The Tycoon's Secret Wife's Escape

CASSIE 27: Missed Chances

CASSIE 27: Missed Chances

Ronan stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by canvases, the weight of guilt pressing down on him like a storm. He had flown all the way to Singapore just to see this.

Cassie wore a yellow summer dress on one of the canvases, holding her hat against the breeze. It was from one of those carefree summer socials. Everyone else faded into the background-his eyes saw only her. Her radiant smile lit up the painting, but her eyes truly breathed life into it.

Ronan finished the last sip of liquor from his glass, then walked over to one of the covered paintings in the corner. With a deep breath, he slowly pulled off the cloth, hiding his latest work.

His fingertips followed the outline of Cassie's figure on the canvas. Every brushstroke was a reminder of the moments they shared. He had painted her entirely from memory-how they kissed, how everything between them had happened in a blur, like a dream he couldn't quite wake from.

He hadn't needed her in front of him to complete the painting. He had memorized her every detail-every gesture, every breath.

A soft knock interrupted his silence.

"Sir, sorry to disturb you," said one helper. "I was about to discard this, but my colleague who cleaned your room thought it might be important and saved it."

The helper handed him a torn sheet from a notepad he usually kept by his bed. Ronan's eyes focused on the handwritten text: Dr. Elara Quinn, along with a number and a website. Another dame-Dr. Ethan Kim was scribbled below.

Ronan stared at it, his brows furrowing. The note wasn't his. Yet even in his intoxicated state, a sense of clarity surged.

"When exactly did you find this?" he asked.

"The morning after you and Miss Monroe left, sir. Is there anything else you need to know?"

Ronan reached for his phone and dialed the number listed on the paper-it was a local Singapore exchange.

“Hello, this is Dr. Ethan Kim, hematologist-oncologist. How may I assist you?" a professional male voice answered.

"Hematologist?" Ronan echoed.

"Yes, that's right. Is there something I can assist you with?"

Ronan's mind raced through possibilities. "I'm Cassie Monroe's assistant. She wanted me to check if she needs to do anything before her next appointment."

The lie felt awkward as he said it, but he couldn't think of a better way to ask. Embarrassment mixed with rising worry as he tried to make sense of everything. "Oh! Has she seen Dr. Quinn in Century City yet? Given her concerning blood counts, my main advice is that she shouldn't delay or skip any therapy sessions." "Therapy?" Ronan repeated. Blood counts? What was happening?

"Chemotherapy," Dr. Kim clarified gently.

A cold chill ran through Ronan's body. His mind stopped. Then everything started falling into place-Cassie's exhaustion, the long hours she slept, her fainting spells... the unexplained bruises.

With trembling fingers, he ended the call and immediately dialed another number.

"I need you to investigate Cassie Monroe's recent activities," he instructed, "Everything. Medical records, appointments, travel. I want to know all!"

***

[Cassie]

It was foolish of me to provoke Asher's anger, but part of me wanted to. I wanted to hate him more, to feed his guilt for everything he's done. Maybe that's why he's been avoiding me these past few days.

While Isabella engaged in legal battles with her cousin Charlotte over a past case, I waged my own private war. Isabella let me stay at her apartment for the time being, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The more time passed, the more I started to feel the symptoms-aches creeping into different parts of my body.

Eventually, I decided to meet Roxie at the hotel restaurant. She was in Century City, and I needed to see her.

She greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, but I noticed something was off. She looked distracted, like she was carrying a

secret.

"How are you, Cassie?" she asked.

CASSIE 27: Missed Chances

"Barely human these days," I humored, trying to lighten the mood. "The pain's been getting worse. I hope the therapy works? "Have you told Isabella about this?" she asked.

I shook my head. "She's dealing with Charlotte, like they're throwing lawsuits at each other. I can't burden her with my problems now; her case is important too."

At the mention of Charlotte, Roxie paused. Her expression shifted, and she seemed hesitant.

"What about you, Rox? Are you okay? If something's bothering you, you can tell me,"

Roxie swallowed hard, then took my hand. "I've seen your brother frequenting our villa to meet with Gideon. And he mentioned Isabella, too," she whispered. "I'm scared. With everything going on, I haven't even dared to talk to Isabella." "He mentioned Isabella? And he's doing business with Gideon?" I asked, surprised. "Yes. At first, I thought you and Issa would be in-laws. Then suddenly, she marries Grayson Blake.... and the next thing i know, I see Evan with Isabella's cousin, Charlotte. I'm so confused, Cassie."

"I'll confront Evan directly," I said, shaking my head. "But honestly, if Charlotte's involved, she's probably just another one of his flings. What is it with him?"

"Cassie, there's... um..." Her voice trailed off.

"Is there something else you need to tell me?"

"How well do you really know your brother, Cassie?" Roxie continued.noveldrama

"Why do you ask?" I countered, sudden unease settling in my chest. re they're trying to

She leaned in. "I honestly think Evan wanted Isabella, so he's formed these alliances with Gideon. I believe they're trying to sabotage Grayson Blake's business."

I gently rubbed her back in a calming gesture. "And what about you? Have you decided to stay with Gideon Blake forever? If he truly wanted you, he would've offered you security by now-introduced you to the world. But here you are, still hiding.... living as his paid mistress."

Pain flickered across her face. "It's a lot more complicated than it looks, Cassie... Yes, he gives me money, but that's not even the worst part. Lately, I feel like I'm drowning-like if I don't escape Gideon's grip soon, I'll disappear completely... I'm losing pieces of myself every day."

I understood her more than I wanted to admit. Because in my relationship with Asher, I, too, felt trapped, mistaking the suffocation for something that felt like love.

Our conversation instantly stopped when someone familiar walked into the restaurant-the one person I didn't want to see. It was Ronan, looking tired and a little desperate.

"Cassie..." he murmured.

I just looked up at him, barely acknowledging he was there. Next to me, Roxie's face turned cold, her expression shifting into pure hostility.

"I need to talk to you," he pleaded, his bloodshot eyes betraying his emotional state. "I discovered this at the villa." With trembling hands, he placed a folded notepad page on the table.

A server approached our table, sensing the tension. "Sir, is there a problem here?"

"We're fine," I replied. "Mr. Carter simply got overexcited at seeing old acquaintances."

"Cassie, I understand what you're experiencing..." Ronan persisted

I took a deep breath, stood up to face him, and slid the notepad into my clutch, keeping my expression cold and unreadable. "Mr. Carter," Roxie cut in sharply, "if you know what Cassie's going through, then you should know she deserves peace. She doesn't need another liar in her life."

I turned to Ronan, my voice' steady but firm. "I have one simple request. You've already succeeded in your plan to hurt Asher, so perhaps you'll grant me this single wish. I want-"

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

Asher's voice sliced through the tension, halting my words mid-sentence.

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