CEO's Desire

Chapter 6 - Hard Slap

I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. The room seemed to blur, and my heart pounded in my chest. John and Cassie, the two people I trusted the most, stood before me, their guilt-ridden expressions contrasting with the warmth and affection they had once shared with me.

My voice quivered with anger and heartache as I finally managed to speak. "John, how could you do this?" My words were laced with pain and betrayal. "I thought we had something real, something special."

John's face contorted with remorse, but his words held no solace. "Marghie, it's not that simple. I never wanted to hurt you like this. It just... it happened."

I turned my gaze to Cassie, my sister, my flesh and blood. "Cassie, how could you?" My voice was barely a whisper, but the weight of my disappointment hung heavily in the air.

Cassie stepped forward, tears streaming down her face, her voice choked with remorse. "Marghie, I never intended for any of this to happen. It was never my plan."

Beside me, Darlene seethed with anger, unable to contain her outrage any longer. "Unexpected? You both shattered Marghie's trust, and you call it unexpected?"

Raising my hand, I signaled for Darlene to hold back. I needed to process this agonizing revelation, to make sense of the unfathomable betrayal before me. My mind raced, grappling with the enormity of the situation.

I turned away from John and Cassie, now facing my parents, Carmina and George, who had remained silent throughout this excruciating ordeal. Desperation welled up inside me as I searched their faces for some semblance of understanding, for a glimmer of hope that they would stand by me.

Carmina, my mother, finally spoke, her voice devoid of emotion. "Marghie, we've decided that John and Cassie's relationship is what's best for our family."

My eyes widened in disbelief, and my voice trembled with incredulity. "What? Are you serious, Mom? After everything I've done for this family, after all the sacrifices I've made, you're just going to side with them?"

George, my father, cleared his throat, attempting to justify their decision. "Marghie, we believe that John and Cassie have a future together, and it's crucial for us to support our children's happiness."

"What the hell are you saying?" I exclaimed, my voice laced with disbelief and anger. "You know John and I were planning to get engaged when I came back from my business trip abroad. You were all aware of it!"

Carmina exchanged a glance with George, her expression unwavering. "Marghie, circumstances have changed. We can't ignore the feelings between John and Cassie."

My world crumbled around me, and my voice shook with fury. "Feelings? You're choosing their feelings over mine? After everything I've done for this family, for this company?"

Darlene placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, her support a small beacon of hope in this sea of betrayal. "Marghie, they're making a mistake. Your love and dedication to the family should count for something."

I turned to her, tears welling up in my eyes. "Darlene, I can't believe this. I can't believe any of this."

The room felt stifling, suffocating, as the weight of the situation pressed down on me. John and Cassie stood there, silent witnesses to the devastation they had caused, while my parents chose to prioritize their newfound relationship over years of love and commitment.

Anguish gnawed at my heart, and the feeling of being utterly alone in that room was overwhelming.

George's voice, once warm and loving, now carried an edge of frustration as he addressed me. "Marghie, you need to understand. You've always been the responsible one, the one we could rely on. But you've been so selfish in holding on to John. Cassie deserves happiness too, and if she and John have found it together, we can't just ignore that."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and my tears flowed even more freely. "Selfish? You think I'm being selfish? After everything I've done for this family, for the company?"

Carmina stepped in, her tone still composed, but her words cutting deep. "Marghie, we appreciate all your hard work, but we can't control how people feel. John has made his choice, and we have to respect that."

The sense of betrayal from my own parents was almost too much to bear. It felt like my entire world was crumbling, and I could hardly speak through my sobs. "But you knew... you knew John and I were planning to get married. You knew how much I loved him."

Darlene, who had been a silent but unwavering support, finally spoke up. "Marghie, this isn't right. You shouldn't have to go through this."

I turned to her, my voice trembling with heartache. "Darlene, they've chosen her over me. After everything, they've chosen her."

George's voice softened, but it brought no comfort. "Marghie, we just want what's best for both our daughters. We hope you'll understand in time."

I couldn't bear to stay in that room any longer. The pain was too much, and the feeling of isolation was suffocating.

As I turned to face Cassie, my fury boiled over, and I couldn't hold back the words that had been burning in my chest. "Cassie, you're a selfish b***h and a traitor," I hissed, my voice quivering with anger and pain. "You knew how much I loved John, and you went behind my back."

Cassie, who had been looking somewhat remorseful until that moment, recoiled at my words. "Marghie, I didn't plan for any of this to happen. It just... it just happened."

My emotions were a whirlwind, and I couldn't contain my rage. "Don't you dare play the victim here! You betrayed me, Cassie!"

That's when George, who had been trying to maintain his composure, lost his temper. His face turned red with anger, and he delivered a sharp slap across my cheek. The pain was searing, but it was nothing compared to the betrayal I felt.

"Marghie, that's enough!" George shouted. "You will not speak to your sister like that!"