Chapter Eight
1393 Words
Cassian Vale POV
There are only a few people in the world who can sit in my office like they belong there.
Julian Hart is one of them.
Adrian Cole is the other.
Everyone else usually stands.
Either because they respect me… or because they’re too nervous to sit.
Right now Julian was sprawled across the leather couch like a lazy king, one arm hanging over the backrest while he flipped through a medical journal he clearly wasn’t reading.
Adrian stood near the window with a tablet in his hand, reviewing tomorrow’s schedule like the responsible one among us.
I leaned back in my chair, fingers tapping lightly on the desk.
“Julian,” I said calmly.
He didn’t even look up. “Hmm?”
“You’ve been staring at that same page for ten minutes.”
He finally lifted his eyes, grinning shamelessly. “I’m a doctor, Cassian. I absorb knowledge through the air.”
Adrian didn’t look up from his tablet.
“That explains why your hospital has so many complaints.”
Julian gasped dramatically. “Adrian! You wound me.”
I raised a brow.
Julian leaned forward suddenly, pointing at me. “Speaking of wounds, I passed through your lobby earlier.”
I didn’t respond.
He continued anyway. “Three interns nearly fainted when you walked past them.”
Adrian finally looked up.
Julian smirked. “One of them whispered, ‘He’s even more handsome up close. Feigning a girly voice’”
I exhaled slowly.
Julian added casually, “Another said if you asked her to jump off the building she’d probably do it.”
Adrian’s lips twitched.
I gave them both a flat look.
Julian leaned back again. “Relax, Cold King. You should be proud. Your reputation is terrifying… but your face is dangerous.”
“I don’t care,” I replied.
Julian pointed at me again. “That’s the problem. You should care. Half the women in this city would sell their souls just to be your girlfriend.”
Adrian added quietly, “Or your wife.”
I looked at him.
He immediately lowered his gaze back to the tablet.
Smart man.
Julian burst out laughing.
“You see?” he said. “Even Adrian thinks you should get married.”
“Adrian thinks about schedules and paperwork,” I said calmly.
Julian grinned. “And his wife.”
Adrian froze slightly.
I smirked.
Julian leaned forward conspiratorially. “Tell me something, Adrian. Does Maya still scare you?”
Adrian answered without emotion.
“She doesn’t scare me.”
Julian tilted his head. “Really?”
Adrian paused.
Then muttered, “She just… speaks loudly when she’s angry.”
Julian slapped the couch laughing.
I chuckled under my breath.
Adrian glared at both of us.
“I am leaving if this conversation continues.”
“Sit down,” I said.
He stayed.
Good.
The door suddenly opened.
We didn’t need to look to know who it was.
Only one person walks into my office like she owns the entire building.
My mother.
Helena Vale.
Her heels clicked across the floor as she walked in, elegance and authority wrapped into one person.
Julian sat up immediately.
Adrian straightened.
“Mrs. Vale,” Adrian greeted respectfully.
“Helena,” Julian said with a charming smile.
Her eyes moved to me.
“Cassian.”
I already knew that tone.
Trouble.
I leaned back in my chair.
“Yes, Mother.”
She stood in front of my desk.
“We need to talk.”
Julian whispered beside me, “Oh no.”
I ignored him.
“What is it?”
Her expression didn’t soften.
“You are getting married.”
Julian coughed violently.
Adrian looked like he was trying not to laugh.
I stared at my mother.
“No.”
Her voice stayed calm.
“Yes.”
Julian leaned forward immediately. “Wait wait wait… is this an arranged marriage situation?”
My mother didn’t even look at him.
“Yes.”
Julian clapped once like he’d just been entertained.
“This is the best day of my life.”
I glared at him.
He raised his hands innocently.
“Sorry. Continue.”
My mother looked back at me.
“You need an heir, Cassian.”
“I’m not interested.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
Julian whispered loudly, “Oh this is getting good.”
Adrian nudged him.
Julian ignored it.
My mother continued.
“You send every woman away. Do you think I don’t see it?”
“They come for money,” I replied coldly.
She crossed her arms.
“Elena Royce.”
Julian murmured, “Pretty girl.”
“Mariah Venton.”
Adrian added quietly, “Ambitious.”
“Clarisse Delgado.”
Julian whistled.
“Vivian Hartwell.”
I shrugged.
“Gold diggers.”
My mother sighed.
“You never even gave them a chance.”
“They didn’t deserve one.”
Julian leaned closer to me.
“You’re really romantic, you know that?”
I gave him a warning look.
He shut up.
Finally.
My mother placed a document on my desk.
“The wedding will happen soon.”
I didn’t even look at it.
Silence filled the room.
Julian leaned back again.
Adrian stood quietly.
Then I spoke.
“Fine.”
Julian sat up straight.
“WHAT?”
My mother’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You agree?”
“I’ll marry her.”
Julian blinked.
Adrian looked surprised too.
But I wasn’t finished.
“I just hope she knows what she’s walking into.”
My mother gave a small satisfied nod.
Then she turned and walked out.
Julian stared at me.
“Cassian…”
“Yes?”
“You just agreed to get married like you were ordering coffee.”
Adrian added quietly, “Should I begin preparations?”
I leaned back in my chair again.
“Do whatever needs to be done.”
Julian rubbed his hands together excitedly.
“Oh I can’t wait to meet the poor woman.”
---
Elera Whitmore POV
My cheek still hurt.
Not from the slap Margaret gave me.
But from the humiliation.
I sat on the edge of the bed in the guest room my father had given me when I arrived yesterday.
The room was beautiful.
Big.
Cold.
Just like the rest of this house.
I stared at the suitcase on the floor.
Everything had happened so fast.
Dinner.
The argument.
Vanessa’s insults.
Margaret’s slap.
Father’s silence.
I swallowed.
That hurt the most.
He didn’t even look at me.
I stood up slowly and began folding my clothes into the suitcase.
If this was the life they wanted for me…
Fine.
I would go.
But I would never forget what they did tonight.
I zipped the suitcase shut.
Tomorrow I would leave.
---
Vanessa Whitmore POV
I stood by the upstairs window watching the car outside.
The driver had already arrived.
Good.
Let her leave.
Let her disappear.
My fingers touched the faint red mark on my cheek.
That slap.
Elera Whitmore had actually slapped me because I said she deserves it.
My jaw tightened.
Who does she think she is?
I watched the front door open.
And there she was.
Carrying her suitcase.
Leaving like some tragic heroine.
Pathetic.
My lips curled slightly.
Just wait.
Everyone in the city knows Cassian Vale.
Cold.
Cruel.
Untouchable.
If Elera thinks she’s escaping this house for a better life…
She’s wrong.
Very wrong.
---
Elera Whitmore POV
The driver placed my suitcase in the trunk.
I took one last look at the house.
My father didn’t come out.
Of course he didn’t.
I slid into the back seat of the car.
The door closed.
The car began moving.
I didn’t look back again.
Minutes later, the city lights became brighter.
Bigger buildings.
Busier roads.
Eventually the car slowed.
Then stopped.
I looked up through the window.
And my breath caught.
A massive black iron gate stood before us.
Behind it…
A mansion that looked more like a palace.
The guard approached the car.
The driver rolled down the window.
“Miss Whitmore,” he said politely.
“The Vale residence.”
My stomach twisted slightly.
I looked at the towering gates again.
Then whispered under my breath.
“Alright, Cassian Vale…”
“Let’s see what kind of monster you really are.”
The gates slowly opened.
- Writer
