His Savior's Staged Rescue

I looked at the mess. The evidence of another woman had invaded my space like a virus.

The old me might have cried. Demanded to know why he hadn’t consulted me. But now? There was no storm in my chest, just a cold, hollowed-out void.

"She can stay as long as she wants," I said. "I don't care." I walked past him to retrieve my personal files from the study.

Grayson stood there, shocked by my compliance. It seemed to unnerve him. Watching me walk away, he reached out as if to help with my boxes.

"Cassia, are you upset? I promise, it's only for a week..."

I sidestepped his hand. "Don't bother. I can manage."

Grayson's hand froze in mid-air. He pressed his lips together, his jaw tightening. "Let the butler do it," he said softly. "Listen, if you're still angry about last night, I can..."

Before he could finish, his assistant, Liam O’Connell, materialized at his elbow, announcing an urgent board call.

Grayson hesitated, then tossed a hurried sentence over his shoulder. "I have to take this. We'll talk later." He turned and strode away.

Not long after he was gone, Scarlett appeared at the end of the hallway. She was still wearing that ill-fitting silk robe, and I could smell the faint scent of Grayson's expensive cologne on the collar.

She glided toward me with a provocative glint in her eyes, though her voice feigned weakness. "Moving out so soon? You must be exhausted. Grayson stayed with me all night, you know, helping me calm down... I feel so much better."

Then, she leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial hiss. “See? You can’t keep what was never really yours to begin with.”

Just then, I heard Grayson's footsteps descending the stairs.

The malice on Scarlett's face was wiped clean, replaced by a look of sheer terror. She had just reached the million-dollar white carpet when she deliberately tipped the glass of red wine in her hand, then threw herself backward with a piercing shriek.

"Cassia! It's okay, I won't take your room!"

Grayson arrived like a whirlwind. He saw the glaring red wine stain on the floor and the "frightened" Scarlett, and his composure completely shattered.

He whirled on me, his eyes blazing with disappointment and fury. "Cassia! I thought you were finally being reasonable, but I never imagined you could be so vicious! She's a patient!"