VOWS OF VENGEANCE

The Weight Of Pretense

Ethan looked at Cassandra, and his face went pale. “Slow down, Father.” She said, staring at Ethan. She could see that he was scared. “Can we have a moment to ourselves?” Cassandra looked at her father and then at her mother. “Sure. But don’t forget we have an appointment. Don’t keep us waiting.” Tiffany looked at her daughter before they walked away.

Ethan couldn’t hold it anymore. He was like a time bomb waiting to blow up. “What was that?” He looked at Cassandra. “This wasn’t part of the contract, was it?”

“Can you keep your voice down?” Cassandra looked at his face. It was evident that she was scared.

“Keep my voice down? Did you even listen to yourself? What happened to my bills? Don’t tell me you cut me off simply because I voiced my opinion last night.”

Cassandra looked at her feet like some spoiled brat. “Oh my god!. I can’t believe you would do this to me.” Ethan said he was getting fed up already. “It is bad that you and your family humiliate me whenever you feel like it, but now this?”

“Can you stop yelling like a child and listen to me?” Cassandra snapped at him.

“I need my family to believe that this marriage is what I want. Besides, we had an agreement. Don’t tell me you are fed up already.” Cassandra folded her arms. “I will see to it that everything is met according to the contract.” She looked back at him. “In the meantime, get your ass ready for golfing.” She said and walked away.

Ethan could not help but wonder what he had gotten himself into. He still doesn’t know who Williams Hargrove was. He walked back into the room to get ready. It was going to be a long day.

Ethan arrived at the golf course with the Paige family. The sun was shining, blazing hot in the sky. Ethan could already feel the sweat forming on his forehead.

He trailed behind Mr. and Mrs. Paige, carrying their golf bags like some underpaid caddy. Cassandra walked beside her parents, her laughter tinkling in the warm air, as if the argument from earlier hadn’t occurred. Ethan felt like a slave more than an actual man of the house.

They reached the pristine course, where a tall man with sharp features stood waiting. His tailored suit screamed wealth, and his smile was the kind that came with a lifetime of getting everything he wanted.

“William Hargrove,” Cassandra’s voice rang out, laced with excitement. Ethan froze. So this was the man they were talking about.

William’s eyes lit up as he saw Cassandra. “Cassandra! It’s been too long,” he said, pulling her into an embrace. Ethan noticed the slight flush on Cassandra’s face and the way she leaned into the hug just a second too long.

Ethan clenched his fists but stayed silent. He reminded himself of the contract—it was all an act, just one more day to tick off on his calendar. Yet, he couldn’t shake off the unease growing in his chest.

“Who’s this?” William’s gaze finally shifted to Ethan, his tone dripping with mockery.

“This is my husband, Ethan,” Cassandra said, her voice cold and distant. The words felt like a slap in the face, not because of their content but because of the way she said them—like an afterthought.

William’s smirk widened. “Ah, the lucky man,” he said, extending a hand to Ethan. Ethan hesitated but shook it, feeling the condescension in the firm grip.

“William is an old friend of the family,” Mr. Paige spoke out of turn, his voice showing he was proud of the man before them. One minute he was praising him to be the man worthy enough for his daughter, and the next, he was talking about William being an old friend of the family. “He’s recently returned from his ventures overseas.”

“Friend?” Ethan thought bitterly. The way Cassandra was smiling at William suggested something far more intimate.

As they golfed, Ethan stayed in the background, fetching balls and handing over clubs. His mind raced, replaying every moment since he’d stepped into Cassandra’s world. He knew he was a pawn, but the pieces on this board were beginning to shift in ways he couldn’t predict.

At one point, Cassandra and William stepped away, leaving Ethan with Mr. Paige. The older man turned to him with a sneer. “You don’t belong here, Ethan,” he said quietly. “This marriage was a mistake, and soon, it’ll be corrected.”

Ethan’s blood ran cold. He looked at Mr. Paige, trying to gauge how serious he was, but the man’s face gave nothing away. Ethan wanted to talk, to reply to him that he was actually doing his daughter a favor, but then Cassandra had never really told him why he was doing all of this.

By the time they left the golf course, Ethan was emotionally drained. Back at the mansion, Cassandra walked ahead with William, leaving Ethan walking behind like an unwanted guest.

That night, as he lay in bed, the tension in his chest became unbearable. He pulled out the contract from the drawer beside him and read it over for the hundredth time. Something felt off, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

There must be something he missed. Something he should have seen, but he didn’t. The door creaked open, and Cassandra walked in a little tipsy.

“How much did you have to drink?” He stood up, gently holding her by the waist.

Before Ethan could say anything, Cassandra hauled over him. “Really? This wasn’t part of the contract.” Ethan said in frustration as he took her over to the bathroom.

“Can you stand?” He asked each time as he stared at her.

Cassandra looked at Ethan and drew him closer. “What are you doing?” Ethan asked

“Didn’t you read the contract? I have all the right to do whatever I want with you.” Cassandra said, looking at him. She drew him closer and in a frenzy mode she kissed him, leaving Ethan dazed.