KISS OF BETRAYAL

CHAPTER THREE - KISS OF REVELATION

The secret that changed everything

I peeped through the door, my heart thudding, oh it's Mr Ethan, my tension eased

“Come in”, I offered with a smirk. He stepped inside with a file clutched tightly in his hands.

My mind should have remembered his call days ago, but grief had made me forget everything.

“Hello, Miss Cassandra, how have you been?” ,he asked while opening the file, he took out a brown, sealed envelope.

“Your father’s will,” he said gently.

“He wanted it to be read a month after his passing.”

My fingers trembled as I collected it .The envelope felt so heavy.

I took in a deep breath as I broke the seal.

“To my precious Pearl,” I read shakily,

“I can’t imagine the heartbreak and loneliness my absence must have caused you. I’m sorry for leaving you.” I swallowed hard.

“Actually… I had an extramarital affair years ago and had another child. His name is Ryan. Please reach out to him; I’ve given his address to the lawyer. I’m extremely sorry for keeping this from you and your mother. I hope you can forgive me. My eyes widened

“As for my will: you inherit 80% of my properties and possessions. The remaining 20% goes to Ryan. I also want him to relocate to New York temporarily to assist with the company until you fulfill the marriage clause in this contract.

The company shares will be under your control for the next year, but full ownership is conditional. You’d have to get married within a maximum of two years to legally claim everything. I want you to find a good gentleman and settle down with him soon. A man who loves and cherishes you, like I do. I hope this finds you well.”

Love,

Daddy

I sank into the couch, my eyes widened. “A marriage clause?” The words echoed so loud, my mind raced from the inheritance to Ryan to a wedding I never planned for. I froze, trying to register all I read. Family? A sibling? My chest palpitations increased. How could Daddy have kept this from me? Why? When? A million questions crossed my mind.

Mr. Ethan handed me a piece of paper containing the address information:

300, Sunrise Street, Miami, Florida.

He picked up his file and offered his leave. I sat on the chair, frozen, squinting my eyes to read the paper again.

The inheritance wasn’t a shock; I had always expected to get most of it as their only child. But the condition… a marriage? That had never been part of my plans, at least not now.

Dad had joked about wanting a son-in-law and grandchildren to play around the house, but I had always laughed it off. My mind went back to the academy Mom and I built from scratch, Cassie Atelier. In just two years, we’d grown it into a recognized fashion brand. Papa was proud of me, though he had always wanted me to join his business world, insisting I pursued a master’s in Business Administration.

Now, it seemed I had no choice but to step back into his world.

But revenge… that was still my priority. I had to disclose the truth behind my parents’ deaths.

That night, I sat at the dining table with the letter and address open before me, re-reading it over and over again. The address felt like a piece of a puzzle that I had to put together.

Finally, I took a deep breath and made up my mind. I called my driver

“Get the car ready,” I said nonchalantly “We’re going to the airport tomorrow.”

___________________________

By 8 a.m. the next day, we were at JFK airport. The flight felt endless, and my thoughts kept wandering. I needed answers to the numerous questions in my head.

When I landed in Florida, a black SUV took me straight to the address. The house was a semi-detached flat, peaceful yet strangely quiet.

I knocked on the wooden door. A tall, fair-skinned woman answered.

“Who are you?” she said, her eyes widened.

“I’m looking for Ryan,” I asked hurriedly.

She blinked, staring blankly at me. “Yes… That’s my son. Who are you?”

“I’m Pearl, Alexander Howard’s daughter,” I replied.

Her face went pale. “Mr. Howard?” she whispered, tears forming in her eyes. She invited me inside and offered water.

“So how do you know my Dad?” I asked gently.

“He was my college sweetheart,” she said softly. “We planned to marry, but his family was against it. By the time we had Ryan, he had already disappeared. He left us a home here, and I never saw him again. Later, I learnt his mother had forced him to stay away for the sake of family and his inheritance.

Her story broke my heart. She raised Ryan alone, with resentment towards Dad for abandoning them.

“Ryan is away for work,” she added, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’ll return tomorrow.”

“Alright, I’d drop my number then”. Please call me when he is back.” She nodded.

My mind was roaming that night; I could barely sleep. I desperately wanted to meet this Ryan.

The following morning, my phone rang.

“It’s Miss Hunter. Ryan is back.”

Really? I jumped up, showered quickly, and rushed out to meet him. I didn’t know what to expect when I see him, “did he look like dad”, “ will he agree to come to New York?” , I murmured to myself

I got to the house in no time . Knocking twice at the door

“Who is it”, the voice echoed from inside .it’s Cassie Miss Hunter, I responded

She opened the door ,gave me a warm hug and invited me inside,Ryan ,she shouted ,you have a visitor

I’d be down soon,he replied grumpily

I heard footsteps coming from the side of my eye which drew my attention, I swallowed hard and turned .

It was Ryan

He was a handsome young man, tall, caramel, with a neatly trimmed beard. But something felt oddly familiar. I shrugged the feeling off and smiled faintly.

“It’s nice to meet you, my brother,” I said with a smirk

“This is Dad’s will. His last wish is that we reconcile as one again,” I added.

“Sadly, he passed away a month ago, and I came here to fulfill his wishes and to also ask you to join me to find his killer, please.” I added

“I’ll contact you,” he said, his tone unpredictable.

Okay , Thank you Miss Hunter for helping me

I’d get going then,I hugged her and took my leave

Later that night, I kept pacing the room in deep thought to remember where I had seen Ryan. Then, it hit me. I remembered where I had seen him in the hospital! That night. He had been there. He knew.

Why was he there? What was he looking for? And why did Bella seem to know him too? My thoughts wandered. I couldn’t trust anyone, not even my best friend.

Then my phone buzzed.

Ryan.

“We need to talk… alone.”

His voice wasn’t cold this time. There was something else. What did he want to tell me?