Chapter 1
In the master bedroom of Dustmeadow Mansion–the prettiest mansion in Broburgh–Orlando Quinn got up from the bed and walked into the bathroom expressionlessly.
Cassandra Jackson was no stranger to his abrupt mood swirigs, despite the intimacy they shared just moments ago. Cassandra got up and slipped into her clothes. The flush on her face belied beneath her cascading hair, enhancing her captivating allure.
After taking a shower, Orlando emerged from the bathroom. He shot Cassandra an impassive glance, demanding. “Sign this.”
Picking a document from a nearby drawer, he tossed it on the bed. On a closer look, Cassandra sucked in a sharp breath as the words “divorce agreement” glared brazenly at her.
She looked up at Orlando in disbelief. “You want a divorce?”
“Rebecca is awake. I want to keep my promise to her.” Orlando lit a cigarette, his handsome face full of indifference.
The color drained from Cassandra’s face, a curtain of gloom clouding her eyes. Gathering her courage, she asked through clenched teeth, “Is divorce the only option? Can’t we work things out?”
“Cassandra, we’re both aware of why we married. I have let Rebecca down once, and I don’t want to repeat it.” Orlando’s blunt words echoed through the room, signaling an unyielding stance.
Noticing the tenderness in his eyes when he mentioned Rebecca’s name, Cassandra was envious. At that moment, she knew he saved his love only for Rebecca Spencer, the girl who nearly sacrificed her life for him. Cassandra was nothing more than a backup plan.
Cassandra’s eyes hardened. After a brief pause, she released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, a single word escaping her lips, “Okay.”
Her detached response caused Orlando to furrow his brows, but only for a fleeting moment. “You can ask for anything within justifiable limits.”
Cassandra’s expression remained stoic, but something flickered in her gaze. She stated, “Just one condition.”
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“Name it,” Orlando offered.
“After the divorce, let’s promise to never cross each other’s path, Cassandra firmly replied.
Looking at her, Orlando’s expression reflected an amalgamation of surprise and complexity. His unice was deep rumble. “Cassandra, are you being petulant?”
Cassandra smiled faintly. “Certainly not. Why would you think so?“
She was telling the truth. But Orlando wasn’t convinced. A frown marred his handsome face. With a cryptic emotion flicking through his blue eyes, he told her. “I’m asking for a condition, not an emotional outburst. No more contact? Sounds a little immature, don’t you think?
“Is that so?” Cassandra retorted in icy tones. “But that’s my request. I don’t need anything more”
Fearful of bursting into tears there and then, she swiftly turned around, snatched up the divorce document, and signed her name. Her actions were steady. She showed no signs of hesitation.
Cassandra had loved Orlando for ten years and nobody knew that. She held back her tears, reminiscing about the year they’d spent married, where he’d been caring and loving, as if playing the perfect husband. Her love for him made her live in that fantasy, oblivious to the reality that his heart had belonged to someone else right from the start. It was about time she stepped back and let him return to where his heart truly belonged.
Taking a deep, silent breath, she turned to Orlando and asked, “When do we move ahead with the procedure?”
Orlando’s frown deepened. Being married for a year, he couldn’t fathom why his meek wife was so eager to cast him off
He narrowed his eyes and said indifferently, “That desperate? Plus, do you think it’s feasible to part ways for good? Isn’t the Quinn family still fond of you? Can you bear to sever ties with them, too?”
“Orlando, you’re the one pushing for the divorce.” Cassandra was beyond frustrated. “We’re getting divorced and you still can’t stop interfering in my life?”
Despite being heartbroken; she still forced a calm smile, think’t you know, by doing this, it might give
me the wrong idea that you’re also hesitant about us parting ways?”
Avoiding his gaze, she plucked up the courage to ask, masking her hurt behind a steady smile, “Or maybe you’ve fallen for me and lost feelings for Rebecca?”
