The Ashes Of The Wife I Was

Let The Games Begin

Three days.

Three whole days since I last saw him.

It’s strange how time works when you’re waiting for something. It doesn’t pass — it drips. Slow, deliberate drops. Every one of them echoing in my mind.

Three days since Cassian last looked at me.

Three days since I felt the flicker in his gaze — the one that told me my plan might just work.

I’d been careful not to force it. Tonight was not about charging forward. Tonight was about control — his, and mine. Making him think he has control but making him actually lose control.

I stood in front of the mirror earlier, studying the woman staring back at me. The silk slip dress I’d chosen was a deep, velvety wine. It didn’t shout for attention — it whispered for it. The way it skimmed my body, catching the light when I moved, the way the neckline dipped just enough to keep the imagination restless. My hair, loose in soft waves, fell over my shoulders. My lips were painted a dangerous shade of red — not the sweet kind. The kind that leaves stains on glasses and hearts.

When I entered the private dining room, conversation slowed by half a beat.

Cassian was mid-sentence with one of his business associates, but I saw the shift. His eyes, sharp and unreadable, flicked over me in one smooth pass. Not a second glance. Just one long, unbroken look.

Lilith noticed. Good.

I caught it in the tiniest tightening of her jaw, the subtle curl of her fingers around her champagne flute. She was wearing gold tonight, all shimmer and light — a calculated choice, no doubt. She’s always tried to embody the kind of brightness men can’t resist. But Cassian’s eyes were not on her. All according to plan.

I didn’t smile when I sat down. I kept my gaze lowered, my hands folded loosely in my lap. Let him look if he wanted. Let her watch him.

Dinner began in a blur of quiet clinks and murmured conversation. I spoke when spoken to, my voice soft enough to make people lean in. I didn’t need to dominate the table — I only needed to occupy Cassian’s peripheral vision.

It worked.

When the waiter poured the wine, Cassian’s eyes lingered a moment longer than necessary as I reached for my glass. His gaze dipped — not crass, not obvious — but deliberate. The kind of glance a man gives when he wants to see if you’ll notice.

I did.

And Lilith did too.

“Seraphina,” she said sweetly, breaking the moment, “that color suits you. I don’t think I’ve seen you wear it before.”

Her tone was almost complimentary, but there was a weight to it. A probe.

I looked at her with the faintest smile. “Some colors are best saved for the right night.”

Her lashes lowered for a fraction of a second. Cassian’s mouth twitched — not into a smile, not quite — but I felt his attention sharpen.

Over the next hour, I kept my moves minimal, each one deliberate. A small laugh when Cassian made a rare joke. A tilt of my head when he spoke, just enough to show I was listening only to him. Each moment tiny, but together, they worked like drops of water wearing down stone.

Lilith tried to reclaim his focus — brushing her hand against his, leaning closer when she spoke. But I saw it. The tiny flickers of irritation in her eyes when Cassian’s gaze shifted back to me.

By dessert, the air was heavy. Not with romance — not yet — but with tension. The kind that hums just under the surface, waiting for the smallest spark.

When the meal ended, I excused myself first, murmuring something about needing air. The corridor leading to the terrace was quiet, the cool night air spilling in through the half-open doors.

I knew before I turned that someone was behind me.

It wasn’t Cassian.

It was Alaric.

He leaned in the shadows, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigarette he hadn’t lit. His suit was immaculate as always, but his tie hung a little loose, like he’d left something unfinished behind.

“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he said, voice low and calm, his eyes locked on mine.

I tilted my head, lips curving just slightly. “Some games are worth the risk.”

He stepped forward slowly, closing the space between us until I could feel the faint heat radiating off him. His gaze dipped briefly to my lips, then back to my eyes, his expression unreadable.

“I’m not in the habit of helping people who don’t know what they’re getting into.”

“And yet…” I let my voice trail off.

His hand brushed mine as he pressed a small flash drive into my palm. The cool metal felt heavier than it should.

“What’s on it?” I asked.

“Something that might help you,” he said, already stepping back.

“Why?”

He glanced over his shoulder as he walked away. “Let’s just say I like watching people win battles they weren’t supposed to win.”

I stayed there a moment longer, heart still racing.

When I returned to the dining room, Cassian’s eyes were already on me. Lilith was mid-sentence, but he wasn’t listening.

Perfect. The ball was in motion.