Love Reborn: A Tale Of Redemption

Chapter 4: The Confrontation

Adrian's black Aston Martin came to a sudden stop in front of the Langston estate, its tires screeching against the tarmac. In a second, he was out of the car, slamming the door shut so hard it rattled the windows.

His heartbeat roared in his ears, and his blood was on fire. He had been played by Cassandra. He had put his trust in her because he thought she was trustworthy. What right did she have to deceive him and tear his relationship apart in a single breath? Their affair was more of a business transaction than a romance because their families were entwined, not because he loved her—God knows he never had. And she knew.

He felt a bile rise in his throat as he remembered Elena that night, standing before him, her heartbroken, wide eyes searching his face for something, anything, anything that might show he still had faith in her. However, he hadn't. He had discarded her. All for a meticulously planned lie.

At the front door, Pompey, the household butler, attempted to stop him, but Adrian ignored and pushed past him, striding across the magnificent lobby, his gaze and composure murderous.

“Master Adrian, you can’t just—” Pompey was saying as he ran after him but Adrian cut in impatiently, "Where is Cassandra?" Adrian's voice was a piercing, lethal growl.

The sharp voice of a lady pierced the atmosphere. "Adrian."

He turned to the direction of the voice. Standing at the top of the curved staircase, with a calm, unreadable gaze, was Cassandra’s mother, Vivienne Langston.

She was the type of lady who thrived on dominance and maintained her composure under pressure. "What are you doing, barging into my house like this? Is everything alright?" she asked.

Adrian had no time for small talk. "Where is your daughter?"

From the mini living room came a sweet, amused voice. "Darling Adrian. There's no need to yell. I'm right here.”

Cassandra.

She appeared wearing a sophisticated silk robe, her auburn hair falling in gentle waves over her shoulder. She held a delicate crystal glass of white wine as though she had been waiting for him. “Come on love,” she motioned for him to follow her as she retreated to the small living again.

It took all the restraint Adrian had mastered as a successful business tycoon to put his temper under control as he strode after Cassandra.

She sat next to One of her best friends and a self-made heiress, Lillian Hawthorne, on the sofa. She motioned for him to sit as well but Adrian ignored her. Lillian examined Adrian's enraged body, her blue eyes flickering with interest, but she remained silent.

Adrian balled his fists. "You misled me. No, you lied!"

Unfazed, Cassandra sipped her wine slowly. "About what exactly? You would have to be a little more specific if you're going to yell in my house."

Adrian breathed heavily and sharply. Reaching into his pocket, he tapped the screen of his phone before tossing it onto the coffee table between them. The video, courtesy of Caleb began to play.

The room was silent. Cassandra's face stayed composed as her fingers clenched around her wine glass. Vivienne, curious about what was happening entered the room at that point. She came to the screen and narrowed her eyes. "What is this?"

Adrian had a deadly tone when he spoke. "Your daughter shamelessly gave money to someone to make up evidence against my girlfriend. To set her up!" He tightened his jaw.

Vivienne's eyebrows raised as she looked at Cassandra.

At last, Cassandra reacted. Something evil flickered through her eyes. Lillian chuckled, obviously impressed. She whispered under her breath, "All right. This visit simply became intriguing.”

Cassandra carefully set down her wine glass. "That's a daring charge, Adrian."

"Stop it." He had a lethal voice. "Avoid disparaging my intelligence."

With a sigh, Cassandra grabbed a cigarette from the golden case resting on the table. With practiced ease, she lit it, taking a deep breath and letting out a leisurely stream of smoke. Then she reclined. And grinned.

Adrian became enraged. He bit out, "You don't even deny it?"

Calm and purposeful, Cassandra's eyes locked with his. "Is it important if I did?"

Adrian began to breathe laboriously. "You ruined that girl. She lost her job and got caught up in a scandal. Because of you!"

Cassandra studied him, tilting her head. She asked mockingly, "And you….what did you do?"

That struck a chord. Cassandra saw it and took the chance to add salt to his injury. She went on, tapping her cigarette against the ashtray, "You two say you're in love. But neither of you stood up for the other. You discarded her but she made no effort to establish her innocence.”

Adrian's chest twisted in a dark and ugly way. Leaning forward, Cassandra's voice faded to a whisper. "Are you aware of the reason?"

He clenched his jaw.

Cassandra's mouth twisted. "Because, Adrian, she is weak. This world wasn't meant for her. You would have been destroyed by her.”

Adrian balled his hands into fists again. With a groan, Cassandra got up and walked slowly and deliberately toward him. She touched his chest with her perfectly manicured hand. "Being with her was never meant for you. It was only a diversion. I thought you would realize that yourself, but I guess I got impatient. After all—”

Adrian snapped. He grabbed her wrist and pushed her aside. Not enough to hurt her—but sufficient. Sufficient to cause her to stagger. Sufficient to blot the grin from her face.

With a sharp voice, Vivienne took a step forward. “That’s enough, Adrian. You're not going to disrespect my daughter in my house!”

Adrian gave her a fierce look. "Do you think you have the right to tell me ‘enough’ when your daughter has been deceiving, plotting, controlling, and destroying lives? Do you?"

A wary thin line formed between Vivienne's lips. "Do you think you're innocent? Do you remember how many years you had been together with Cassie before you dumped her for that gold-digging b***h? You're one to talk about plotting and destroying with the way you have treated my daughter! I know what I would have done to you if not for my friends—your parents!”

Adrian tightened his jaw. He never asked Cassandra out. Never. But his family had been making alliances with the Langstons for years. For decades, their families had been entwined. However, he wasn't going to be responsible for whatever agreement the two families had when he was a child.

He was indifferent. With a steely voice, Adrian turned back to Cassandra. “You think you’ve won?”

Cassandra arched a brow. “Haven’t I?”

Adrian’s lips curled into something dark. Dangerous. Slightly amused. “You have no idea who you just made an enemy of.”

Cassandra’s smirk faltered.

Adrian turned on his heel and strode toward the door.

Cassandra’s voice stopped him. “She’s gone, Adrian. Try as you might but she's gone for good.”

He paused.

Cassandra smiled. “You’ll never find her.”

Adrian glanced over his shoulder, his blue eyes glacial. “Watch me.”

Then he was gone. And for the first time since the start of the game orchestrated by Cassandra….she felt something she hadn’t before. A sliver of doubt. Could she win? Or would she end up losing Adrian for good?