Chapter 6

The silence inside the Maybach was absolute. Cassie could hear the blood rushing in her own ears.

She gripped the fabric of her torn dress, her knuckles turning white. She braced herself for Dane to yell, to order the driver to pull over, to throw her out onto the highway.

Dane didn't move. He sat perfectly still against the leather seat. His dark eyes remained locked on her face, completely devoid of surprise or anger.

"And?" Dane asked. His voice was flat, carrying no inflection whatsoever.

Cassie's eyes went wide. The single word completely shattered her defensive wall.

"And?" Cassie repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. "I am a fraud. I am a stranger with a ruined face. They tricked you." She pointed aggressively at her scarred cheek, trying to force a reaction out of him.

Dane's jaw clenched. He suddenly leaned forward.

His massive frame closed the distance between them in a second. The physical pressure of his body forced Cassie to press her back hard against the car door.

He reached out. His long, calloused fingers clamped firmly around her jaw. He tilted her head up, forcing her to look directly into his eyes.

Their faces were inches apart. She could feel the heat of his breath on her lips.

His thumb moved up. The rough pad of his finger slowly traced the jagged edge of her fake scar. The friction sent a sharp, terrifying thrill straight down her spine. Her heart began to hammer violently against her ribs.

"Are you sure you don't remember?" Dane asked. His voice was a low, dangerous whisper that vibrated in her chest. His eyes bored into hers, searching frantically for something hidden in her gaze.

Cassie stared back at him, her brow furrowing in deep confusion. She frantically searched her memory, trying to find any connection to this terrifying billionaire.

Nothing. Her mind was completely blank.

"Remember what?" Cassie whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Dane stared at the pure, unfiltered confusion in her eyes.

A heavy, dark shadow of disappointment crashed over his features. The intense fire in his eyes died out instantly. The muscles in his jaw ticked.

His fingers loosened their grip on her jaw. He pulled his hand back and retreated to his side of the car. He turned his head, staring out the tinted window. His sharp profile looked entirely carved from ice.

Cassie rubbed her jaw where his fingers had pressed. The skin felt hot.

"If you want to cancel the marriage, we can sign the divorce papers today," Cassie said, testing the waters, trying to regain some control of the situation.

Dane's head snapped back around.

His eyes were feral. The suppressed violence in his posture exploded back to the surface.

"Never say that word to me again," Dane snarled. The sheer aggression in his voice made Cassie shrink back against the door.

"As long as you have that birthmark on your neck, you are my wife," he declared, his tone leaving absolutely no room for debate.

Cassie swallowed hard. Her mind spun with questions, but the heavy, suffocating aura radiating from him forced her to keep her mouth shut.

The Maybach exited the highway and plunged into the chaotic traffic of Manhattan. The neon lights from the storefronts reflected off the tinted windows, casting harsh, moving shadows across Dane's face. Neither of them spoke a single word.

The car finally pulled through the massive iron gates of the Frederick Manor and glided to a stop in front of the main fountain.

The driver opened Dane's door.

Dane stepped out of the car. He didn't wait for her. He didn't look back. He shoved his hands into his pockets and walked up the front steps with long, aggressive strides.

Cassie slid across the seat and climbed out. The cool evening wind whipped her torn dress around her legs. She watched his broad back disappear through the front doors.

She walked into the brightly lit foyer. Bradshaw immediately stepped forward to take her coat, but she waved him off.

She looked down the long hallway. The heavy mahogany door to Dane's study was slightly ajar.

Cassie stood in the foyer for a long moment. Her high heels clicked sharply against the hardwood floor as she made her decision and walked toward the study.

She pushed the heavy door open.

The rich scent of cedar, old paper, and expensive tobacco filled her lungs. Dane was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to her.

He held a crystal glass of whiskey in his right hand. He took a slow sip, not turning around when he heard her enter.

"Why?" Cassie asked, her voice cutting through the quiet room. "Why are you so obsessed with a stranger?"

Dane slowly lowered the glass.

He turned around. The dim light from the desk lamp cast deep shadows across his face, making his expression impossible to read.

He walked over to the massive oak desk. He placed both hands flat on the polished wood and leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers.

"I can destroy the Gilmore family completely," Dane said, his voice smooth and laced with dark temptation. "I can give you everything."

Cassie's breath hitched. The offer was massive. Her eyes widened slightly.

"But," Dane continued, his eyes narrowing, "you have to remember where we met. On your own."

Cassie's eyebrows pulled together. A sharp ache throbbed behind her temples. The condition was impossible.

Before she could open her mouth to argue, a violent buzzing sound erupted from her handbag.

The sudden noise shattered the heavy tension in the room.

Cassie pulled her phone out. The screen lit up the dim space.

The name "Jamey" flashed across the screen.

A cold, vicious wave of hatred washed over Cassie. Her grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles ached. Her eyes turned to absolute ice.