CHAPTER NINETY – PRESSURE FROM ALL SIDES

They separated quickly as footsteps approached. Karl entered the kitchen, his gaze flickering between them. "Everything alright in here?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. "Just checking on Cassie," Florian replied smoothly. "That was quite a scene out there." Karl's lips curled into a smirk. "Indeed. Our Cassie seems to be having trouble keeping her balance lately. In more ways than one, perhaps." The implication hung heavy in the air. Cassie busied herself with gathering towels, desperate to escape Karl's knowing gaze. As the weeks wore on, Cassie felt like she was walking a tightrope. Every interaction with Florian was fraught with tension, every encounter with Vivian a potential minefield. Even her classes, once a refuge, became a source of stress as she struggled to keep up with the demanding coursework while juggling her duties at the mansion. One afternoon, as Cassie hurried across campus, she overheard a group of students whispering and giggling. As she passed