Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 86

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Chapter 86

Snapping out of her fury, Mirriam spun on her heel and strode toward her mother. In less than a minute, she relayed everything in a hushed, urgent whisper.

The reaction was immediate.

Two pairs of cold, assessing eyes lifted and locked onto Cassie.

Unbothered, Cassie stood beside Zandrie as though she belonged there–as though she had always belonged there. She had already paid her respects to Jefferson Holt, her posture flawless, her smile impeccable. She offered her father nothing more than a brief, polite nod.

“Cassie, it’s been so wonderful seeing you tonight–after six long years,” Madame Rima greeted warmly as she swept to Cassie’s side, Mirriam close behind her like a shadow.

Cassie paused, momentarily surprised by how quickly mother and daughter had caught up to her. Their timing was far too precise to be coincidence, and curiosity flickered behind her calm expression.

“I wouldn’t miss the celebration of Holt Corporation and Knowles Corporation’s success,” she replied graciously, meeting Madame Rima’s gaze without wavering.

“I must admit, I was quite surprised to learn that Cassidy is a Knowles,” Jefferson Holt said suddenly, his eyes lingering on Cassie with open interest.

“She wasn’t using the name when my son introduced her to me. I only learned of it earlier–from CEO Red Knowles.”

“There’s a complicated reason behind that, CEO Holt,” Cassie said lightly, shrugging as though the matter were inconsequential.

Madame Rima did not miss her cue.

“Cassie is our maid’s daughter,” she interjected smoothly. “Daisy Greene passed away during childbirth, and since she had no family in Bay City, we chose to adopt her newborn–Cassidy.”

Cassie’s brow arched ever so slightly.

She hadn’t expected Madame Rima to dig this deep–nor to parade her origins so publicly, at an event of this magnitude.

Zandrie shifted beside her, his expression darkening, clearly ready to intervene. One subtle look from Cassie stopped him cold.

She wanted to see where this was going.

And she couldn’t help but admire–begrudgingly–the precision of the attack. Using Jefferson Holt as the audience was no accident.

“Oh,” Jefferson said, genuinely taken aback. “I wasn’t aware of that, Cassie.”

Chapter 86

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“Well,” Mirriam added smoothly, her tone laced with false intrigue, “you still have much to learn about Cassidy, CEO Holt. You might be in for quite a surprise.”

“Interesting,” Jefferson murmured, rubbing his chin as his gaze sharpened. “Now you have my curiosity.”

“Cassidy was quite the menace growing up,” Madame Rima continued, her voice dripping with feigned indulgence.

“A real handful. But since she carried the Knowles name, we often indulged her–within reason, of course. There are limits to certain behaviors.”

She cast Cassie a triumphant glance, as though expecting her to squirm.

Cassie didn’t.

She met Madame Rima’s gaze calmly, her expression serene–almost amused.

“I never would’ve guessed the always–composed Cassidy Greene had such a side,” Jefferson chuckled, clearly entertained by the revelation.

“We’re all family here,” Madame Rima said gently, placing a hand over her chest as if weighed down by

concern.

“And I believe you deserve to know, CEO Holt. This is out of respect–not only as our business partner, but as the father of Cassidy’s husband.”

Jefferson’s attention returned to Cassie, his eyes questioning now, expectant–waiting for denial, discomfort, anything.

Cassie simply smiled. Poised. Unshaken.

As though every word spoken against her was nothing more than background noise.

“I believe I granted Cassie the same privileges as my own daughter, Mirriam,” Madame Rima said softly, her voice carefully measured.

“But… some things simply cannot be changed.” She sighed, eyes glistening as though weighed down by

regret.

“No matter how hard we tried to raise her into a respectable young woman, her origins proved stronger.”

She paused deliberately, ensuring every word settled.

“That is also why she stopped using the Knowles name–not merely out of shame for what she did back then,” Rima continued, fully committed to her performance.

“But because we had no choice. She committed a grave sin. One that ruined everything.”

Jefferson Holt’s expression sobered as his attention sharpened on Madame Rima.

“We had no option but to disown her,” Rima concluded in despair, pressing a hand to her chest as she

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released a heavy sigh.

Cassie and Zandrie exchanged a brief glance.

Neither reacted.

But Cassie noticed the faint glimmer of triumph in Rima’s eyes–the confidence of someone who believed she had finally seized the upper hand.

“What?” Jefferson murmured, disbelief coloring his tone as he turned toward Cassie, searching her face.

“Disowned?” he asked, confusion rather than judgment evident in his voice. “What grave sin could warrant something like that?”

Cassie smiled at him.

Then, before anyone else could reclaim the narrative–before Madame Rima could savor her moment- Cassie spoke.

“I slept with my sister’s boyfriend,” she said calmly. “And the entire city knew about it. It was a scandal”

The words fell cleanly. Unembellished. Final.

Silence followed.

Even Madame Rima and Mirriam froze, shock etched across their faces.

Cassie, meanwhile, stood perfectly still–amused inwardly as she took in their expressions. Even her

father looked stunned.

No one had expected her to be so direct. Cassie had fully understood long ago that the most powerful move wasn’t defense.

It was ownership.

****tbc****

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