Cassandra POV…
“What?” My smile vanished as I turned to Derek, a wave of pain washing over me. I could see the guilt etched on his face. I moved closer, firmly gripping his shoulders.
“Derek, you need to tell me that what he said isn't true,” I insisted, my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill.
He lifted his head to look me into my eye and gently framed my face with his hands. “I’m sorry, Cassie. I wanted to explain everything. At first, I didn’t truly love you; I was only doing what he asked. But then I realized how much you mean to me. This engagement is real, it’s not scripted,” he said, his sincerity apparent.
As he spoke, I could see his struggle to convince me, but doubts crept in—maybe Marcus had coerced him into saying all of this.
I surged to my feet, wiping aw
