Chapter 2 The Mistress Revenge

Chapter 2

The mistress Revenge

The golden light of dawn streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow on Cassandra's delicate, porcelain-like face. She slowly opened her eyes, only to immediately furrow her willow-leaf brows in discomfort.

Pain-a sharp, searing agony radiated from her lower body, as if she had just run a marathon. Every muscle ached, her limbs felt leaden, and her head throbbed dully. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to roll over-and then froze, her eyes widening in shock at the sight of a completely naked stranger lying beside her.

Reality crashed down on her in an instant. A quick glance at herself confirmed her worst fear: her clothes were in disarray, barely covering her. One horrifying thought consumed her-she had been violated.

First, she had been thrown out by that scumbag ex yesterday, and now this? Rage surged through her veins. Without hesitation, she kicked the man beside her off the bed, scrambled to grab her clothes, and hastily dressed. Snatching the nearest object at hand, she swung it wildly at him, her voice trembling with fury.

"You disgusting pig! How dare you take advantage of me while I was asleep? I'll kill you!"

Tony had been deep in slumber when he was abruptly jolted awake-first by a brutal kick, then by a flurry of blows. His temper erupted like a volcano. In one swift motion, he seized Cassandra by the collar, his voice a low, dangerous growl.

"Woman. Do you have a death wish?"

Cassandra froze mid-swing at the sound of that chillingly familiar voice. Her breath hitched as her eyes locked onto the devastatingly handsome face before her-one that could make both gods and mortals weep. Her arms stiffened mid-air, her teeth chattering as she stammered, "C-CEO?"

Disbelief crashed over her like a tidal wave. The man who had assaulted her last night... was her boss? This was worse than being struck by lightning!

Tony radiated an icy aura as he coldly shoved her away, his voice dripping with frost.

"Trying to seduce me, hm?"

What?!

Cassandra gaped at him, stunned. How could he twist this around and accuse her of seducing him? A wave of bitter injustice rose in her chest, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"How can you say that? Last night, you were the one who-" who forced yourself on me, despite my resistance!

"Then what should I say?" Tony replied coolly, buttoning his shirt with infuriating calm before rising to his full height, looking down at her with disdain. "Sneaking into my office in the middle of the night, stripping naked-wasn't that your way of throwing yourself at me? Cassandra, you've been my secretary for five years. I never knew you had such ambitions."

She had always been so proper, so professional. Who would've guessed she'd pull a stunt like this? He had to admit, she was clever-she must have known he'd return for documents tonight.

Cassandra's heart plummeted as she frantically scanned her surroundings. Mortification burned through her. Last night had been pitch-black; to avoid alerting security, she hadn't turned on the lights. Her office was right next to the CEO's-she must have stumbled into the wrong room.

Just moved to the new company, and she hadn't even familiarized herself with the layout yet. Good grief, might as well strike her dead with a bolt of lightning right now!

Seeing her stunned silence, Tony said expressionlessly, "Name your price."

"Price?" Cassandra looked at him blankly.

"Hmph." He sneered. "You went through all that trouble to sleep with me-wasn't it just for money? Or did you actually expect me to take responsibility? Go buy emergency contraception later." Last night had been the first time in over twenty years he'd lost control-not only had he failed to restrain himself, but he'd even...

Cassandra had always known Tony was cold and ruthless. Still, the words stung. Had five years as his secretary taught him nothing about who she really was?

She was the one who'd been wronged, yet now she was being painted as some scheming seductress. How laughable.

Slowly rising to her feet, she forced back her tears, her clear eyes meeting his defiantly. "Keep your money. I'll clean up and go buy the pill myself."

She wanted to explain, but where would she even begin? Let him think what he wanted. As long as she could keep this job, that would be a small mercy.

That apartment the Phoebe couple had snatched from her-she'd bought it with a loan shark breathing down her neck. If she lost her job now, she might as well dig her own grave.

Silence stretched between them. Gritting her teeth against the soreness in her body, Cassandra painstakingly gathered her clothes.

Tony lounged lazily in the plush chair, his sharp gaze trailing her. The pale skin still bore marks from his frenzy the night before. The memory of her softness, her intoxicating responsiveness-damn it, he was hard again.

His eyes darkened. Her body fascinated him in ways he couldn't explain. Watching the delicate sway of her slender frame, he fought the urge to take her once more.

He scowled inwardly. What the hell was he thinking? Suppressing the restless heat, his chiseled face remained impassive.

Stained by Love

Dazed for a few seconds, Cassy hurriedly put on her clothes and followed him out.

At this point, there was no time to worry about appearances. From his tone, it seemed he would help cover the surgery fees. Once they left the storage room, Tony instructed her to wait outside the operating room while he walked off alone.

She had barely been standing outside the OR for two minutes when a group of people in white coats approached. The man leading them was someone she recognized-the hospital director.

Five hours later, the surgeon emerged, removing his mask. "The operation was successful. A nurse will brief you on post-op care shortly. However, the patient must avoid any further stress for now."

"Understood. Thank you," she replied, moving forward to see Phoebe Andy-only to be shoved aside by Phoebe Wendy. "What are you doing here? Trying to finish what you started?"

"Brother," Cassy pleaded urgently, "I just want to see Dad."

Her heavily pregnant sister-in-law, Da Silva, gently pulled her aside and whispered, "Linda, go home for now. Your brother's too upset. Come back later."

Seeing no other choice, she relented. "Then please take care of Dad for me." With one last worried glance at Phoebe Andy, she turned and left.

Lost in thought, she kept her head down as she walked-until she collided with someone at the corner. She opened her mouth to apologize, then froze when she looked up. He was still here?

"Not satisfied earlier? Looking for a second round?" Tony narrowed his eyes, his words crude yet delivered with an unsettling elegance.

Cassy wanted to snap back, but she knew arguing with this cold, ruthless man would only humiliate her further. Remembering his earlier help, she forced out a polite response. "Thank you for assisting me. I'll repay the money as soon as possible."

"Assisting you? Don't flatter yourself." His gaze was mocking. "Consider it compensation for one night."

She sucked in a sharp breath. She had always known he had a talent for cutting people down without remorse, but this level of cruelty still stung.

"I'll return the money tomorrow," she said stiffly, stepping around him-only for him to block her path. "Did I say you could leave? Since when do you ignore your superiors?"

Cassy lifted her chin, her clear eyes meeting his without submission. "If I recall correctly, you're no longer my superior. I've already submitted my resignation."

Tony let out a cold snort, looking at her as if she were a fool. "Did I agree to this? Disappearing for a whole day without reason counts as absenteeism. HR will deduct triple your pay for today."

What? Cassandra looked up at him in disbelief. "I embarrassed the company, and you still want me to stay?"

She was more confused than ever. Despite his obvious disdain for her, he refused to let her go.

"I don't mix personal feelings with business," he said coolly. "Your private life disgusts me, but your professional skills justify your salary. I only keep people who can create value for me."

With that, he turned to leave but paused at the door. "If there's no coffee on my desk by eight tomorrow, don't bother coming in." He hesitated, then added, "And don't bother returning that suit either. I don't wear hand-me-downs."

Cassandra had been on the verge of gratitude, but his last remark nearly choked her with rage.

Leaving the hospital, she had nowhere to go. All her belongings were still at home, forcing her to return. As she approached her doorstep, neighbors whispered and pointed. Her fists clenched at her sides, knuckles white with fury. She swore to herself that Seth and that wretched woman would pay for what they'd done.

But before she could even begin her revenge, the despicable pair struck again.

When her older brother and sister-in-law returned from the hospital and showed her the video circulating online, Cassandra felt like vomiting blood. Lydia had gone beyond the public humiliation-she'd fabricated nude photos and even edited a fake video, all just to seize the apartment and car?

Gritting her teeth, Cassandra spat out their names like curses. "Seth! Lydia!"

Phoebe Wendy glared at her, his voice thick with reproach. "What would Dad say if he saw this? How could you stoop so low?"

"Brother, they framed me!" she protested. "Those photos and videos are fake! I dated him for five years, but I've always been careful with my reputation. Don't you know what kind of person I am?"

Her explanation cooled his anger somewhat, though his expression remained stern. "Then what's this about the apartment?"