Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 37

“Another conquest,” Zandrie said lightly, sliding a slim folder across the desk toward Cassie, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips.

Cassie’s gaze dropped to the folder, but she didn’t open it. She didn’t need to. She already knew what it contained.

“The documents are finalized,” Zandrie continued as he settled into the visitor’s chair across from her–her chair, the one she occupied every time she visited his office.

“The acquisition of the AI firm is complete.” He leaned back, folding his arms.

“Soon, it’ll be known as KaiTech Solutions.” Pride and quiet triumph colored his voice.

Cassie merely hummed in response, spinning her chair slightly left and right, as if the weight of another acquisition was no heavier than a passing thought.

“You’re insane, you know that?” Zandrie added with a chuckle, casting her a sideways glance. “Most women your age are collecting luxury bags, shoes–living carefree lives.” Instead, he gestured around the room, then toward the city beyond the glass walls.

“And here you are, collecting companies. When we met six years ago, I thought your goal was simply to help Wallace Plantation and stabilize Holt Corporation. Now?” He shook his head in disbelief.

“There are hotel chains, restaurants, and now an AI company under your name. KaiTech Solutions, of all things.”

Cassie shrugged, still rocking the chair like a restless child.

“As long as there’s an opportunity,” she said simply.

Zandrie straightened, studying her more carefully now.

“And that’s what I admire about you,” he said quietly.

“You never let an opening pass.”

Cassie had her eyes closed, lips curved in a faint, peaceful smile as she continued to sway. The sight tugged an unguarded smile from him as well. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was comfortable–tranquil.

Then Zandrie broke it.

“By the way,” he said, his tone shifting, “I got news about the patient you asked me to investigate.”

Cassie stopped moving at once. She turned toward him, every trace of leisure stripped away, her focus sharp and intent.

Chapter 37

+25 BONUS

“I’ll give you the full report later,” Zandrie continued.

“I only received it this morning. It wasn’t easy–almost three decades have passed—but with the information you provided, my people managed to crack something.”

“The woman who approached you before you left the city was a huge help,” he added.

“I made sure she’s safe.”

Cassie’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the pen she’d been idly holding.

“She seems… important to your stepmother,” Zandrie went on.

“Important enough that she’s been aggressively trying to track her down too.”

Cassie looked away, her gaze drifting toward the window as her thoughts slipped elsewhere.

Six years. Six years since she had left Bay City behind.

Despite all the technology, all the access now at her fingertips, she had never once checked on that place or on the people she had abandoned there. Even crossing paths with Ashton twice hadn’t tempted her to look deeper into his life. She had severed herself completely from the city that had broken her.

But she had never forgotten her vow.

Back then, she had been powerless. Trapped by society’s expectations. Crushed by a system that decided her worth and her fate for her.

Now?

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