Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man - Chapter 11: Chapter 11
You are reading Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man, Chapter 11: Chapter 11. Read more chapters of Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man.
Cassian Whitmore, the crown prince of New York's elite social circle, had finally recovered after three years of paralysis. His crew threw him a celebration party at their exclusive private club.
Mara Collins stood at the club entrance, clutching a carefully prepared gift, about to push through the door when she heard voices from inside—Cassian talking with his friends.
"Dude, Cassian, Mara's been absolutely incredible to you. Without her these past three years, there's no fucking way you would've recovered this well."
"For real, man. She's been there every day—massages, physical therapy, barely sleeping because she was scared you'd have a breakdown... That kind of devotion? You owe her your life."
"She really is something special." Cassian's voice was low and warm.
Mara's fingers trembled slightly as warmth bloomed in her chest.
Then someone asked, "So when are you gonna put a ring on it?"
The room fell dead silent.
Mara's hand froze mid-air, her heart racing. She held her breath, as if waiting for a verdict.
After what felt like an eternity, Cassian's voice cut through the silence, flat and distant: "I think of her as a sister."
"Sister?!" His friends' voices exploded in disbelief. "She's been by your side for three years, and you see her as a sister? Cassian, please tell me you're not still hung up on that Juliette Voss. When you had your accident, she didn't even bother to check on you before she ghosted your ass. Now that you're better, she's back, but come on—anyone but her!"
Cassian said nothing.
Standing outside the door, Mara felt her heart being crushed in someone's fist.
His silence was answer enough.
She'd thought three years of unwavering devotion would earn his love. Instead, his heart had always belonged to the woman who'd abandoned him.
Three years ago, Cassian had been untouchable—a golden boy standing at the pinnacle of everything.
Ivy League graduate, heir to the family empire, skilled at skiing and equestrian sports, with a face that looked like it had been carved by angels themselves.
And Mara? She was just a scholarship student sponsored by the Whitmore family.
She'd first seen him at the university awards ceremony.
He stood on the stage, eyes cold and distant, posture perfect—like an untouchable pine tree covered in snow.
She sat in the back row, clutching her financial aid envelope, afraid to even applaud too loudly.
Back then, Juliette Voss stood beside him—the campus beauty from an equally prestigious family.
Everyone said they were a perfect match, like a prince and princess from a fairy tale.
Then came the car accident.
Cassian's spinal cord was damaged. The doctors said he might never walk again.
Juliette never even entered his hospital room. She just sent a breakup text and vanished without a trace.
The Whitmore heir who'd once had the world at his feet suddenly found himself at rock bottom.
He became volatile, depressed, even attempted suicide.
His parents, Margaret and Richard Whitmore, were devastated but helpless.
That's when Mara stepped forward.
She knelt beside his wheelchair and said softly, "Cassian, everything's gonna be okay. I'll be here with you."
For the next three years, she learned every massage technique, survived on two hours of sleep a night, terrified he might lose hope in the darkness.
When he had breakdowns and tried to hurt himself with a stool, she threw herself in front of him, taking the blow without hesitation.
She stayed with him year after year, becoming the most important person in his life.
Everyone said Cassian could only fall asleep when Mara was there.
Now that he'd recovered, everyone assumed he'd marry her.
Mara had allowed herself to dream of that too.
But now? How could she not understand what this meant?
He was healed. Juliette was back. And she, the "sister," was expected to exit stage left.
Mara Collins stood at the club entrance, clutching a carefully prepared gift, about to push through the door when she heard voices from inside—Cassian talking with his friends.
"Dude, Cassian, Mara's been absolutely incredible to you. Without her these past three years, there's no fucking way you would've recovered this well."
"For real, man. She's been there every day—massages, physical therapy, barely sleeping because she was scared you'd have a breakdown... That kind of devotion? You owe her your life."
"She really is something special." Cassian's voice was low and warm.
Mara's fingers trembled slightly as warmth bloomed in her chest.
Then someone asked, "So when are you gonna put a ring on it?"
The room fell dead silent.
Mara's hand froze mid-air, her heart racing. She held her breath, as if waiting for a verdict.
After what felt like an eternity, Cassian's voice cut through the silence, flat and distant: "I think of her as a sister."
"Sister?!" His friends' voices exploded in disbelief. "She's been by your side for three years, and you see her as a sister? Cassian, please tell me you're not still hung up on that Juliette Voss. When you had your accident, she didn't even bother to check on you before she ghosted your ass. Now that you're better, she's back, but come on—anyone but her!"
Cassian said nothing.
Standing outside the door, Mara felt her heart being crushed in someone's fist.
His silence was answer enough.
She'd thought three years of unwavering devotion would earn his love. Instead, his heart had always belonged to the woman who'd abandoned him.
Three years ago, Cassian had been untouchable—a golden boy standing at the pinnacle of everything.
Ivy League graduate, heir to the family empire, skilled at skiing and equestrian sports, with a face that looked like it had been carved by angels themselves.
And Mara? She was just a scholarship student sponsored by the Whitmore family.
She'd first seen him at the university awards ceremony.
He stood on the stage, eyes cold and distant, posture perfect—like an untouchable pine tree covered in snow.
She sat in the back row, clutching her financial aid envelope, afraid to even applaud too loudly.
Back then, Juliette Voss stood beside him—the campus beauty from an equally prestigious family.
Everyone said they were a perfect match, like a prince and princess from a fairy tale.
Then came the car accident.
Cassian's spinal cord was damaged. The doctors said he might never walk again.
Juliette never even entered his hospital room. She just sent a breakup text and vanished without a trace.
The Whitmore heir who'd once had the world at his feet suddenly found himself at rock bottom.
He became volatile, depressed, even attempted suicide.
His parents, Margaret and Richard Whitmore, were devastated but helpless.
That's when Mara stepped forward.
She knelt beside his wheelchair and said softly, "Cassian, everything's gonna be okay. I'll be here with you."
For the next three years, she learned every massage technique, survived on two hours of sleep a night, terrified he might lose hope in the darkness.
When he had breakdowns and tried to hurt himself with a stool, she threw herself in front of him, taking the blow without hesitation.
She stayed with him year after year, becoming the most important person in his life.
Everyone said Cassian could only fall asleep when Mara was there.
Now that he'd recovered, everyone assumed he'd marry her.
Mara had allowed herself to dream of that too.
But now? How could she not understand what this meant?
He was healed. Juliette was back. And she, the "sister," was expected to exit stage left.
End of Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man Chapter 11. Continue reading Chapter 12 or return to Step aside, Uncle Pride：Your Nephew is My Next Man book page.