’s jaw tightened.
“Your father’s accident.”
The room went silent.
Dad had been dead twenty-one years.
A construction accident.
A collapsed scaffolding platform.
At least, that was what we had always been told.
I stared at Cassian.
“What about it?”
He placed a thin folder on the table.
On top was a photocopy of an old newspaper clipping.
LOCAL WORKER KILLED IN SITE COLLAPSE.
My father’s photograph was beneath the headline.
Cassian looked directly at me.
“The company that owned that construction site was controlled by Charles Aldridge.”
Mom made a small sound.
I could barely breathe.
Cassian continued.
“And according to the records Evelyn found, your father warned them about the safety problem three days before he died.”
My knees weakened.
I grabbed the back of a chair.
“No.”
“There’s more.”
“I don’t want more.”
“I know.”
“Then stop.”
He stopped immediately.
The room became painfully quiet.
I looked at Mom.
Her face had gone gray.
“Mom?”
She stared at the clipping.
“I knew,” she whispered.
I froze.
“What?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“Not everything.”
“Mom.”
“Your father told me the site wasn’t safe.”
I felt like the floor had shifted beneath us.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You were twelve.”
“I’m thirty now.”
“I was scared.”
Her voice broke.
“The Aldridges offered me work after he died. A house. Medical help. They said they felt responsible.”
Cassian’s expression hardened.
My stomach twisted.
“They didn’t feel responsible.”
Mom looked at me.
“No.”
“They were keeping you close.”
She covered her mouth.
I turned away.
Everything I believed about the last twenty-one years rearranged itself in one terrible instant.
The cottage.
The job.
Their generosity.
My job.
My loyalty.
Maybe none of it had been kindness.
Maybe it had been silence purchased slowly.
Cassian stepped toward me.
He stopped before getting too close.
“Lydia.”
I looked at him.
His voice was quiet.
“You don’t owe that family anything.”
For years, I had thought I did.
That was the cruelest part.