The wedding venue was decked out with a sea of romantic flowers of all kinds. As the newlyweds strolled down the red carpet, their eyes locked, filled with love.
The band on the side played a soft wedding march, and the air was thick with sweetness and joy. The guests watched the couple with blessings in their eyes.
Cassidy and Hailey sat together, taking in the grand ceremony. As Cassidy watched, her mind drifted back to her own wedding with Ashton.
Her father had arranged the marriage, and when Cassidy found out, she was furious and refused, but he didn't care about her feelings. With no other choice, Cassidy tried to learn about the Cooper family and Ashton, her soon-to-be husband, before marrying into the family.
Back in school, she'd heard whispers about the Cooper family, knowing they were dangerous. But when she dug deeper, she realized the danger was beyond anything she could've imagined.
Ashton already had four sons, and being part of a mafia family meant their lives were filled with schemes and plots, far from the happiness of ordinary people. Each one of them was a ticking time bomb!
And here she was, an ordinary rich girl, forced to marry into such a family because of her father's selfishness! Cassidy tried to run away, but her father always caught her.
The entire wedding with Ashton was arranged by the Cooper family, and all she had to do was stay home and wait for the big day.
On the day of the wedding, the venue was even more luxurious and extravagant than the one she was seeing now. Cassidy sat in front of the mirror, being dressed up like a puppet, moving whenever she was told. Her mind was racing.
What if she was killed as soon as she entered the Cooper family?
What if Ashton didn't like her and didn't care about her?
What if Ashton's four sons made her life hell and she couldn't handle them?
Cassidy stared at herself in the mirror, terrified she was walking into her doom at Cooper Manor.
She even thought about running away from the wedding, but the mere thought of the Cooper family made her drop the idea.
Her nerves only settled a bit when she saw Ashton. Though he wasn't young anymore, time hadn't taken away his good looks, and his gentle eyes drew Cassidy in.
He walked towards her with firm, elegant steps, every move exuding an extraordinary aura. The calmness and strength he showed added to his charm.
Cassidy suddenly felt that marrying Ashton might not be so bad after all.
After the wedding, Ashton treated her with great care, respected all her choices, and showered her with love and protection.
All her pre-wedding fears didn't come true. Ashton was so gentle and considerate, almost like the perfect partner she had imagined. Yet, life dealt a cruel hand—why did he have to get sick?
Ashton was such a gentle soul; why did life have to be so cruel to him? Cassidy thought of him lying in that hospital bed, hooked up to all those tubes, and it broke her heart.
In his final moments, he apologized, saying he regretted not being able to grow old with her.
Thinking about all the plans he had made for her, tears welled up in Cassidy's eyes. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away.
When she looked up again, she was back to being the dignified head of the Cooper family, showing no sign of vulnerability.
Cassidy thought no one had noticed her moment of weakness, but two pairs of eyes had been watching her from a distance.
On the wedding stage, the newlyweds exchanged rings and kissed, and the crowd erupted in applause, showering them with blessings.
Next was dinner, and Cassidy smiled and mingled with the other guests, but her eyes kept drifting back to the newlyweds. Seeing them so happy reminded her of Ashton again.
Needing a moment to herself, Cassidy quietly slipped away to the restroom. Her eyes were already brimming with tears, and she knew they would fall if she blinked.
Cassidy sighed softly. At such a joyous event, she was crying because she missed her late husband.
If she had stayed out there a moment longer, she might have broken down in front of everyone, which would have been embarrassing.
She wiped away her tears, took a deep breath to steady herself, and only when she could smile without showing her sadness did she leave the restroom.
But as soon as she stepped out, someone suddenly grabbed her from behind, covered her mouth, and dragged her back into a stall, slamming the door shut with his leg!
Cassidy's heart raced, and she struggled frantically, wanting to scream, but the hand over her mouth muffled her. Who would dare do this to her at the Moore family's wedding?
Panicking, she tried to turn her head to see who it was, but he held her down, even pressing her onto the toilet and forcing her legs apart!
"Let go of me!" she tried to shout, but it came out muffled and unclear.
The person slapped her butt and hissed, "Be quiet."
Cassidy froze. She knew that voice all too well!
She struggled even harder, and maybe because she was thrashing so much, Easton worried she might hurt herself, so he let go but still kept her pinned.
In the cramped space, Cassidy turned and saw a familiar face. Furious, she raised her hand to slap Easton. But he caught her wrist just before she could land the hit.