Page 36 of Vows of Deceit
His jaw tightened.
“I tried to forgive you,” she continued, her voice trembling only slightly. “Even when I suspected. Even when I knew. I thought love could be stronger than betrayal.”
“It was never just—”
“It was never just sex?” she cut in, bitter. “Then what was it, Damien? Love? Lust? Or just cowardice?”
He stepped forward. “I was weak.”
She met his gaze. “You were cruel.”
His lips parted, but no words came.
“I loved you,” she whispered, eyes glistening. “All of me loved you. I built my world around you. And you set it on fire, piece by piece.”
He reached out. “Cass—”
She stepped back. “No. You don’t get to reach for me now.”
She pulled a white envelope from her bag and placed it on the desk.
“Divorce papers.”
The words hit like a blow. He stared at the envelope, then at her.
“I deserve better,” she said.
He nodded slowly. “You do.”
Cassie turned to go, then paused.
“When they ask you what happened, tell them the truth,” she said. “Tell them you shattered the heart of the woman who would’ve given you everything.”
Then she left.
Hours later, her statement hit the press.
“Today, I officially ended my marriage to Damien Sterling. While I won’t speak further on the private pain I endured, I will say this, women deserve honesty, not deception. Love, not humiliation. I choose to move forward not as a victim, but as a woman who finally chose herself.”
The public reaction was swift and fierce.
Cassie King became a symbol overnight and not just of scandal, but of strength.
Talk shows debated her boldness. Social media crowned her a queen. Brands reached out. Editorials were written.
Meanwhile, Damien withdrew from the public eye. Photos surfaced of him alone in his office, his face a ghost of the man once known for charm and dominance.
Kelly? She disappeared entirely. Rumors swirled, but no confirmation surfaced.
Cassie didn’t hide. She moved forward. One step at a time.
Chapter Twenty Eight
What Comes After
Damien’s POV
The world was silent now. His phone still buzzed with unanswered calls, emails flooded his inbox, and every news outlet had his face plastered on their home page but inside Damien Sterling, everything had gone quiet.
