Marked by the Billionaire Vampire

CHAPTER 3

Cassandra Williams

“I’m sure Tricia is behind all of that!” I snapped at Manager the moment she arrived at the mansion. Good thing she got out safely—thanks to my friend Khaila, who managed to get her out of the hotel room I’d been staying in.

“But why would Tricia do that?” Manager said, still in disbelief. “Isn’t Tricia such a kind girl?”

I could only shake my head. Wasn’t it enough that she stole my boyfriend for her to finally see Tricia for what she was?

“I don’t even know what to do anymore, Manager! This is so stressful—sometimes I feel like ripping Tricia’s head off her body!” I shouted, then forced myself to take a deep breath.

“Calm down. We’ll find a way,” she said, then narrowed her eyes. “But admit it to me, kid. Where did you sleep last night? Why didn’t you come home? Is it true you were in Director Dave’s room? What if he discovered that you were the stripper who performs last night?”

She’d been repeating those questions over and over. I couldn’t help rolling my eyes, so I just drank water to keep from exploding.

“My career is probably going to collapse, Manager Cha. Maybe you should just switch to Tricia,” I said seriously.

“What are you talking about? What’s the point of me being your manager if you don’t trust what I can do?” she fired back, and I ended up laughing.

“Let them wait,” she said confidently. “I will sue them!”

I burst out laughing. Manager Cha really would never leave my side.

“So, what’s our plan?” I asked after I calmed down. Manager Cha looked dead serious now, so I stopped smiling.

“Who was the man you were with last night?” she asked. “The one you said helped you get out of the hotel?”

My mind immediately flashed back to last night.

After I showered earlier, everything started coming back—some parts were blurry, but what happened between Aurelios and me was clear: the warmth of his hands, the slow way he touched me, the strange sweetness of his tongue as it moved inside my mouth… and my first kiss—shared with him.

“Cassandra!”

“A-ah—shared!” I blurted out in shock, then looked at Manager Cha. She was frowning now, staring at me.

“The man you were talking about—did you sleep with him?” she asked sharply.

My eyes widened. I shook my head fast.

“No, Manager Cha! Thank God I wasn’t taken advantage of by that ignorant man!” I said, still insisting. I suddenly remembered how he acted earlier—rude and cocky, leaving before I could even properly thank him.

“In that case,” Manager Cha said, switching into work mode, “I’ll schedule a press conference. If they ask whether you really came from Director Dave’s hotel room, you’ll tell the truth. If they ask who the man is—this man in these pictures—you’ll say he’s your boyfriend.”

She continued calmly, “That way, you’ll also escape the story that you’re still bitter about Nathan leaving you.”

Then she paused, thinking.

“The only problem is… will the man in these photos agree to it?”

My thoughts froze.

Her plan was good—two birds with one stone. But… would Aurelios agree? And how was I supposed to find him again when I didn’t even get his number?

“I need to find Aurelios,” I murmured, then looked at Manager Cha. “I’m leaving. Wait for me—and when I come back, I’ll have good news.”

I stood up and went upstairs. I needed to wear something that would keep people from recognizing me. I opened a closet I used whenever I wanted to slip out alone.

Inside, I grabbed a blonde wig and put it on. Then I applied heavy makeup so no one would recognize me. I smiled at my reflection—I darkened my skin tone a bit and added a large mole on my cheek.

“Where are you going?” Manager Cha asked when I ran into her.

“I’m going to find Aurelios,” I said firmly. “I have to make him agree. My acting career can’t be ruined because of that woman. Not when I still haven’t found my mother.”

Manager Cha had no choice but to let me go. I grabbed the keys to one of my cars—the one registered under someone else’s name so the media wouldn’t connect it to me.

“BE CAREFUL!” I heard Manager Cha shout as I closed the car door.

I smiled, then started the engine. Now the only problem was where to find him.

Where did we meet? In that hotel room?

Right. I’d go back there. It was already getting late—he’d probably be there again.

I smirked and reached into my bag. My fingers brushed the key card I’d taken while I was in Aurelios’s room.

Sometimes being nosy really is useful, I thought.

I drove back to the same hotel I’d escaped from earlier. I was confident they wouldn’t recognize me now—my natural gray hair was hidden. Ever since I was a child, my hair had been gray. I never let any director dye it, so they always just made me wear wigs and also during my other job which is stripping I’ve been always wearing wigs.

I hated anyone touching my hair. I guarded it so carefully because Mommy was the only person I ever allowed to cut it or style it.

My thoughts stopped when I saw the hotel up ahead. I didn’t know why I was suddenly nervous, so I pulled over for a moment.

What if they recognize me? That’ll be another issue for sure.

What would people say if they saw Cassandra WILLIAMS at the hotel again—when there were reporters everywhere, and the hotel was owned by Dave?

“You can do this, Cassandra,” I told myself, forcing courage into my chest. “For your career, for your future, for your hobby… and for your mother.”

Then I drove into the hotel parking lot. Reporters were still swarming the area—probably waiting for Dave to come out so they could interview him.

I sat in my car for a moment, thinking through a plan. If they stopped me, they’d ask whether I’d seen Cassandra—me—or whether I’d seen Dave, and whether we were together.

Tricia

“HAHAHA! You did it well, Leonard!” I said happily as Leonard stood in front of me. “Now I just have to wait for the news to spread—and Cassandra’s career will slowly be destroyed! HAHAHA!”

Leonard was my newest pawn—and even though he was new, he was already proving his worth.

“Were you behind this?”

I jumped when Nathan suddenly barged into my office. I quickly hid the envelope full of cash I was supposed to hand to Leonard.

“No, babe,” I said sweetly. “How could I even do that? We were together, weren’t we? Besides, it’s not my fault Cassandra has some hidden fling. I wonder… maybe even back when you two were still together, she was already seeing Dave.”

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

Nathan’s expression shifted—and then he smirked.

“I knew it,” he said, furious, slamming his tablet onto my desk.

A chill ran down my spine. What does he mean he knew it?

“Dave, huh?” he said with a cold grin. “Look at the news. Seems like your plan didn’t go well.”

Then he turned and walked out.

My hands shook as I glanced at Leonard, who silently stared at the tablet.

I grabbed it and read the headline.

BREAKING NEWS: Cassandra WILLIAMS, the “Most Outstanding Actress,” was spotted leaving the hotel with an unknown man driving a luxury car. Despite earlier rumors linking her to Director Dave, sources say reporters were misled by a false tip—only to discover Ms. WILLIAMS has already moved on.

My fingers trembled as I opened the photos. I almost dropped the tablet when I realized the man beside her wasn’t Director Dave. I was sure of it—Dave couldn’t afford a car that expensive.

So, who was he?

Hunter Aurelios Blood

I slowly opened my eyes when I felt the air turn cooler. The city lights greeted my vision.

I’d fallen asleep under the huge tree on top of the hill.

“Aish!” I muttered as pain flared in my neck from sleeping in a bad position. I rubbed it, then stood up slowly.

I should’ve built a house here instead—so I wouldn’t have to come all the way up just to sleep.

Shaking my head, I walked toward my car with my black umbrella in hand. I didn’t expect to sleep that long.

Then again, I barely slept last night because of that woman. Because of her, I stayed awake, fighting the heat and thirst inside me.

I couldn’t be reckless. Just because I saved her in the past didn’t mean I would sacrifice everything now. Maybe she’d be useful someday.

I got into my car and headed for the hotel. I didn’t want to go back to my mansion yet—my youngest and eldest siblings were still there. Being around them was nothing but a headache, so I decided to check into a hotel for a while… at least until they left my place.

Halfway through the drive, hunger hit. I was too lazy to cook. I planned to just sleep the moment I got to my room.

Then the hotel restaurant crossed my mind. The food would be good—better to eat there than hunt down some animal for dinner.

I pulled into the parking lot quickly, hunger gnawing at me. I didn’t even notice the reporters at first. Good thing I was fast enough to slip away and hide.

“Where did he go?”

“Isn’t that the car Ms. Cassandra used earlier?”

“How did the driver leave so fast?”

I heard their voices as they clustered around my car. I smirked and sprinted into the hotel, heading straight for the restaurant.

“HOW DARE YOU!”

I stopped cold when a familiar scent hit me—coming from a woman making a scene.

“S-sorry, miss…”

It’s her. The girl I’ve saved three times already.

I moved closer quietly.

“Sorry?” the rich-looking woman screamed. “Do you know how much my dress costs? Your life isn’t even enough to pay for it!”

I glanced at her. Looks like water had spilled on her so-called designer dress.

Tch. As if her dress is more expensive than her life.

Then I heard the voice of the woman I saved—sharp and irritated.

“Look, I’m sorry, okay? I already apologized. And honestly? That dress doesn’t even look original. It looks like a Class A copy. Besides, it’s just water—nothing else.”

Yes. I recognized Cassandra even with the blonde wig and heavy makeup.

I knew her scent.

And it was addicting.

“YOU b***h!” the woman screamed, then grabbed Cassandra by the hair.

My eyes widened as the wig came off, Cassandra’s gray hair spilling loose.

With my hearing, I could clearly hear Cassandra’s heartbeat pounding violently. I also heard her curse under her breath.

I had no choice.

I stepped in and pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her protectively. I felt her stiffen in surprise, but I leaned in and whispered:

“You owe me… a lot.”