Chapter 179 Chapter 179
The next morning, Cassandra sat in her living room, her mind spinning in a thousand directions. She hadn’t slept a wink. The police investigation was closing in, Rico had vanished, and Nathaniel was now suspicious that someone close to him had tampered with the car.
The sound of a car pulling into the compound made her heart jolt. Moments later, the doorbell rang sharply.
“Who is that?” she muttered irritably, walking to the door.
When she opened it, Vanessa stood there — dressed sharply, her expression hard.
“What are you doing here?” Cassandra asked coldly.
Vanessa stepped in without asking permission. “I came as soon as I heard what happened to Nathaniel. Are you out of your mind, Cassandra?”
Cassandra blinked, pretending not to understand. “What are you talking about?”
Vanessa slammed her purse on the table. “Don’t act dumb with me! I know you sent someone to tamper with his car!”
Cassandra froze, her eyes wide. “Vanessa, are you crazy? Why would I do that?”
Vanessa moved closer, her tone sharp and trembling with anger. “Because I know you, Cassie! You’ve always had this dangerous side. You think you can hide it behind your fake sweet smile? You’ve changed. You’re obsessed with control and power — and now you’ve turned into a murderer in the making.”
Cassandra’s face darkened. “Watch your mouth, Vanessa.”
“No!” Vanessa snapped, slamming her hand on the table. “I won’t! That man has done nothing but take care of you. He gave you everything — a home, a position, a life! And this is how you repay him?”
Cassandra scoffed and turned away. “You wouldn’t understand. He deserves everything that’s coming to him.”
Vanessa’s jaw dropped. “Deserves it? Nathaniel? For what, Cassandra? For trusting you? For loving you even when you’re clearly losing your mind?”
Cassandra spun around suddenly, anger blazing in her eyes. “He betrayed me, Vanessa! He’s still obsessed with that woman — Savannah! Don’t you see? As long as she’s alive, I’ll always be second!”
Vanessa shook her head, stepping closer. “You’re sick. You think killing him will make you feel better? You think it will erase Savannah? You’ve gone too far this time.”
Cassandra’s breathing quickened. “Don’t preach to me, Vanessa! You of all people should know what it means to protect your place. You did the same thing with your ex!”
Vanessa’s palm shot across Cassandra’s cheek in a sharp, echoing slap.
Cassandra staggered a little, clutching her face in shock.
“I may have made mistakes,” Vanessa said coldly, “but I never tried to kill anyone. You’ve crossed a line, Cassie. A line that can’t be erased.”
Tears welled in Cassandra’s eyes — not from guilt, but fury. “You shouldn’t have done that.”
Vanessa glared at her. “You shouldn’t have tried to murder your husband.”
For a long, tense moment, the room was silent except for Cassandra’s trembling breath.
Vanessa picked up her purse, her voice now low but firm. “Listen to me — if you don’t fix this, I will. I won’t let you destroy Nathaniel’s life because of your twisted jealousy. You hear me?”
Cassandra didn’t answer. She just stood there, watching as Vanessa stormed toward the door.
Before Vanessa stepped out, she turned one last time. “You’re lucky he didn’t die, Cassandra. Because if he had, I’d have been the one calling the cops — not to protect you, but to make sure you rot in jail.”
The door slammed behind her.
Cassandra stood motionless, the echo of the slap still burning across her cheek. Her reflection in the glass window stared back — eyes full of hate and humiliation.
Slowly, she whispered to herself, “You’ll regret that, Vanessa. You will.”
And as she wiped her tears, her trembling lips curved into a dark, bitter smile.
Because Cassandra was not done.
Not yet.