Chapter 30
I exhaled slowly, a weight lifting from my shoulders as I bowed my head.
“I sincerely thank the President for his grace,” I said, my voice steady but filled with relief.
Across the room, Adrian’s face lost all color. He stood there, frozen in place, staring at me like het had just seen a ghost..
It finally dawned on him.
When I went to the President, I hadn’t begged him to force Adrian to stay with me. I hadn’t fought to prevent his engagement to Vivian.
No.
I had gone to ask for permission to walk away.
For all this time, Adrian had assumed I was clinging to him, desperate to keep him for myself. He had painted me as jealous, selfish, narrow–minded–too bitter to let him go.
But that was never the truth.
The realization struck him hard. I saw it in his eyes as he watched me, his expression flickering between disbelief and something else something almost like regret. But it was too late for that.
I turned to Reed, my smile light and easy. “Mr. Walker, I appreciate your time. I won’t keep you any longer, but when your schedule allows, please come by Sinclair Enterprises. Anna would love to cook for you.”
Reed nodded with a small, knowing smile. “It would be my pleasure.”
Evelyn, who had been standing stiffly beside Adrian, suddenly rushed forward and grabbed my arm. Her fingers dug into my skin, desperation clear in her eyes.
“Cassandra, this–it was all a misunderstanding!” she stammered, her voice shrill. “I thought you were trying to sabotage Adrian and Vivian’s engagement! That’s the only reason I agreed to the separation. I didn’t realize-”
I smoothly withdrew my arm from her grip and took a step back. “If it was a misunderstanding, it should have been cleared up before today.”
Evelyn’s lips parted, but no words came. What could she say now?
Reed cleared his throat, shifting the tense atmosphere. “Ms. Sinclair, I have one more message from the President. The real estate division has been working tirelessly on the renovations for Sinclair Tower. They wanted everything to be perfect before the edict was issued.”
1:17 PM
Chapter 30
Home.
I breathed in deeply. letting the word settle inside me.
Finally, I was free.
I bowed my head, my voice thick with emotion. “I thank the President for his generosity.”
+B Pearls
Tears burned at the edges of my vision, but I refused to let them fall. I had spent too many nights. crying over Adrian, over my own foolishness, over everything I had lost. But not today. Today, I stood on my own terms.
Reed gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Everything is in the past now. The future will be better.” Then, as if remembering something. he added, “The First Lady mentioned she hasn’t seen you in ja long time. She misses you dearly. When you have the time, she would love for you to visit her at
the estate.
I nodded, feeling a warmth settle in my chest. At least some bonds in my life were still unshaken. “Please convey my gratitude to her. I will visit soon.”
Reed inclined his head in acknowledgment before turning on his heel, leading his security team out of the estate. Not a single glance was spared for the Warren family,
Evelyn clutched the sleeve of my dress. her grip desperate. “Cassandra, you’ve met the First Lady before: You never told me she thought so highly of you!” Her eyes searched mine, as if she were only now realizing how little she actually knew about me..
I gently pulled my arm away. I used to visit her often in the past. But once I got engaged to Adrian. I no longer held the title of a Sinclair heir. Without that status, it wouldn’t have been appropriate for me to visit So. I stopped.”
I took a step back and inclined my head slightly. “Thank you for your care this past year, Mrs. Warren.
It wasn’t a lie–Evelyn had treated me well once. But I had mistaken her kindness for something genuine. Now, I saw it for what it was–conditional. The moment I no longer served a purpose in her eyes, she had discarded me like an old investment gone bad.
Adrian approached me then, his expression unreadable, a storm brewing behind his eyes. “Since the moment I told you about the President’s approval of my engagement to Vivian, you planned to leave me, didn’t you?”
I met his gaze head–on, unflinching. That’s right.”
He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “I don’t understand. You were my fiancée–Vivian would have only been a companion. Why couldn’t you accept that? Why did you insist on walking away!”
I let out a hollow laugh “A companion? That’s not what you told me before. Have you forgotten
Chapter 10
8 Pearls
same respect, that there would be no distinction between us. You told me to step aside, to make room for her in my life and in our home. Do you remember?”
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
I exhaled softly. “Just because of that?” he asked after a beat. “Am I really worth nothing to you. anymore?”
There was no hesitation when I replied, “No. The moment you broke your promise and pursued Vivian under the guise of duty and ambition, you became worthless in my eyes.”
I saw the flicker of something in his expression–shock, regret, maybe even pain–but I didn’t let it waver my resolve.
“Do you remember how both you and Vivian accused me of playing mind games?” I continued. “She claimed she was above such things. That she didn’t need tricks to get what she wanted. And you believed her. You called me jealous, manipulative, desperate. I tilted my head slightly, considering him. “The truth is, Adrian, I despise games. And I despise people who play them event more. I couldn’t even be bothered to explain to you how much.”
With that, I turned away, stepping past him as if he were nothing more than a stranger.
I moved toward Granduncle Theodore, the man who had always stood by me, even when the rest. of the world turned its back. He had been crying silently, his aged hands trembling. I lowered. myself before him, bowing deeply, my forehead nearly touching the ground.
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Granduncle,” I murmured. “Once I’ve settled back home, I will come visit you.
When I lifted my gaze, his eyes were filled with warmth and relief. He nodded, unable to speak past the lump of emotion in his throat.
I rose to my feet, standing taller than I ever had before. I hard given everything for Adrian, sacrificed my inheritance, my pride, my love–only to be cast aside.
But I was done looking back.
From this moment on, I was Cassandra Sinclair.
And I was finally free.
Send Gifts
B
