The Secret He Couldn't Keep

On my final day, I was in the office finishing the handover. My desk was already cleared, but the last hour dragged on.

My phone lit up. A message from Rhys.

[Black coffee. Half sugar, with cinnamon.]

Technically, for this last hour, I was still his assistant. I had to see it through.

I prepared the drink, took a deep breath, and knocked on his office door.

The moment I entered, I froze.

Cassidy was lying on the sofa, her head resting on Rhys's lap as he gently massaged her temples.

In the four years I was with him, whenever a late night at the office left my head throbbing, all he ever did was coldly toss me a bottle of ibuprofen.

"Don't let it affect your work, Willow," was all he'd say.

The pathetic fool I’d been had mistaken his coldness for "professionalism," deluding myself in this clandestine affair.

I walked past them, expressionless, and placed the cup on his desk.

"Mr. Sterling, your coffee."

I turned to leave, but Cassidy suddenly sat up.

"Wait." Her gaze swept over me, critical and hostile. "You're... Cole Ashton's sister?"

Before I could answer, she slapped me. Hard.

My ears rang as a burning sting blossomed on my cheek.

Rhys shot to his feet, startled.

"Cassidy, what are you doing?"

Her eyes welled with tears as she rounded on Rhys, pointing an accusing finger at me while playing the perfect victim.

"She's an Ashton! She could live like a princess, but she insists on being your assistant. Don't tell me she doesn't have designs on you! She's trying to take my place!"

The air went still.

Rhys's gaze flickered to my swollen cheek before he turned and gently pulled Cassidy into his arms, wiping away her tears.

His voice was soft, laced with resignation and undisguised adoration.

"Even if she does... it's one-sided. My heart only has room for you. She's just a good employee, that's all."

A triumphant smirk flashed across Cassidy's face as she nestled into his arms, her voice a sweet coo.

"Then fire her! I don't want to see her face again!"

Rhys's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

Seeing it, Cassidy, apparently unsatisfied, snatched the hot coffee from the desk.

The next second, she shrieked, sending the entire cup of coffee flying at me with a theatrical flick of her wrist.

"Ah! Rhys, it's hot! The cup was so slippery!"

The scalding liquid splashed across my arm, the searing pain almost making me cry out.

But Cassidy, who only caught a few drops on her fingertips, screamed as if the air would shatter.

As she clutched her reddened fingers, Rhys's face turned to stone.

His cold gaze locked onto me, completely missing the angry red burn spreading across my bare arm.

"Willow! You've been with me for four years, and you can't even handle a simple task? Did you do this to Cassidy on purpose?"

Before I could explain, he had already buzzed his chief secretary.

"Ms. Miller, Ms. Ashton has made a grave error. Withhold her entire severance package! And I want her mistake announced at next week's company meeting!"

Paige Miller walked in and froze, taking in the scene. She shot me an uneasy glance before saying softly.

"But, Mr. Sterling... Ms. Ashton has already resigned..."

The moment she finished, Cassidy gasped, cried out in pain, and collapsed limply into Rhys's arms.

"Rhys, if you're so eager to protect your precious assistant, then I'll leave... and I'll never come back!"

Rhys's pupils constricted. He ignored Paige completely, holding Cassidy tight.

"Cassidy, don't! Please..."

His glare was a shard of ice, cutting right through me.

"Willow, if there's a next time, you can crawl back to your family! I won't let you off, not even if Cole himself comes begging! Now, get out!"

My burned arm throbbed, and cold sweat slicked my temples. My heart had gone numb, and the physical pain was just a dull, distant echo.

"Don't worry, Mr. Sterling. There won't be a next time."

He clearly didn't expect that answer. For a moment, he was stunned. But without another word, he swept Cassidy into his arms.

"Let's go. We're going to the private clinic."

When his eyes swept over the blistering skin on my arm, his brow furrowed deeper.

"You come too. I won't have anyone saying I mistreat my employees."

Worried about infection, I said nothing and followed.

In the back of the car, my phone buzzed. A message from Rhys.

[I was emotional. But I've already lost Cassidy once—I can't lose her again. If you're upset, I'll make it up to you.]

I stared at the words, then at the man in the front seat, fussing over Cassidy as if she were made of glass.

The absurdity of it all made me want to laugh. Did he really think I was still the same girl who would come running at the crook of his finger?

Without a second thought, I blocked his number.

The next second, a friend request popped up. It was from my arranged-marriage fiancé, Graham Lancaster.

We’d met once, years ago...

I took a slow breath and pressed [Accept].