Chapter 7

Footsteps came from behind. Sabrina turned her head slightly and saw a pair of spotless leather shoes stop just a few steps away. Her gaze moved upward-those long, lean legs wrapped in grey trousers, the crisp shirt, the wide shoulders and trim waist, all forming a silhouette that could've come out of a fashion spread. And then, her eyes landed on that face-sharp edges, cold and arrogant, eyes black as midnight. They looked calm on the surface, but if you looked close enough, there was something bottomless in them, like they hid entire galaxies. Cassian gave a slight nod to Matilda, his voice low and smooth as velvet. "Grandmother." People might call him striking, but the moment Sabrina looked at him, it felt like she'd been shoved straight into an icebox. Her whole body froze up-blood, bones, everything turning cold. Matilda's face softened the moment she saw him. "How come you're home so early today?" "Work wrapped up quicker than expected. Thought I'd head back," Cassian replied coolly. His eyes flicked to Sabrina. "Just got back and already heard she messed something up again. Didn't want to bother you, so I'll take her with me and deal with it myself." That one glance from him made Sabrina's stomach knot with dread. Matilda shot a glare at Sabrina, then turned to Cassian. "You're busy enough. No need to waste time on something like this. She's going to be nothing but a servant in this house anyway. Doesn't deserve the title of your wife. Don't even bother wasting another look on her." Cassian turned halfway, those dark eyes locking cold on Sabrina. His tone turned sharp. "Still standing there? Kneel and apologize to Grandmother now." Sabrina asked in return, "And what exactly have I done?" Cassian's brow twitched and, without a word, he lifted his foot and kicked her hard behind the knee. She stumbled and crashed to the ground, one knee hitting the floor. Rage flared up in her chest and she started to push herself up, but Cassian was a step ahead. He grabbed her arm in a tight twist, his voice icy. "You made Grandmother upset. That alone means you deserve punishment. Now kneel. Apologize." Sabrina refused to go down like that, but no matter how hard she tried to pull away, his grip wouldn't budge. He locked her arm so tight it felt like her shoulder got yanked right out of the socket. The pain shot through her like fire. Cassian shoved her head down, making Sabrina slam her forehead against the floor, cold eyes fixed on her as sweat poured down her pale face. He lifted his gaze and said, "Grandma, all this time, I've been too soft on her. That's why she's gotten so bold and stirred up trouble at home. This time, I'll make sure she learns her lesson-knows her place." The whole thing happened so quickly, no one even had time to react. "Cassian..." Matilda started to speak, but Cassian was already hauling Sabrina toward the door. Simone looked super frustrated as she clutched onto her grandma's arm. Everything was going so well-Sabrina was about to be done for-and then her brother had to show up and ruin it. Matilda sighed. She didn't want Cassian to take her either, but she knew all too well how stubborn her grandson was. "Let it go. If your brother wants to take her, none of us can stop him." Grace leaned close to Simone to whisper, "Miss Simone, now that she's with the young master... it's probably even worse for her." Simone thought about it and nodded. Sabrina dared to cheat on her brother-Cassian, the guy who never showed mercy. There's no way he'd let her off easy. A while later, the door opened again. A young doctor in a white coat walked in. Simone's expression instantly lit up. Moments ago, she looked like she could set the room on fire-now her eyes sparkled like she was on the verge of tears from happiness. "Dr. Parker!" Grace rushed over to him, explaining breathlessly, "Miss Simone suddenly couldn't talk at all. We're not sure what happened. Please, take a look!" James Parker stood calm and polite, his handsome features composed. He gave Matilda a respectful nod before turning his attention to Simone. He checked her throat, then gently pressed the sides and back of her neck. Everything seemed normal. Seeing Simone's teary, helpless look, Grace spoke up from the side, "It's all that Sabrina' fault! Miss Simone was doing fine-then she got so mad because of her, and the next thing we knew, she couldn't say a word!" James frowned slightly. Sabrina? That timid little wife of Cassian? When did she ever have the guts to piss off Miss Simone like that? As his fingers moved through the thick hair at the back of Simone's head, he paused, then carefully pulled out a needle-so thin it was nearly invisible. "Ah! That hurts!" Simone winced, but then her eyes lit up. She clasped her throat, overjoyed. James stared at the nearly invisible needle between his fingers-only for it to vanish the next second, right before his eyes.