I Let Them Think They Won - Chapter 14: Chapter 14
You are reading I Let Them Think They Won, Chapter 14: Chapter 14. Read more chapters of I Let Them Think They Won.
Cassie's POV
Two years. That's how long it took for me to rise from the ashes of my old life. The scars were still there, but they didn't hurt anymore. When I thought about where I'd been, all I could do was smile. The chains that once held me down? Gone.
Music saved me. At first, it was just melodies I whispered into the dark, trying to stitch my broken heart back together. Then, somehow, those songs found their way to millions of people online. I wasn't a household name, and I wasn't rolling in money—yet—but I had something better. I had happiness.
And I had them—my fans. People from all over the world who connected with my music. Tonight was the biggest moment of my new life: my first real concert. The venue was packed with people who had been with me every step of the way, who bought tickets just to hear me sing live. I'd stayed off social media since I left… but tonight, I was stepping back into the light.
Just before heading out, I checked my phone, scrolling through the news. Then one headline stopped me cold.
"Cornell Group Announces New President: Matthew Cornell to Take Over Leadership."
My breath hitched. Matthew? Max's adopted brother? That didn't add up. Max hated him, and Matthew wasn't even the rightful heir. If he was taking over… something must have happened to Max.
Before I could stop myself, I typed Max's name into the search bar. The results loaded instantly. The first article hit me like a punch to the gut.
"Maxwell Cornell Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Mistress Violet Hayes."
My hands went numb. The words blurred as I forced myself to keep reading. The murder happened two days after I left. Violet—pregnant with his child—had been beaten to death with a golf club. Max was arrested on the spot, his rage spiraling into something irreversible.
God.
A cold shiver ran down my spine as I remembered those last days with him—the lies, the betrayal, the hollow look in his eyes. I'd gotten out. I'd divorced him. And now… he was in prison for murder?
I hadn't looked him up in two years. I'd assumed he was living happily with Violet—the woman he'd chosen over me. But instead, he'd destroyed everything. Including himself.
The article said the murder happened just two days after I left. I stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of it. Did they fight? Did he snap? I'd walked away so they could be together. How had it ended like this? My stomach twisted as I stared at the gruesome photo of Violet.
"Hey."
A voice snapped me out of my daze. I flinched, my phone slipping from my fingers. Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back to reality.
"What's wrong?" Daniel's voice was soft but edged with worry.
I swallowed hard, forcing a smile as I turned to him. "Nothing," I lied, leaning in to kiss him. His lips were warm, steadying me, reminding me of the life I'd built—far away from that nightmare.
"You sure?" He searched my face, his brow furrowed.
I nodded quickly, shoving my phone into my bag. "I'm fine," I said, grabbing his hand. "We should go. The concert's about to start."
Daniel still looked unsure, but he didn't push. "Alright, let's go. Everyone's waiting for you."
As we walked toward the stage, I squeezed his hand, stealing one more kiss before stepping into the spotlight. This was my life now—music, love, healing.
Max was a ghost from a past I'd buried. And I wasn't about to let him haunt me again.
Backstage buzzed with energy as my team made last-minute adjustments. Daniel stayed close, his fingers laced with mine, his eyes full of nothing but pride.
I took a deep breath.
Time to begin.
Two years. That's how long it took for me to rise from the ashes of my old life. The scars were still there, but they didn't hurt anymore. When I thought about where I'd been, all I could do was smile. The chains that once held me down? Gone.
Music saved me. At first, it was just melodies I whispered into the dark, trying to stitch my broken heart back together. Then, somehow, those songs found their way to millions of people online. I wasn't a household name, and I wasn't rolling in money—yet—but I had something better. I had happiness.
And I had them—my fans. People from all over the world who connected with my music. Tonight was the biggest moment of my new life: my first real concert. The venue was packed with people who had been with me every step of the way, who bought tickets just to hear me sing live. I'd stayed off social media since I left… but tonight, I was stepping back into the light.
Just before heading out, I checked my phone, scrolling through the news. Then one headline stopped me cold.
"Cornell Group Announces New President: Matthew Cornell to Take Over Leadership."
My breath hitched. Matthew? Max's adopted brother? That didn't add up. Max hated him, and Matthew wasn't even the rightful heir. If he was taking over… something must have happened to Max.
Before I could stop myself, I typed Max's name into the search bar. The results loaded instantly. The first article hit me like a punch to the gut.
"Maxwell Cornell Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Mistress Violet Hayes."
My hands went numb. The words blurred as I forced myself to keep reading. The murder happened two days after I left. Violet—pregnant with his child—had been beaten to death with a golf club. Max was arrested on the spot, his rage spiraling into something irreversible.
God.
A cold shiver ran down my spine as I remembered those last days with him—the lies, the betrayal, the hollow look in his eyes. I'd gotten out. I'd divorced him. And now… he was in prison for murder?
I hadn't looked him up in two years. I'd assumed he was living happily with Violet—the woman he'd chosen over me. But instead, he'd destroyed everything. Including himself.
The article said the murder happened just two days after I left. I stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of it. Did they fight? Did he snap? I'd walked away so they could be together. How had it ended like this? My stomach twisted as I stared at the gruesome photo of Violet.
"Hey."
A voice snapped me out of my daze. I flinched, my phone slipping from my fingers. Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me back to reality.
"What's wrong?" Daniel's voice was soft but edged with worry.
I swallowed hard, forcing a smile as I turned to him. "Nothing," I lied, leaning in to kiss him. His lips were warm, steadying me, reminding me of the life I'd built—far away from that nightmare.
"You sure?" He searched my face, his brow furrowed.
I nodded quickly, shoving my phone into my bag. "I'm fine," I said, grabbing his hand. "We should go. The concert's about to start."
Daniel still looked unsure, but he didn't push. "Alright, let's go. Everyone's waiting for you."
As we walked toward the stage, I squeezed his hand, stealing one more kiss before stepping into the spotlight. This was my life now—music, love, healing.
Max was a ghost from a past I'd buried. And I wasn't about to let him haunt me again.
Backstage buzzed with energy as my team made last-minute adjustments. Daniel stayed close, his fingers laced with mine, his eyes full of nothing but pride.
I took a deep breath.
Time to begin.
End of I Let Them Think They Won Chapter 14. Continue reading Chapter 15 or return to I Let Them Think They Won book page.