Chapter Three
The Forgotten Gift
The morning after the party, Cassie sat on the edge of their California king bed, her hands wrapped around a mug of black coffee gone cold.
The penthouse was quiet, too quiet, except for the soft hum of the city waking up outside.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the skyline stretched endlessly, bathed in the pale gold of early light.
Damien was still asleep, sprawled across his side of the bed in a half-unbuttoned dress shirt and black slacks. His tie lay forgotten on the floor, his phone blinking with missed calls. Cassie stared at it for a moment longer than necessary before setting her cup down and rising to her feet.
There was no card on the vanity. No box on the nightstand. No bouquet waiting near the door.
No gift.
Two years of marriage. And not even a handwritten note.
She checked the closet, the hallway table, even the kitchen island where he’d once left a surprise diamond pendant on their first dating anniversary. Nothing.
Her stomach tightened.
Maybe he left it at the office. Maybe it was coming later. Maybe—
The elevator dinged.
Delia stepped out with her usual grace, holding a slim planner and a paper bag of croissants from Cassie’s favorite French bakery.
“Morning,” Delia said, eyes scanning Cassie’s expression. “You didn’t sleep?”
Cassie shook her head lightly. “Just woke up early.”
Delia placed the pastries down. “Want me to get started on your briefing for the investor brunch?”
“In a minute.” Cassie hesitated. “Did Damien… happen to leave anything with you for me?”
Delia blinked. “Like what?”
“An envelope. A gift. Anything.”
A pause. Then, gently, “No.”
Cassie nodded. Her lips tightened into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Right.”
By noon, Damien emerged from the bedroom with sleep-tousled hair and a groggy face that under any other circumstance might’ve made her smile.
“Morning,” he mumbled, stretching. “What time is it?”
“Almost noon.”
He winced. “Shit. I was supposed to be in a call an hour ago.”
Cassie handed him his coffee, black and just the way he liked it. “You were tired.”
He kissed her cheek. “Last night was amazing. Seriously, thank you for everything you did.”
She nodded, searching his face. “Did you… forget something?”
He looked up from his coffee, blinking. “What do you mean?”
Cassie gave him a moment.
He glanced at her, then down at the cup, then away. “Oh. The gift.”
Her heart thudded softly.
“I… meant to have it delivered to the office yesterday, but things got crazy. I’ll bring it by tonight. I wanted it to be perfect.”
Cassie nodded slowly. “Of course. I understand.”
But the way his gaze slid to the floor said more than his words. There was no gift. There had never been one.
“Do you want to tell me what it was?” she asked, her voice gentle.
He hesitated. “A bracelet. Emerald. To match the one you wore at the gala last spring.”
Too specific. Too fast. Practiced.
Cassie smiled and leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I’m sure I’ll love it.”
He gave her a quick nod and disappeared into the bathroom. Cassie remained still, the air around her strangely heavy.
When the water began running, she picked up her phone and texted Delia one word “Check.”
Later that day, Cassie wandered through the Kings Grand’s grand ballroom for a final check before an upcoming gala. Her heels echoed against the high-gloss floor as she moved past gold-trimmed columns and crystal chandeliers.
Delia met her by the reception desk, tablet in hand.
“I checked the company card and Damien’s personal Amex. Three days ago, he bought a diamond bracelet from Raffin’e Jewelers. Not emerald.”
Cassie’s jaw clenched. “Shipping address?”
“Not listed. But the pickup signature was K. King.”
Her breath caught.
Kelly.
Her sister.
Of course it was.
Cassie swallowed, her mind racing. Her heart didn’t even ache. Not yet. Not the way it would. Not the way it used to. Right now, it just… observed.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
Delia glanced around. “Want me to tell Harper?”
“No,” Cassie said. “Not yet. I need to think.”
Delia didn’t press.
That night, Damien came home with two glasses of wine and an apologetic smile.
“Got caught up again,” he said, kissing her forehead. “The gift’s still coming.”
Cassie took the glass from him and smiled.
“I can wait.”
And she would but not for the gift. She would wait to see just how far the lie would go and when the moment was right, she would make sure it ended exactly where it started. With her.