Chapter 2 I'm Not Afraid

Cassandra's POV

Before my heart could explode in my chest, I grabbed my phone, my broken heels, and bolted. I never knew it was possible to run so fast on a snapped heel.

Naturally, I tripped again. Every feeling I'd been holding back crashed into me all at once. A single tear tracked down my cheek as my throat tightened. I opened my mouth... but no sound came out. Not even a whimper.

Years together. Years planning our future. He had promised me. Fuck... why?

"No..." I finally whispered, shaking my head. "It can't be. I must have made a mistake. I must have misheard..."

"Get up, Cassandra!" my mind screamed.

Mustering whatever strength I had left, I forced myself up and stumbled toward the exit.

I had to get away from him before he saw how thoroughly he'd broken me.

I shoved the door open and spilled out into the hallway. My heart raced a mile a minute, as I was terrified of being caught. I knew I should have confronted them, but I couldn't let them watch me fall apart. Aurelia's triumphant smile was already burned into my brain.

When had I screwed up so badly? She was supposed to be my sweet little sister...

Out on the floor, the club was still total chaos. Someone slammed into my shoulder. I lost my balance, and my other heel gave out completely.

"Ah!" I cried out, pitching forward and falling face-first... right into a solid chest.

Right at that moment, the hallway door swung open behind me. I snapped to attention and threw my arms around the poor stranger as if my life depended on it.

"What the fuck are you doing?" my mind shrieked. Was I really using some random guy to stop myself from falling on my face? Wasn't Sinclair afraid of getting caught?

Thump. Thump. Slowly, my racing heart began to settle. My face was still buried in the stranger's chest. He smelled... fuck, he smelled incredible. An intoxicating blend of dark spices and wildflowers.

I had no business noticing his scent, but there I was, inhaling it like a crazy person. This was wrong. But so what? Did Sinclair care about what was wrong while he was screwing my sister? The stranger's cologne was expensive, but not like Sinclair's—the one that had always made my pulse race. This one was... calming. Like it could somehow soothe the violent trembling in my chest.

"Are you quite done smelling me? Your little 'problem' is gone," a deep, mocking voice rumbled above me, sending a shiver of goosebumps down my arms.

My breath hitched.

"... Bride-to-be," he added, the sneer practically audible in his tone.

I snapped my head around. The hallway door was still ajar. And right there stood Sinclair and Aurelia, just about to step out.

Shit!

I instantly shrank back against the stranger's chest. The bastard let out a low, deep chuckle that vibrated through my entire body. He was actually laughing at me, and every amused breath felt like a fresh stab wound to my pride.

But for some reason, that stupid laugh cleared my head just enough. I pinched his nipple hard through his shirt, desperate to wipe that smug look off his face. He let out a sharp "Fuck!" through gritted teeth.

A fleeting surge of triumph washed over me, and I shot him a fierce take that glare.

The club music died down for a split second. We locked eyes, and... my god. His eyes were so unreadable they looked like bottomless pits. I was completely mesmerized. Why did that suddenly make me think of Sinclair's dark blue eyes?

"They're gone. You can let go now," he murmured, shattering the spell.

I blinked and glanced back at the door. It was firmly shut, with no sign of the happy couple anywhere.

"Am I so handsome that you just can't bear to let go?" the arrogant jerk teased.

I scrunched my nose in disgust.

"In your dreams," I scoffed, quickly pulling away and clearing my throat to scrape back some composure. "Sorry about earlier. Um... I was in a bind. I'll make it up to you however you want, really."

He let out a dry, sarcastic chuckle.

"Make it up to me however I want? As if you could afford my damages."

"Look, I might not be the wealthiest heiress in the city, but I come from a good family, and my ex-fiancé is one of the most prominent heirs around."

His casual disdain stung me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I had never seen this guy in my life, and I knew almost all the old money in this city. He was gorgeous, I'd give him that—late twenties at most. That left two options: either he was some famous model or singer, or he was one of the 'companions' who had accepted Rebecca's invitation to the club. With an attitude like that, he was one hundred percent the latter.

Sick of yet another man looking down his nose at me, I whipped out the black card Sinclair had given me.

"How much are you worth?" I demanded. "Because I highly doubt you're the most expensive guy in this club. I'll buy your whole night if I have to."

Yes, I was going to use that cheating bastard's money. It was the only petty revenge a coward like me could afford right now.

He snatched the card from my fingers with lightning speed. His gaze dropped to the surname Von Duvall embossed on the plastic, and a crooked smirk touched his lips.

"So, you think I'm a gigolo, and you're willing to buy me with this?"

"Max it out if you want. Then we're even," I fired back without a second thought.

A wicked gleam lit up his eyes.

"Are you sure? Once I swipe this, there's no going back."

I waved a dismissive hand.

"Do I look like I'm joking? The PIN is 1997. Help yourself out."

I stared him down without blinking.

"Deal." He smiled like the cat that ate the canary.

Perfect. Now it was time to get out of this dump, crawl into bed, and cry until I had no tears left over the fact that I hadn't smashed Sinclair's face in. We were supposed to get married tomorrow, and he had just fucked my little sister tonight. Just great.

Suddenly, the stranger clamped his hand around my wrist and started pulling me along.

"What the fuck are you doing? Is the money not enough for you?" I panicked, my mind flashing to kidnapping or worse.

He completely ignored me. He just dragged me up the stairs toward the quieter gallery bar area. No one stopped him, obviously.

He stopped dead in his tracks, and I slammed right into his back. Fuck, he was rock solid.

"What the hell—?" I started to protest.

"Two Mai Tais." He slid my card across the counter to the bartender and finally released my wrist.

"You've paid for my 'services', lady. Are you backing out now, 'bride-to-be'? Or are you just a scared little chick?" he taunted, flashing that shitty smirk.

"I am no chick," I shot back, annoyed.

"Is that what the girl who uses a stranger as a hiding spot says?" He was deliberately getting under my skin, and it was working.

The bartender set down two frosted glasses between us. The guy was fast. The stranger dropped onto a stool, slid one of the glasses toward me, and took a calm sip of his own.

I looked at the drink, then back at him. The dim bar lighting caught the sharp, perfect angle of his cheekbones.

He was tempting, the bastard.

"Dear Cassie is too stiff and cowardly. I'm the only one who would even want someone like her. Sometimes I have to imagine you just to get hard enough to fuck her."

Sinclair's cruel words drilled into my skull.

I wasn't a coward.

A wicked smile touched my lips. I sat down next to him, grabbed the glass, and downed the cocktail in one long gulp.

"My name is Cassandra. Not 'bride-to-be'," I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

And just like that, I did the craziest, most liberating thing of my entire life.

Fuck them both. Who was the coward now?