Chapter 1 The Whistleblower

"Mom, if Dad and Aunt Sienna get married, can I live with them?" The question pierced Cassie's heart like a blade.

***

"Good night, Mommy. I love you," six-year-old Rose whispered, her small arms looping around Cassie's neck. The little girl's curls brushed against her mother's cheek as Cassie tucked the blanket gently around her.

Cassie smiled, warmth flooding her chest. "I love you more, honey. I always have, and I always will."

Rose smiled sleepily, but then her expression turned thoughtful. "Mommy... does Daddy love you too?"

Cassie froze for a second. That question was a dagger she wasn't prepared for. She forced a gentle smile and brushed her daughter's hair from her face. "Of course he does, sweetheart. He just... works a lot. He's busy."

Rose opened her mouth as if to say something, then hesitated. "But-"

"But what?" Cassie asked softly.

"Daddy said I shouldn't tell," Rose murmured, turning to her side. Within seconds, her breathing evened out into the quiet rhythm of sleep.

Cassie lingered beside her for a moment, staring at her daughter's peaceful face. So innocent. So unaware. The ache in her chest spread slowly until it became hard to breathe.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the silence. A strange number flashed on the screen. Normally, she wouldn't answer, not this late, but something in her gut told her to pick up.

"Hello?" she said cautiously.

"Cassia Munroe," a woman's voice replied, calm but cutting, "are you aware that Sienna Vale has been out of a coma for three months now?"

Cassie staggered, her hand trembling as she gripped the phone. Her voice cracked. "No. Sienna is still in a coma. And my name is Cassie, not Cassia. You have the wrong number."

"Cassia," the voice repeated, calm and deliberate, "your best friend has been out of a coma for three months. And your husband is planning to divorce you and marry her."

The air in the room thickened. Cassie let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "No, that's not possible."

Sienna was AS, and so was her husband. That was one of the reasons they couldn't get married, aside from the fact that she always loved her husband, Frederick Jones.

They were childhood friends because his parents took in Cassie when her parents died and Frederick always treated her like a sister, ignoring her feelings for him when she turned eighteen.

His parents tried to play the matchmaker but it didn't work because Frederick was in love with Cassie's best friend, Sienna.

Not until a week before their wedding when Frederick found out about their sickle status - AS. As hard as it was, he still wanted to marry Sienna but she refused.

For reasons never known to Cassie, Frederick had proposed to her and they got married in the event that was meant to be his and Sienna.

Things were fine in the beginning but after Sienna's accident a few months after the wedding, everything changed. Frederick turned cold and distant.

Intimacy had been missing from their marriage ever since she conceived Rose, but she had been the perfect wife. Loyal. Patient. Hopeful.

"Look, who are you? Why are you trying to cause trouble in my home? Don't call this number again," Cassie said firmly, her voice rising.

Not every marriage was supposed to be lovey-dovey. She had accepted that. But a cheating husband? That was a different story.

"I won't," the caller replied. "But you'll come looking for me. And when you do, my name is The Whistleblower."

The line went dead before Cassie could ask another question.

For the first time, she did something she'd never done before. She dialed Frederick's number while he was away from home. It was switched off.

She walked back to Rose's room. Her daughter was fast asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling in rhythm.

Cassie sucked in a breath, her heart pounding. It was already 8 p.m., and Frederick wasn't home. But that was normal. He often slept at the office when work pressure mounted.

Sienna Vale. The name once sounded sweet. Now it tasted bitter on her tongue.

Gathering her courage, Cassie dialed Sienna's number. To her shock, it went through.

After six long years of being unreachable, the line connected. A honeyed voice answered, music thumping in the background. "Hello? Who is this?"

"Sienna... when did you get well?" Cassie asked, her voice barely audible.

The line cut off instantly. When she tried again, it was switched off.

Cassie's heart thudded. Her vision blurred with tears. Only one person had the answers she needed.

The next morning, while preparing Rose for school, Cassie asked casually, "So, what do you and Daddy do when he takes you out?"

Rose looked up, guilt flickering in her eyes. "Dad said I shouldn't tell anyone."

Cassie's heart clenched, but she kept her smile. Her husband and daughter were keeping secrets from her?

"Why not trust me to keep this secret too?" she said gently. "I promise I won't tell anyone."

Rose hesitated. "Aunt Sienna said if you find out, Daddy won't bring me anymore."

"I won't stop you from going where you want with you father," Cassie said, her voice steady. "But you have to tell me, Rose. I'm your mother."

Rose looked down, her black curly hair falling across her cheek. "Aunt Sienna said Dad was supposed to marry her, but you came between them. She said she's pregnant with Daddy's baby and they'll be married soon."

A pool of tears threatened to spill, but Cassie refused to cry in front of her daughter. Rose always wanted a younger sibling, so she could understand her daughter's excitement and reason for keeping her father's secret.

"For how long have you known her?" she asked, her voice barely holding together.

"Not too long. After you celebrated my birthday, she said it was too small and held a bigger one at her house," Rose replied innocently.

So it was true. Just as The Whistleblower had said.

"Good girl. Don't tell them I know. And remember to eat your fruits, okay?"

Rose nodded and hugged her mother. But her next question pierced Cassie's heart like a blade.

"Mom, if Dad and Aunt Sienna get married, can I live with them?"

***

A few hours later, Cassie stood at Frederick's office in downtown Chicago. The receptionist looked up, confused. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are busy. No one is allowed in."

'Mr. and Mrs. Jones.' Frederick never allowed her to change her last name, claiming it was unnecessary, but now she knew it was because he still reserved it for his one and only love, Sienna.

How was she supposed to introduce herself now?

Her heart ached. But she blamed herself for ignoring the signs, for staying silent. Now, it was time to make things right.

At twenty-six, she could still turn her life around.

Cassie turned to leave, but something inside her snapped. She spun back and strode toward Frederick's door with the speed of lightning, pushing it open without knocking.

Sienna was perched on his desk, her back to the door, their lips pressed together.

Startled, Sienna jumped off and moved to the sofa, adjusting her clothes.

"Cassie, what are you doing here?" she asked, avoiding eye contact.

Frederick looked stunned, guilt and relief battling in his expression. He fumbled with his shirt, closing a button. "Cassie, why are you here?"

She had never visited his office before. Seeing him like this was humiliating.

Cassie used to look at him with respect and adoration. Now, only a hollow, skeletal gaze remained in her eyes.

She took a deep breath, silently promising herself she wouldn't cry, no matter how much it hurt.

Once upon a time, Frederick was the love of her life. They grew up in the same house, and she loved him because of how he took care of her, and of course, how handsome he was.

She thought their marriage would be one made in heaven, but he only showed her hell.

Cassie had no idea how intimacy felt like because she hadn't had it for over six years now. All along, she blamed work, but her husband was still etched on his ex, and as soon as she woke up, they set things ablaze.

Now she knew. From the beginning, Frederick never loved her, and never will.

So why had he married her?

The question hung in the air like a thin wire, taut and dangerous.

"I couldn't reach you last night," she said calmly, "so I brought the document to your office."

She was shattered inside, but her composure was flawless. She walked to his desk and placed the envelope down.

Frederick's face hardened. "What document is this?"

He reached for it, but Cassie made it easy.

"I want a divorce."