Page 78 of Tangled IN LIES (IN YOU 3)

Helen’s neck becomes bright red as she tries to curb her feelings and push them under the ladylike façade.

“Mark,” I hear a whisper of warning from behind as if she’s begging to end this. She’s vulnerable today, and this family’s adding to the shitstorm.

“Do you want to crack my cheek also for degrading your son’s widow?” I’m done treating Helen like she needs to be handled with kid’s gloves. “Because I’m the one with perverted tastes and low morale, and your daughter-in-law was seduced by my dark desires.”

She swallows the lump in her throat and looks away because I’m her son too. I’m part of this fucked up family and damned legacy.

“Mark, take care, brother, will you?” Lucas moves to his mother, giving me a disapproving gaze as a warning.

“My wife is right, Mark. This kind of scandal won’t reflect well on us. They might stream the record anyway, and this way benefit from our downfall. This is now an inevitable outcome. We’re in their hands and whatever they demand they’ll get.”

Darren walks to the cabinet and pours some whiskey in his glass, chugging it in one gulp. His skin looks gray and his eyes are sunken from stress as if this situation sucked years out of him.

“Is it true that you and my son signed papers about you producing him children for the chance to inherit his wealth?”

Helen is on a rampage today. This family’s going to tear her apart if I don’t stop them. Cassandra steps around me.

“You and your husband are in control of our inheritance. You tell me, did we or didn’t we sign such an agreement? Because I’m starting to believe it isn’t beyond this family to trick me into signing such documents. I wouldn’t know the truth, would I? I lost not only my husband that night but most of my memories too.”

“How dare you accuse us of such things!”

“No, Helen, how dare you to treat me like I don’t belong? Like I’m the one who doesn’t deserve the name of this family. What do I need to do more to earn a sliver of respect or be considered a true Cade?”

“Nothing!” she spits the word, shaking, and Cassandra straightens her back, not backing away from the matriarch. “You’ll never be one of us, never! I’m their mother, who carried them in my womb, fed them, loved them, treated their wounds, and encouraged them to be better people. What have you sacrificed to deserve it?” she screams.

“I almost died with him!” she trembles, forcing back a sob. “I bled next to him, Helen. I didn’t kill him. I wanted to make him happy, and he wanted to show me the world.” Cassandra gasps as if admitting this, she lodged a knif

e into her soul. A tremor shakes her frame, but she straightens with resolve shining in her pale eyes.

Unable to stay away from her, I move closer as if my nearness could absorb her anguish and lend her strength.

“I loved your son with everything I am. We were happy once.” She forces the words out. “But somehow, you forgot I’m not only his wife but the mother of his children too.” Their gazes connect for one moment, and I see, one mother's sorrow like a tide flowing to another mother’s hollow abyss. The pain of loss is still fresh to them.

“Logan was an incredible man, father, good brother. But this doesn’t give you the right to treat me like trash. I won’t allow you to come into my home and try to make me feel like I do not deserve to live. Not in front of my children, sister, or your sons. Do not treat me like I’m nobody, unworthy to exist next to you. I tried to soothe your pain, but you used me like I don’t matter.”

Wails pour out of Helen and Lucas hooks his arms around her legs and carries her upstairs to settle down for the night.

Cassandra collapses in my arms the moment they leave as if this conversation sucked out all the strength of her body. I carry her to the sofa.

“Is she all right?” Darren asks from behind as Leif brings her water and pushes the glass into her shaking hands.

“This was intense.” Leif looks tortured and not his usual self either as I try to help her drink. He rubs his neck, concerned for both women. “But I guess necessary too.”

Dammit, she looks so numb and drained. “She needs to rest,” I tell him, sinking importance in my demand. “I’ll take her upstairs. Show me her bedroom.”

I watch Leif internally debate what to do and then he glances at his father for approval. “Yeah, let’s go.”

~Cassandra~

Tasteless. Hopeless. Merciless.

Those words bounce in my brain, mocking me in misery this morning. My children play with Mark in the garden to distract them from the fact I’m not myself. Mark is excellent with kids, but my mind is in turmoil, and sadness is dragging me into a dark pit. I feel like I reached my limits like I have nothing to draw onto, nothing to give anymore.

“Are you okay?” The question startles me. “Easy there.” Lucas places his large palm on my shoulder to ease me. “It’s just me.” He smiles, but my lips quiver in response, and I have to look away.

“How’s your mom?” I swallow my sadness and sip water to hide my anguish. My parched throat tickles, and I start to cough again like someone scratched it raw.

“She’s still sleeping from the medicine we gave her, and Dad is on the phone. He will be here soon to speak with us,” he utters, eyeing me with his all too knowing gaze. “Are you sure you don’t want to take a nap? You look exhausted, Cassandra.” His eyebrows crease as those wolf eyes study me with deep concern etched on his face. My eyes become hot, stinging with tears. “Hey, everything will be okay.”

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