Chapter 1 Betrayed

PART 1- A NEW KIND OF LIFE

Cassidy Murphy

"We're all so excited! Congratulations Miss Cassidy!"

The whole office was alive. Laughter bounced off the glass walls. Everyone was in high spirits. They had just secured an acquisition deal so rare that even the largest corporations often failed to land it.

"I think this calls for celebration, someone pop open a bottle of champagne!"

Cassie smiled, but her mind was elsewhere. She slipped away from the noise with her phone in hand, eager to share the victory with the one person who mattered most-her husband, Trent.

She dialed his number. Once. Twice. Again. Straight to voicemail.

"Miss Cassidy, aren't you coming back in? The shareholders are asking for you," Daria, her secretary, peeked her head out of the door.

"Something important just came up," Cassie said, forcing a smile. "Enjoy the celebration!"

The only thing on her mind was going home to the love of her life.

Her heart was racing. She only wanted to see Trent. He had to know what she had pulled off-this was the crown jewel, the greatest investment in his company's history.

The elevator hummed down to the underground lot. Soon, she was in her car, driving fast, a giddy grin tugging at her lips.

When she reached home, Cassie's excitement spilled over. She raced upstairs, her heels clicking against the polished floor with her laughter echoing in the wide halls.

Another thing that excited her was the thought of having alone time with him. His parents were in Paris for their regular yearly holiday. Alone at last, with no in-laws under the same roof, she and Trent could rediscover each other.

It had been a while since they were intimate. He barely even touched her.

Trent always had excuses.

Most times he'd say that his parents would hear them and she was always understanding.

Cassie ran upstairs, squealing like a little girl. Trent needed to know what she had pulled off.

She burst into their bedroom with a bright, "Trent!"

And then-

Her world shattered.

Trent's body hovered over another woman. The moans filled the room, ugly and raw. Cassie froze, her mouth dry, her breath breaking.

"Trent?" Her voice cracked as she whispered to herself.

He shifted, and the woman's face came into view.

"Misty?" Cassie staggered back. Her sister.

This couldn't be real. It had to be a cruel dream.

Her husband, was on another woman? Her breath hitched and she tried to steady it. The moaning sounds got more intense by the second.

Still in shock, she screamed out his name. "Trent?"

Cassie gapped for air. This was a prank.

Trent would never do this to her, he would never cheat on her. And with her sister? It was impossible.

"Cassie, if you're not going to join us, then leave. Close the fucking door on your way out!" he shouted.

Her whole body shook violently. He didn't even try to deny it. He wasn't even sorry, Trent just continued thrusting, acting as if his wife didn't just walk in on him.

Her knees buckled. Her chest caved in. The man she had loved, trusted, built her world around-he wasn't even sorry. And Misty... her own blood...she had no shame.

Cassie stumbled back, tears streaming, her body trembling like a leaf in a storm.

She ran.

Down the stairs, into her car, out onto the road. Her sobs choked her.

Cassidy was in immense pain. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

"It's all a dream!" That's what she kept telling herself as she got back into her car. Cassie raced to her best friend's house. This wasn't real.

She and Trent had been married for three years, three whole years.

Cassie's tears blurred her vision further as she sped down the highway. The image was seared into her mind, over and over again.

She punched into her dashboard, "No, no! It's not true," as if pain could wake her from the nightmare.

As she drove, her sobs grew louder, and her grip on the steering wheel loosened. Suddenly, her hands slipped, and the wheel spun out of control. The car moved sharply to the right, and Cassie's heart sank.

She tried to correct the wheel, but it was too late. The car swerved, metal screeched against the guardrail.

The airbag deployed with a loud thud. Cassie's head snapped forward, and she felt a jolt of pain.

A deafening bang.

Darkness.

...

Cassie opened her eyes to blinding white light. Pain tore through her chest and head. She was in a hospital. She woke up, dazed and disoriented.

Her eyes, wincing as the bright hospital lights pierced through her brain. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her head and chest, forcing her back onto the pillow.

As she looked around, she saw Cora, her best friend, sitting beside her hospital bed. Cora's eyes were red-rimmed. It looked like she hadn't gotten enough sleep.

"Cassie, oh my god, I was so scared," Cora said. Her voice was trembling. "I've been here, waiting for you to wake up."

Cassie tried to speak, but her throat was dry and sore. Cora quickly grabbed a glass of water from the bedside table and helped Cassie take a sip.

"What...what happened?" Cassie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You were in a car accident," Cora replied gently. "You lost control of the wheel and crashed. The police said you were lucky to be alive."

"Trent! Where's Trent? How long have I been here?"

"Three days," Cora said, "The nurses tried getting in touch with your husband but he was too busy to come."

"That's not right. That can't be right!" She muttered under her breath. She was still in denial.

"Where's my phone? Call him, call him now! I want to see my husband!"

Cora tried to calm her down, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Cassie, baby, please..."

But Cassie shook her off, "I don't care about your 'please'! I want to see him now!"

Cassie yanked the IV fluid out of her hand, completely ignoring Cora. "I'm going to find him myself!" she screamed, throwing off the hospital blanket and swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

Cora rushed to grab Cassie, trying to hold her back. "Cassie, stop! You can't just get out of bed like that!"

Cassie broke down immediately and started crying. Cora quickly wrapped her arms around her, holding her close as she sobbed.

The nurse, who had been watching from the doorway, stepped forward, voice soft as a lullaby. "let's get you back into bed, okay?" she said gently, helping Cora guide Cassie back to the hospital bed.

As Cassie settled back into the bed, the nurse had this pitiful look on her face. "I think we need to calm down a bit, don't you?" she said, adjusting Cassie's pillows.

Just then, the nurse's expression changed, and she said, "Actually, I have something for you. Your husband just called, and someone dropped off a package for you."

Cassie's tears slowed, and she looked up at the nurse. "For me? What is it?" she asked.

The nurse held up a plain brown envelope. "This was dropped off at the front desk. It's addressed to you."

Her shaking hands tore it open, slowly. Cassie stared at the papers before her. There was no way! For a moment, her heart ceased.

Her chest hollowed.

Divorce papers.

On her hospital bed.

From the man she thought was her forever.