I Let Them Think They Won - Chapter 5: Chapter 5
You are reading I Let Them Think They Won, Chapter 5: Chapter 5. Read more chapters of I Let Them Think They Won.
Cassie's POV
I thought I was prepared for anything—until the sight in front of me ripped the ground from under my feet.
There they were. Max leaned in, his lips meeting Violet's, and the world tilted. My breath hitched, my pulse roaring in my ears. Anger and disgust coiled in my gut, hot and suffocating. My skin prickled like a thousand needles, bile burning the back of my throat. I wanted to look away, but my eyes refused to obey.
"Don't come to the house," Max murmured as he pulled back, his voice low. "Cassie might get suspicious."
Violet tilted her head, that sly smirk curling her lips. "She's probably asleep by now," she purred, shrugging as her fingers trailed down his chest. "And honestly? It doesn't even matter."
"It matters," Max said, his voice rough. "My wife will always be my wife."
A bitter laugh tore from me before I could stop it. And then—Violet stepped closer, peeling off her shirt, pressing herself against him.
My hands shook as I snapped the laptop shut. The room spun, nausea crashing over me in icy waves. I staggered to the couch, collapsing into the cushions, arms wrapped tight around myself like I could hold the shattered pieces together.
"How could I have been so blind?" The words slipped out, raw and broken, swallowed by the suffocating silence.
I swiped at the tears, forcing my head back, refusing to let more fall. My face burned, and then—laughter. Sharp. Hollow. It echoed through the room as my gaze landed on our wedding photo hanging on the wall.
A joke. That's all it was now. Every promise, every vow—broken. And soon, our marriage would be nothing but dust.
The man I trusted. The man I never thought could do this to me.
A muffled voice cut through the quiet.
"Do you want me to drop you off?" Max asked, casual as if he hadn't just ripped my heart out.
That was it.
I moved before I could think, my grip tightening on the doorknob. Spine straight, shoulders back—I pushed the door open.
They hadn't heard me. Too wrapped up in each other, of course.
Violet startled, but my eyes never wavered from Max. I kept my face calm, my voice steady, even as fury clawed at my ribs.
"Working late, are we?" I asked, lips curving in a smile that didn't touch my eyes.
Max stiffened. "Uh… yeah. Just reviewing some documents. You're still awake?"
I stepped closer, leaning against the doorframe like I hadn't just witnessed my life implode. "Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd check if you needed anything." A pause. "But I see you've been… occupied."
His smile faltered for half a second before he recovered. "Just some paperwork taking longer than expected. Won't be much longer."
Violet flinched. Max shot her a warning look.
They thought I didn't know.
I almost laughed.
Let them play their little game. Soon, I'd let her have him.
Our marriage was already over.
I beamed at Max like nothing was wrong. "Well," I said, flicking a glance at Violet—busy pretending to shuffle papers. "Was I interrupting? Just wanted to check on you."
And then I smiled.
I thought I was prepared for anything—until the sight in front of me ripped the ground from under my feet.
There they were. Max leaned in, his lips meeting Violet's, and the world tilted. My breath hitched, my pulse roaring in my ears. Anger and disgust coiled in my gut, hot and suffocating. My skin prickled like a thousand needles, bile burning the back of my throat. I wanted to look away, but my eyes refused to obey.
"Don't come to the house," Max murmured as he pulled back, his voice low. "Cassie might get suspicious."
Violet tilted her head, that sly smirk curling her lips. "She's probably asleep by now," she purred, shrugging as her fingers trailed down his chest. "And honestly? It doesn't even matter."
"It matters," Max said, his voice rough. "My wife will always be my wife."
A bitter laugh tore from me before I could stop it. And then—Violet stepped closer, peeling off her shirt, pressing herself against him.
My hands shook as I snapped the laptop shut. The room spun, nausea crashing over me in icy waves. I staggered to the couch, collapsing into the cushions, arms wrapped tight around myself like I could hold the shattered pieces together.
"How could I have been so blind?" The words slipped out, raw and broken, swallowed by the suffocating silence.
I swiped at the tears, forcing my head back, refusing to let more fall. My face burned, and then—laughter. Sharp. Hollow. It echoed through the room as my gaze landed on our wedding photo hanging on the wall.
A joke. That's all it was now. Every promise, every vow—broken. And soon, our marriage would be nothing but dust.
The man I trusted. The man I never thought could do this to me.
A muffled voice cut through the quiet.
"Do you want me to drop you off?" Max asked, casual as if he hadn't just ripped my heart out.
That was it.
I moved before I could think, my grip tightening on the doorknob. Spine straight, shoulders back—I pushed the door open.
They hadn't heard me. Too wrapped up in each other, of course.
Violet startled, but my eyes never wavered from Max. I kept my face calm, my voice steady, even as fury clawed at my ribs.
"Working late, are we?" I asked, lips curving in a smile that didn't touch my eyes.
Max stiffened. "Uh… yeah. Just reviewing some documents. You're still awake?"
I stepped closer, leaning against the doorframe like I hadn't just witnessed my life implode. "Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd check if you needed anything." A pause. "But I see you've been… occupied."
His smile faltered for half a second before he recovered. "Just some paperwork taking longer than expected. Won't be much longer."
Violet flinched. Max shot her a warning look.
They thought I didn't know.
I almost laughed.
Let them play their little game. Soon, I'd let her have him.
Our marriage was already over.
I beamed at Max like nothing was wrong. "Well," I said, flicking a glance at Violet—busy pretending to shuffle papers. "Was I interrupting? Just wanted to check on you."
And then I smiled.
End of I Let Them Think They Won Chapter 5. Continue reading Chapter 6 or return to I Let Them Think They Won book page.