Chapter Twenty
The Last Touch
Jared paced across the hotel’s PR suite like a man possessed, fingers flicking through pages of concept designs, staging plans, and media pitches.
Cassie sat beside a digital monitor, arms folded, watching as her trusted friend polished the finishing touches on what he called “the most watched event of the year.”
And it wasn’t even the wedding.
“This,” Jared said, holding up a sleek trifold brochure mock-up, “isn’t just a vow renewal. It’s a dynasty celebration. You’re honoring legacy, marriage, empire, and love. People eat that shit up.”
Cassie smirked. “Subtlety isn’t your strong suit.”
“I’m not aiming for subtle,” Jared replied, “I’m aiming for headlines.”
Behind him, Harper poured a round of espresso shots. “And we’ve got confirmations from Elite Affairs, Regal Vision, and Vanity Luxe. All attending. All promised first-look rights to exclusive photos and speeches.”
Cassie took the shot, swallowing the bitter heat. “And what about the teaser video?”
Jared grinned. “Already in production. Romantic shots of you and Damien through the years. Some vintage family clips. Overlaying your voice reading a new ‘vow.’ It’s poetic. Painful. Perfect.”
Delia walked in, tablet in hand. Her expression was cool and confident.
“I’ve got the final piece.”
Cassie straightened. “The video?”
Delia nodded, dropping the tablet onto the coffee table. She played a clip.
The footage was clear, timestamped. Damien’s office. Kelly entering late at night. Their embrace. Kisses. Words exchanged.
Then, the damning line from Kelly “We’ve been doing this since the night before the wedding. She doesn’t deserve you like I do.”
Cassie’s chest tightened but her face remained composed.
“You alright?” Delia asked softly.
Cassie nodded. “I expected worse.”
Jared turned down the volume, tension vibrating through the room.
“Timeline matches up?” Cassie asked.
Delia flicked through screens. “Every single time. Emails, text messages, footage. Two years. Meticulously catalogued.”
“And the copy?”
“Already backed up to two external drives. One for Leo. One for Harper.”
Cassie exhaled. “Good.”
Jared crossed his arms. “This could ruin both of them. You sure?”
Cassie looked each of them in the eye. “They ruined themselves. I’m just revealing the truth.”
Later that evening, Kelly scrolled through the gala teaser on her phone. Something about it made her skin crawl. The images were too perfect. The colors too pristine. Cassie’s voice too… resolute.
“She’s planning something,” she muttered.
Damien looked up from the couch. “Not this again.”
“I’m serious, Damien. It’s in her eyes. She’s calm, too calm.”
He sighed. “You’re paranoid.”
Kelly rose, pacing. “We need to be careful. If she finds out—”
“She won’t,” he snapped.
But even as he said it, doubt twisted in his gut.
Across the city, Cassie sat in her darkened suite, watching the final edit of the “legacy montage.”
Her voice whispered over years of lies:
“Love isn’t built on grand promises. It’s built on truth. On choices. On seeing someone for who they are… and choosing them anyway.”
Cassie pressed pause. Then smiled.
“The last touch,” she whispered.
And the countdown began.