The Lloyd family never hid their disapproval of Cassie's marriage to Jordy.
Even though Brenton rarely spoke his mind directly, he always slipped in a sharp remark whenever the chance came along.
Cassie pressed her lips together and stayed quiet, her attention drifting to the view outside the car.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital.
Jasper sifted through a stack of paperwork. He looked drained, his face losing what little color it had, as he settled back into his usual distant self.
"Any updates?" he asked, voice colder than usual.
One of his subordinates quickly stepped forward. "The one responsible for drugging you isn't talking. All we've managed to learn is where the drug was sourced."
Jasper replied with a dry, humorless laugh.
A loud smack then echoed as he slapped the documents down.
Afraid to meet Jasper's eyes, the subordinate kept his gaze glued to the floor.
"Keep investigating," Jasper said after a while.
"Yes, Mr. Sullivan!"
Though Jasper remained seated on the hospital bed, there was no mistaking the rigid posture and the heavy air of authority surrounding him.
"Leave. And I want the names of everyone currently working at the Apex Club sent to me soon," he ordered.
"Understood." The subordinate wasted no time gathering the documents.
He knew that something like this could only happen because someone inside had betrayed them.
It seemed Jasper was about to shake up the Apex Club from top to bottom, and it was uncertain who would be the first to fall.
Jasper's eyes shut for a brief pause, and as soon as he caught his subordinate lingering when he opened his eyes, his brow creased.
"Well? Is there more?"
The subordinate, Johan Frazier, hesitated before finally saying, "Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Ruben Sullivan has sent a message. You're expected at his birthday banquet next weekend."
Ever since the inheritance dispute, Jasper's relationship with his relatives had turned fragile, close to a break that might never be fixed.
Lately, Ruben, the head of the family, wouldn't leave Jasper alone, his calls coming in day after day. He had only one purpose—to arrange Jasper's marriage.
Jasper's face didn't so much as twitch, so Johan continued, "He has been spending quite a bit of time with the Fowler heiress. She's at the family estate often these days."
The Sullivan's family home, once closed to outsiders, now welcomed a stranger as if she belonged there. Such easy access could only mean Ruben had a plan in mind for her.
Without saying a word, Jasper focused on the pinprick dotting his arm.
No longer the sort who could be easily swayed, he had every intention of controlling his own life. He refused to let Ruben meddle in it.
"Then let's make sure the Fowlers are kept busy with something," Jasper said.
Both the Fowlers and Sullivans held similar standing, and Ruben clearly wanted to use the Fowlers as leverage. Jasper, however, felt it was time to show his stance on the matter.
Catching the tension in Jasper's jaw, Johan pushed up his glasses and said, "Mr. Sullivan, this might stop the problem for now, but it won't solve the real issue."
"I'm aware of that." Running a thumb over the pinprick on his skin, Jasper narrowed his eyes in thought.
If he wanted to crush Ruben's scheme, the solution was simple—find someone suitable to marry before Ruben could set up an engagement himself.
Someone suitable...
A woman's face floated in Jasper's mind, timid yet unyielding.
"Johan, I want you to look into what the Lloyd couple's youngest daughter has been doing for the past couple of years," Jasper said after a while.
"Yes, Mr. Sullivan."
Meanwhile, Cassie sat quietly, watching the scenery blur past the car window.
Breaking the quiet in the car, Brenton asked in his low voice, "Would you like me to drive you back to the Sutton family residence?"
Cassie paused for a moment and turned to look at him.
She knew Shawn had never been the type to hold his tongue, especially around Brenton.
With Brenton picking her up today, she knew that Shawn had already told Brenton about her divorce.
A heavy sigh slipped from Cassie as she shot Brenton a pointed look. "If you're going to mock me, just do it outright."
Brenton's eyes flickered her way, and a cold laugh escaped him.
"Mock you? That's not what I'm trying to do. I just want to celebrate now that you've finally come to your senses."
A small laugh bubbled out of Cassie as she pouted. "You honestly expect me to believe you're not mocking me?"
This time, Brenton let her remark stand, and his sharp features softened slightly. "Honestly, it's a good thing that you are getting a divorce."
Everything he felt came through in those few words.
Cassie smiled faintly. "You're right."
Making that decision had shown her just how many people truly cared about her. She should never have compromised herself for Jordy.
She believed she really had been blind before.
Lost in her own thoughts, Cassie hardly noticed as the car rolled up to the Lloyd family estate.
Stepping outside, she was immediately swept into a hug by Shawn.
"Finally, you're back in one piece!" he exclaimed.
Cassie's laughter rang out as she glanced over Shawn's shoulder and spotted Caiden Lloyd, her third elder brother, watching them.
"Hey, Caiden," she said.
Caiden gave her a small nod. "It's good to see you home."
Surprise flickered in Cassie's eyes.
Usually, Caiden kept to himself, holed up in the esports training room. He rarely showed up for family moments.
Truthfully, Cassie hadn't expected to see him today. Finding him waiting for her made her feel oddly welcome.
"Isn't your tournament just around the corner, Caiden? Yet, you came back home today." Shawn didn't give Caiden a chance to respond. He sauntered over and threw his arm across Caiden's shoulders.
He turned to Cassie. "You know, Caiden found out about your divorce and ditched his tournament just so he could celebrate with you!"
His words made Cassie feel resigned.
With a blank expression, Caiden pushed Shawn's arm away and moved to leave. "I need to prep for training tomorrow. I'm leaving now."
No one managed to get in another word before Caiden slipped into his car and drove off.
Nothing about him had changed; he was still as stubborn as ever. Without their shared history, Cassie might have missed the quiet way he showed that he cared.
As Caiden's car disappeared down the driveway, Shawn moved closer, sliding his arm around Cassie's shoulders. "Alright, spill it. What happened?"
Shawn hadn't heard all the details. He only knew that Brenton had rushed to the Apex Club after taking a call. He only knew this was about Jasper.
Cassie didn't reply to him, glancing over at Brenton.
"Is everything okay with Jasper, Brenton?"
It seemed too much of a coincidence for Jasper to keep Cassie there. Something about the whole thing felt off.
Cassie couldn't imagine Jasper having any real interest in her, someone who was about to get a divorce.
Maybe it had to do with their families.
Was this just a friendly gesture from Jasper to the Lloyd family?
They all went inside the house. Brenton shrugged off his jacket and laid it across the nearest chair. He then shot Cassie a sidelong look.
"That's business stuff, Cassie. There's nothing for you to worry about. Go back to your room and get some rest early."
Realizing Brenton wouldn't say another word, Cassie let the matter drop and followed Shawn upstairs.
Only after Shawn left her side did Cassie notice her phone had been dead for hours.
She plugged it in, spotting a handful of missed calls—none of them from Jordy.
With a sigh, she tossed the phone aside and stretched out on the bed, letting herself drift off.
That night, her sleep was deep and untroubled. By the time she woke up, daylight already filled her room.
She then found the maid, Kyla Delgado, waiting at the bottom of the stairs, her smile bright.
"Mr. Brenton Lloyd asked that after you've had your breakfast, you head over to see him at the office."
A visit to Brenton's workplace?
Cassie paused, eyes darting toward Kyla.
"He really wanted me to go to the company?"
Brenton always made it clear—work and family stayed in separate lanes. He had once told everyone, loud and clear, that no family issues would cross his office threshold, and any business talk would be handled only at work.
Cassie couldn't imagine what reason he might have for summoning her there.
Instead of waiting, she dialed Brenton's number for answers.
"Come to my office at three o'clock sharp. Don't be late," Brenton said, his voice brisk before he ended the call.
The blank phone screen left Cassie sighing in frustration.
At exactly three in the afternoon, she arrived at the company.
Stepping into Brenton's office, she came face-to-face with someone she recognized right away.