Page 48 of Vows of Deceit
“Because I was a coward. And because I thought you’d figure it out eventually. I told myself maybe it was a phase. Maybe you knew and chose to look away. I thought I was protecting everyone by staying out of it.”
Cassie’s hands were folded in her lap. “You weren’t.”
“I see that now.”
The sound of the waterfall filled the silence again.
Leo leaned forward. “But I did start distancing myself. From him. From Kelly. I couldn’t look at you and not feel like a traitor. That’s why I stepped back.”
She met his gaze, finally.
“I don’t hate you,” she said. “But you hurt me by staying silent.”
He nodded, ashamed. “I know. And I’ll live with that. I just needed you to hear it from me. That I regret it. That I wish I’d done better.”
Cassie’s voice was softer now. “You could’ve changed the timeline. Not the ending. But maybe I’d have walked away sooner.”
“I know.”
She took a breath, then offered a small, sad smile. “But I also know that people make mistakes. And some, if they’re brave enough to admit them, deserve a second chance.”
Leo blinked. “So... we’re okay?”
“We’re not what we were,” she said honestly. “But maybe we’ll be something new.”
He nodded, deeply grateful. “I’d like that.”
They sat for a moment longer in companionable silence.
“You’re really happy with him?” Leo asked after a beat.
“I’m learning how to be happy with myself first,” Cassie replied. “But Grayson helps me remember who I am. And who I want to be.”
Leo smiled. “Then I hope he knows how lucky he is.”
“I remind him often.”
They laughed. And for the first time in years, Cassie and Leo didn’t feel like shadows of the past. They felt like people finally walking forward.
Chapter Forty
Breaking News
The afternoon sun bathed the sidewalk cafés in golden light as Cassie, Harper, and Delia strolled down the bustling boutique district near Fifth Avenue. The air buzzed with early spring energy. Fashionistas in statement sunglasses, tourists snapping photos, and city dwellers soaking in rare warmth.
Cassie wore a cream trench over a soft navy dress, her heels clicking confidently on the cobblestone walk. Delia chatted animatedly about the interior redesign for the new coastal resort, while Harper complained about an influencer drama blowing up her PR firm’s inbox.
“I swear, if one more heiress leaks a breakup for clout, I’m going off-grid,” Harper said, stirring her iced lavender latte with dramatic flair.
Cassie laughed, savoring the lightness of the moment.
“I still think we should take that girls’ trip to Tuscany,” Delia added. “Just us. No phones. No men.”
Cassie raised her brow. “Even Jared?”
Delia shrugged with a grin. “Especially Jared.”
They reached the courtyard of The Glasshouse Café when the mood shifted. From across the patio, Kelly stood near the entrance, stiff in a form-fitting red suit, scrolling on her phone. Her gaze lifted and locked with Cassie’s. Tension sliced the air.
