Chapter 1
Chapter 1
When Cassie Brooks married Callum Reid, she was 22, and he was 32.
The age gap wasn’t the only notable difference between them. In the bedroom, Callum was exceptionally well–endowed–something that often left Cassie overwhelmed and struggling to handle.
Throughout their three years of marriage, he lavished her with endless affection. Whatever she desired, he provided without question–from extravagant gifts to romantic gestures, treating her like his most treasured possession. The only exception came at night, when his insatiable appetite left her tearfully begging for mercy. He would merely chuckle softly against her ear and continue, ignoring her pleas.
Cassie believed she had everything–a husband with wealth and love, all belonging to her.
Until her father’s death changed everything. That day, she called Callum ninety–nine times. He rejected every single
call.
Then came the text from Lexi: “Cassie, isn’t this Callum? Just spotted him making out with some woman on the Champs–Élysées.” The attached photo felt like a knife to her heart.
The man was undeniably Callum. And the woman–Cassie felt sick–was her aunt Laurina.
Three days after her father’s funeral, Callum finally showed his face at home.
He found Cassie on the couch, hollow–eyed and frail, her usual vitality completely drained.
Guilt flashed across his face as he rushed to embrace her. “Babe, I’m so sorry. Had to fly to Paris for an emergency meeting. The time difference messed everything up–I missed your calls and couldn’t make it to the funeral.”
“I know I screwed up. Tell me how to fix this. Anything you want, it’s yours.”
Cassie remained perfectly still as he spoke, her expression blank as a frozen lake.
Without a word, she pulled two documents from her purse, flipped to the signature pages, and placed them in his hands. “Callum, I need these signed.”
Relief washed over his face as he grabbed a pen and quickly scrawled his signature on both papers.
Watching him sign without hesitation, Cassie’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “You didn’t even look at what you’re signing. Aren’t you worried I might be asking for something crazy expensive?”
Callum pulled her against his chest with a sigh. “Come on, Cass. We’re married. What’s mine is already yours. Once the baby arrives, everything goes to you two anyway. Whatever you want, it’s yours–you know that.”
He bent down to her stomach. “Don’t you have your checkup today? Is little one behaving? Let me drive you–I’ll come in with you.”
Addin To The Stand. In Dast This Time I Chose To Reclaim My Own Life
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Chapter 1
Cassie said nothing–neither agreeing nor refusing.
Taking her silence as consent, Callum guided her to the car.
The drive was suffocating with tension. Neither spoke a word.
Just as Callum opened his mouth to break the silence, his phone rang.
“Callum, I’m back in town. I need to see you.” Laurina’s voice came through clearly enough for Cassie to hear every
word.
Cassie’s hands clenched into fists. She watched as Callum quickly ended the call. “Sorry, babe–something urgent just came up at work. Can you handle the appointment alone?”
Without calling out his obvious lie, Cassie simply opened the door and stepped out.
In the biting wind, she hailed a cab. As the city blurred past her window, memories surged unbidden.
Three years ago, Cassie had been in a horrific car accident. The driver fled, and bystanders were too scared to get involved. As she lay bleeding out on the asphalt, Callum had appeared like some guardian angel and scooped her
into his arms.
That day, she fell head over heels for this man ten years her senior.
And miraculously, the successful, mature Callum Reid had fallen for her too.
After a year of dating, they tied the knot.
Perhaps due to his age and experience, he seemed endlessly patient. They never fought. He remembered every anniversary, every gift…
In daily life, he constantly considered her comfort and happiness–except between the sheets.
She couldn’t fathom how a thirty–something man possessed such stamina. Many nights she’d sob against his shoulder, begging him to stop, but he’d just smile that infuriating smile and kiss away her tears.
“Don’t cry, baby,” he’d whisper. “I only want you this much because I love you this much.”
“The more we try, sweetheart, the sooner we’ll have our little miracle.”
So night after night her body ached, until finally, in their third year of marriage, she became pregnant.
Three days ago, her father had suffered a massive stroke. Racing to his side, she found him repeatedly asking for Callum, desperate to see his son–in–law one final time.
Everyone understood–he wanted to entrust his precious daughter to Callum before crossing over. Everyone tried calling him.
Despite countless attempts, despite Cassie calling until her phone actually crashed, they couldn’t reach him.
Ceund In Doct. This Time I Chose To Reclaim My Own Life
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Chapter 1
Her father died filled with disappointment and unfinished wine
Cassie had convinced herself Callum minst be ewed with work
Until she had barely finished arranging tit father’s funeral when Let’s photo aprise
Her mind spun, unable to process why her husband would be wrapped around here aunt in public.
Desperate for answers, she finally gathered the courage to enter Callume off limits mudy.
What she found inside shattered her world completely.”
The room was a shrine to her aunt Laurina,
Photos plastered every wall. Love letters preserved in protective sleeves Gifts purchased but never wat. And ment damning–a thick journal dedicated to their love story, with entries continuing to the present day
Through those pages, Cassie learned the ugly truth.
Callum had only truly loved twice in his life.
Her, supposedly.
And her aunt, Laurina Brooks.
They had been college sweethearts whose passionate relationship spanned a decade.
At their happiest, he had crossed oceans with her, explored jungles, and kissed her beneath snow capped mountains glowing in the sunset.
At their lowest, he had destroyed priceless jewelry in jealous rages, abandoned his pride to chase her across continents, and nearly drunk himself to death after learning she’d moved on.
Every significant emotion in his adult life had Laurina at its center.
And the reason–the only reason–he had married Cassie was because after Laurina left him, he wanted a replacement who resembled her. After all, Cassie’s face was practically a younger carbon copy of her aunt’s.
So he had orchestrated the hit–and–run accident to make her fall for him.
So he had exhausted her night after night, desperate to create a child.
Not because he wanted their baby. But because he wanted a child who looked like Laurina.
The revelation hit Cassie like a physical blow, leaving her gasping for air.
Every tender moment–fake. Every declaration of love–fake. Every promise, every future plan–completely and utterly fake.
His deception ran soul–deep, from the very beginning.
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Chapter 1
Though young, Cassie understood you had to empty your heart completely before someone new could fill it.
And more importantly–she refused to be anyone’s cheap imitation.
She was Cassie Brooks. Unique. Irreplaceable. One of a kind.
Yet from their very first “chance” meeting, he had been using her as nothing but a stand–in, a placeholder, a counterfeit version of the woman he truly desired.
So she decided: deception deserved deception in return.
She had deliberately kept silent about what he’d just signed:
One document was their divorce papers. The other was consent for an abortion.
She would not be anyone’s substitute, and she refused to bring a child into this world with a man who saw her as nothing but a replica of someone else…
Cassie strode purposefully into the hospital and handed the abortion consent form directly to Dr. Olsen.
“I need to terminate this pregnancy,” she stated firmly, her decision irrevocable.
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