Chapter 3 A tool

Cassie sat in the cold, sterile holding cell. She was still in shock. How on earth did she end up here?

Being accused of embezzlement and money laundering, it was way above Trent's thinking capacity. Someone must have put him up to it.

Before she could process her thoughts further, a police officer came to escort her to an interrogation room. Cassie stood up, with her wrists still handcuffed, and followed the officer to an interrogation room.

A middle-aged man with stubble and a stern expression, was already seated in one of the chairs. "Please, sit down, Ms. Murphy," the detective said, nodding to the other chair.

"Silverwood," she corrected as she sat down, her eyes fixed on the detective. They weren't divorced yet so Silverwood was still her last name. "I want to call my lawyer," she said.

The detective nodded. "I am not aware that you are a Silverwood. I will keep referring to you as Murphy till I verify that information." He sized her for a moment, "You can call your lawyer after we're done here. But first, I need to ask you some questions."

Cassie hesitated unsure of what to do.

Just then, Rachel, Cassie's lawyer came in. "I'm so sorry I'm late, Cora just told me what happened. I tried to get here as fast as I could" Rachel said, giving Cassie a reassuring smile. "Let's get down to business."

"What happened to Nolen? And aren't you a divorce attorney?" Cassie whispered.

"Nolen was a no-show! And I have a background in criminal law. I'll be your stand-in till your attorney comes." Rachel whispered back.

Cassie nodded. "How about Cora?" she asked.

"Meeting, she said to come to her apartment after the comedy show is over."

Cassie chucked. Cora would always have her back, always.

"Very well. Let's begin." The detective nodded curtly.

He pulled out a stack of papers, which Cassie seemed to recognize. They were the audit papers from Silverwood Industries.

She sensed some foul play in the company months prior so she secretly performed an audit with the internal audit department.

What she found was shocking. That was one of the things she wanted to inform Trent about. His uncle had been stealing from the company.

The detective presented the document as evidence, Cassie realized that something was off.

"These numbers don't add up," Cassie said, frowning. "And this transaction...I never made that."

The detective smiled "I'm afraid the evidence says otherwise, Ms. Murphy."

Rachel spoke up. "I'd like to see the original documents, please."

The detective hesitated, before handing over the papers. Rachel scanned them quickly. Her expression grew increasingly concerned.

"Cassie, I think we have a problem," Rachel said quietly.

The detective leaned forward. "Here's the deal, Ms. Murphy. If you want to avoid a very public and embarrassing preliminary hearing, you'll agree to pay back the money you...ah...borrowed from the company."

Cassie's eyes widened. "That's blackmail!"

The detective shrugged. "Call it what you like. But if you don't cooperate, things are going to get very ugly, very quickly."

"We're not going to fall for this. We'll take our chances in court." Rachel said.

"Very well. Let's do it the hard way."

Cassie looked at the detective in question, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Then, like a puzzle piece clicking into place, Cassie realized the truth.

She had been set up.

Trent had orchestrated this entire thing. He had manipulated the audit, fabricated evidence, and convinced the detective to go along with it.

Rachel's voice broke into Cassie's thoughts. "Cassie, are you okay?"

Cassie nodded. "I'm fine," she said, defeated. "Rachel, were not going to court, ask them how much they need from me." She had no energy to fight. Cassie was exhausted.

"Twenty million dollars?" she repeated, her voice shaking. Cassie's eyes widened in shock as the detective named the amount.

The detective nodded. "That's right, Ms. Murphy. Twenty million dollars. If you pay that amount, we'll consider this matter closed, and you'll be free to go."

Cassie felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Twenty million dollars was everything she had. Her entire life savings. She had worked hard for that money, and now they were asking her to hand it over?

But what choice did she have? She couldn't afford to fight this in court, not with Trent's resources arrayed against her. And even if she did fight, there was no guarantee she'd win.

With a heavy heart, Cassie made the decision. "I'll pay it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She called her accountant who wired the money immediately.

The detective nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Very well, Ms. Murphy. We'll take care of the paperwork."

Cassie was released from custody within the hour, the charges against her dropped.

She had just been robbed of everything she had, and she knew that Trent was behind it all.

It was a setup. Trent had manipulated the system to punish her, but why? Now, Cassie was left with nothing.

She had lost everything: her reputation, her family, and her business.

Cassie wondered what Trent stood to gain by pushing her out. Did they want control of the company? Were they seeking revenge?

She also couldn't help but think about what she had done to deserve this treatment. Had she been too successful? Too independent? At this point she was too hungry to think.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Your card has been declined." The barista's voice broke her out of her reverie.

Cassie stood in line at Greenly, her favorite café, waiting to order her usual coffee and pastry. When it was her turn, she handed over her card to pay, but the barista's expression turned apologetic.

Cassie's face flushed with embarrassment as she frantically searched her purse for another card. But before she could find one, a smooth voice spoke up behind her.

"Allow me."

Cassie turned to see a tall, handsome man dressed in luxury, from his Tom Ford shoes to his Charvet shirt and bespoke suit. She recognized the designers instantly, a habit she'd developed from handling Trent's wardrobe.

But Cassie's pride kicked in, and she shook her head. "No, thank you. I've got this."

The man raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to being refused. "Are you sure? It's no trouble at all."

Cassie stood her ground, despite feeling a twinge of embarrassment. "I'm positive. Thank you, though."

"Try it again," she said to the barista, embarrassment consumed her.

The man nodded and smiled. "Suit yourself. But please make it quick, I have somewhere to be."

A feeling of unease crept over her. Had Trent done something to her accounts? Had he frozen her assets?

Cassie's face flushed with embarrassment, but she refused to give up. "It's fine," she said, digging through her purse for another card. "I have other cards."

She handed her another card. This was her father's company card.

Cassie couldn't help but make a sly remark. "I guess rich people always need to make other people feel small."

The barista looked uncomfortable, but Cassie just smiled sweetly.

Before her eyes the card declined. The barista looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, ma'am. It's still being declined."

But as the barista handed her back the second declined card, Cassie's smile began to falter.

What was going on? Why weren't any of her cards working?

Would her father abandon her like this? She didn't know, and that uncertainty scared her.

Her heart stumbled inside her like it had forgotten how to beat. A chill crept up her arms, as if the café itself had turned its back on her.

Cassie's stomach twisted as the third card was declined. A sheen of humiliation burned across her face, but she forced her chin high. Pride was the only armor she had left.

"Can this rich man pay for your coffee and go his way now?" The stranger's tone was calm, almost bored, as though her struggle was nothing more than a minor inconvenience delaying his day.

All the sound in the Cafe seemed to fade into a buzzing noise. She screamed internally.

Cassie's throat tightened. She wanted to refuse again, to claw her dignity back, but the barista's pitying glance hollowed her out.

"Yes, please," she said finally, the words like ash on her tongue.

The man handed over his black card with a flick of his wrist. His jaw was set, eyes unreadable, lips pressed into a thin line that showed neither irritation nor kindness-only distaste at having to intervene.

Cassie hated him for it.

When the barista returned his card and handed her the steaming cup, Cassie tried to reclaim her footing. "Thank you," she said, her voice clipped. "But I insist on paying you back. Can I have your card, please?"

The stranger's gaze dropped to her, slow and deliberate. "Most people just say thank you and move on." His voice was smooth, but edged with a blade she could feel. Still, he slid a card across the counter without breaking eye contact.

Cassie snatched it, needing to prove she wasn't some helpless charity case.

Before she could glance at it, the café screen lit up with the evening news.

The news anchor's voice was loud and clear, and Cassie's eyes widened as she read the headline: "Silverwood Enterprises CEO Announces Wedding to Murphy Magnolias' Only Daughter." Cassie's chest tightened as she stared at the glowing screen. The words on the news banner burned into her eyes like fire.

Cassie's heart sank, and she felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Trent was marrying her sister? It couldn't be.

Her thoughts refused to stand still; they ran wild, crashing into each other like angry waves. Questions filled her mind, each one heavier than the last. Why her sister? Why now? And why had her father left her to drown alone?

Cassie's fingers tightened around the stranger's card. It felt like the only solid thing she could hold, while everything else in her life crumbled to dust.

Her mind was reeling. What was going on? Trent. Her sister. The betrayal wrapped itself around her ribs, squeezing until she could hardly breathe.

And now, had her father cut her off?