Bound By A Broken Night novel Chapter 89

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Chapter 89

“Who do I look like?” Ashton echoed, his brows knitting together as he turned instinctively toward Cassie.

A ripple of curiosity–and unease–passed through the group. Nearby conversations dulled into background noise, as if the entire hall were waiting for CEO Jefferson Holt to explain the name he had so abruptly unearthed.

“Dad,” Zandrie cut in swiftly, his voice low but edged with urgency–a clear attempt to halt whatever was about to be revealed.

Jefferson turned to his son.

For a brief, charged moment, father and son locked eyes. No words were spoken, yet an entire exchange passed between them–recognition, warning, restraint carefully held in place by years of unspoken understanding.

The silence stretched.

And within it, Cassie’s heart began to pound, each beat echoing loudly in her ears.

“Who is Kai?” Ashton asked again when Jefferson failed to respond, his tone calm but insistent.

Jefferson finally turned back to him. For a moment, his expression grew distant, contemplative, as if rifling through an old memory he had no intention of sharing.

“Someone I met before,” Jefferson said at last, a faint crease forming between his brows. “For a second, I thought you looked exactly alike. But it seems my eyes were playing tricks on me.”

He met Ashton’s inquisitive gaze and followed the remark with a casual shrug, dismissive enough to signal the conversation’s end.

Ashton studied him for a heartbeat longer, clearly unconvinced, before his attention shifted to Cassie. His sharp eyes searched her face–then Zandrie’s–quietly assessing the tension he had sensed

between the three of them.

But Cassie held his gaze without flinching. So did Zandrie. Even Jefferson remained composed.

Finding no cracks to pry open, Ashton finally masked his curiosity, though the unease lingered-

unanswered.

“Well, it happens all the time,” Red Knowles interjected with an awkward chuckle, eager to dilute the

tension.

“Some people look exactly alike at first glance–only for you to realize, on a second look, that you were mistaken.” His attempt at levity barely softened the atmosphere.

“Nice seeing you again, CEO Pierce,” Zandrie said curtly. The rivalry between them–rooted in days past- still lingered, thick and unmistakable.

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“Likewise, CEO Wallace,” Ashton replied with equal restraint, his tone just as clipped under the scrutiny of watching eyes. 1

Then Ashton turned to Cassie.

“You look stunning tonight, Cassie,” he said, the compliment delivered with effortless grace and unmistakable sincerity.

“Thank you, CEO Pierce,” Cassie replied calmly, even as her heart thundered violently in her chest.

It wasn’t only the shock of Jefferson’s earlier near–revelation that unsettled her–it was also Ashton Pierce himself. His commanding presence had always had an effect on her, one she hated to admit even

now.

She noticed the subtle sighs, the barely concealed swoons from the female guests around them… Mirriam included, who looked as though she had momentarily forgotten how to breathe when Ashton approached.

And, unexpectedly, the same familiar sting of envy crept into Cassie’s chest.

Just like six years ago.

The realization unsettled her–but she steadied herself just as quickly. She was no longer the Cassidy who shrank into the background, who begged silently for attention or felt insignificant in someone else’s shadow.

This Cassidy knew her worth. And she would never diminish herself again.

But adding to her growing anxiety was the reminder of their intimate encounter. After that night, she could no longer see Ashton the same way. The distance she once maintained had blurred, replaced by an unsettling awareness and possessiveness.

It startled her how instinctive it felt–how her chest tightened every time she caught another woman’s lingering, admiring gaze directed at him. Each appreciative smile, each subtle flutter of lashes aimed his way stirred a sharp, irrational irritation within her, one she had no right to claim and yet couldn’t deny.

Cassie steadied herself, schooling her expression even as the emotion simmered.

“Ashton, you look dashing tonight–as always,” Mirriam’s voice cut through Cassie’s thoughts, honeyed and overly familiar.

Cassie arched a brow, instantly catching the deliberate intimacy Mirriam was trying to project.

Before she could dwell on it further, Cassie felt a sharp, assessing gaze settle on her. Jefferson Holt was watching her intently, as though trying to measure something beneath the surface.

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